How easy has it been forging a table tennis link between China, the world's largest table-tennis playing nation and the UK?
When you have Tong Feiming with you then there really is NO problem. She has an amazing network of contacts in Chinese Table Tennis; remember she did play for China 200 times as an International from the age of 12. She has a great work ethic and, even though she now has a baby, she still manages to fit it all in.
How do you think the governing bodies in the UK can take advantage of the looming 2012 games?
Well, here goes, my hobby horse, the health of the nation! I am sure that we will showcase the Olympics very well. We are a much organised nation and will do a good job of the event and all that leads up to it. The problem area, as always is, what will be the "benefit of the legacy"? There will be many new venues for all sports that can be used and that will be excellent. What we need in this country is a gigantic "explosion" of people playing sport. We are becoming a nation of hard-working, fast-eating and low-physical exercise people. The only result in the near future will be a significant Income Tax rise, which will be to support the increasing cost of the NHS as it has to deal with an ever increasing number of people (young and old) who are suffering from Chronic Heart Disease and obesity-related conditions.
The Olympics is our opportunity, via the sporting governing bodies, to improve the health of the nation by taking up sport. This must be at all ages, and sports like TT are an obvious vehicle. We must focus all our energy and finances on promoting sports to people and the education of people about the benefit of sport. More work needs to be done before the Olympics to embed Community Clubs into schools and sports centres. That way the schools and centres can take more responsibility for sport and its development with those organisations. I am not sure that we need more TT facilities as there are thousands of schools who have TT in them already and are NOT used by Table Tennis clubs. These would suffice for the "Introductory" up to "Advanced" levels. It would be more useful to have some more sophisticated facilities in each region for higher level coaching and training.
Different sports may need a different model after the Olympics but I believe schools etc are a vital part. Schools need more support from our sport of TT and also needs more joint projects – however, like I mentioned earlier, we need schools to take responsibility for sport and its development.
How do you think UK table-tennis clubs can capitalise on the 2012 games?
Gear up their promotion to the community and be based at larger venues (schools etc). Clubs need to provide the sports community with what they want - NOT what they think that people want. Currently we have too many small clubs who lack finance and are too competition focussed - this puts less competitive people off joining clubs.
|
