September 22, 2008
Hurricanes and Devastation No Deterrent for Fearless Development Officer
The course members in Port-au-Prince.
Photo courtesy of Evelio Alvarez
Courtesy of ITTF
Parts of Haiti in the Caribbean remain submerged under water and hundreds of people have died as a result of recent hurricanes.
The floods have swept away the crops and cattle of hundreds of thousands of people. Lives remain at risk from flooding and mud slides; an estimated 60,000 people are currently homeless and are living in temporary shelters.
Haiti is approaching breaking point, they are suffering a national disaster, it is a quite desperate situation.
Course Goes Ahead
Yet table tennis survives and nothing was going to deter the intrepid Evelio Alvarez, the Latin American Table Tennis Union's Development Officer.
Despite three hurricanes attacking Haiti during his stay, the man from Cuba delivered a successful ITTF/PTT Coaches Course from August 30th to September 6, 2008.
The incursion of Hurricane Gustav, Hurricane Hanna and finally Hurricane Ike did not deter Evelio Alvarez from his chosen mission.
Fourteen Coaches Attended
Fourteen coaches attended the course which included education for teaching table tennis to both able bodied and disabled players; many of the coaches coming from areas devastated by the hurricane.
All stayed in Port-au-Prince and despite the fact that their thoughts must have often been with their families in the hurricane hit areas, all stayed for the total duration of the entire program.
Venue
The National Sports Centre was the venue for the course with all participants enthusiastically following the principles detailed in the ITTF/PTT Level One Coaches Manual.
Meetings
Furthermore, Evelio Alvarez held several meetings with local officials emphasizing popularity and participation as being main tenures of development.
"We were received by the President and the Secretary General of the National Olympic Committee", explained Evelio Alvarez. "Such items as the My Champion School Project were discussed plus methods by which the numbers of players, coaches, officials, umpires and competition managers could be increased were also addressed."
Facilities
Furthermore, despite the best efforts of nature to dampen the course, Evelio Alvarez had sufficient facilities to make his life comfortable inside the confines of the sports hall.
"We had good playing conditions, four table tennis tables and more than 200 balls which enabled regular multi-ball sessions to be held", explained Evelio Alvarez. "The International Table Tennis Federation has supported Haiti with equipment during the past three years and the National Association is making good use of that equipment."
Economic Problems
Haiti has economic problems and both the National Table Tennis Association and the National Olympic Committee are grateful for the support afforded by the International Table Tennis Federation.
Growth Anticipated
The Course was closed by the Secretary General of the Olympic Committee and the President of the Association, Dr. Paul Audmar, who was in positive mood.
"He stressed the fact that he wanted to see a growth in table tennis coaching in the country especially for young players", explained Evelio Alvarez. "He is very keen to maintain close relations with the Latin American Table Tennis Union and the International Table Tennis Federation; on that fact he is to be congratulated, I am very grateful for his positive reaction."
New Slogan
It is good news for table tennis in Haiti, the positive attitude of all who attended in the face of such adversity is to be applauded.
"Breaking Down Barriers with Table Tennis Balls", is the favorite slogan of the ITTF Development Department in Haiti it was "Withstanding the Force of Hurricanes Gustav, Hanna and Ike with Table Tennis Balls."
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