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Interview
with
Geoff Ware, Part 3 of 3
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Geoff Ware and Son, Matt Ware
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This interview with Vidal Graham was conducted by email between Sep and Oct 2007.
Geoff Ware, the ETTA Grand Prix Publicity Officer |
What single significant thing do you think could improve the game? Actually two things really.
- I am a firm believer that throughout any event, young players should be kept occupied. The best for this is the progressive group system where every player plays to the end with no long waiting in between. At the final group placing every player has a finishing position, whether 1st, or 36th. There is nothing worse than the group system, then instant knock out, which is no good at all for the beginners. Keep them playing right to the end and give everyone a medal, it doesn't cost much, but believe you me it makes everyone feel important, and brings them back for more.
- So many English events I attend finish in a wishy-washy medal ceremony, where few attend, as most have gone home, beaten and dejected.
Let's take a leaf from events I have witnessed abroad, where a podium is brought out, the local Mayor presents the prizes, music is played like "We are all the winners" a swedish hit record some years ago, or say Freddy Mercury's........" We are the champions".................. just the thought of your son or daughter on the podium brings a lump to your throat!
Let's make it a proper celebration, get the 1st-2nd-3rd & 4th on the podium, take photos and get some good publicity in the local paper of your wonderful tournament.
What would you say have been your major table tennis achievements? I suppose it's really not so much me, as my young son Matt. It's been a real pleasure to see him develop into a formidable player.
I hope through my encouragement and time spent together, that one day he will make it to the top?
What changes to the sport don’t you like? None.
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"You will always see someone at a tournament, loosing their rag, and it spoils the enjoyment for the majority of well behaved players. " |
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Are you involved with organising at any club? If so, in what capacity? Over the last 8 years, I have organised trips abroad for young players, to training camps and tournaments, mainly in Sweden, France and Germany.
How important do you think it is that the Britain will be hosting the 2012 Olympics? The best thing ever- in my life time!
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What difficulties if any do you think the sport is facing today and how do you think we can overcome them? I can't really think of any difficulties, other than maybe getting more people playing table tennis. Clubs like TTK Greenhouse and London Progress are addressing this problem, and it's great to see so many new faces coming into the sport, whether they be young or old.
Do you have any views on how to deal with bad behaviour at local league or tournaments? Is there a solution or should we just get used to our stars is it unrealistic to expect our upcoming stars to be good role models? Bad behaviour needs to be addressed immediately when it happens. Whatever the sport, its an ugly site, and in my view must not be tolerated. You will always see someone at a tournament, loosing their rag, and it spoils the enjoyment for the majority of well behaved players. It can be dealt with in many ways, depending on the individual, and I'm sure books have been written on this subject.
Before you can call yourself a winner, you have to show the qualities of being a good and honourable loser, shake hands and say "Well done"- and try to display good sportsmanship and a sense of fair play at all times, even when things are not going your way.
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Read Part 1
Read Part 2
End of Interview
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