AUSTRALIA will continue to support the Smash Down Barriers (SDB) program, a table tennis initiative majorly funded by the Australian Government to enhance opportunities for People with Disabilities (PWD), women and girls across the Pacific region.
This assurance was made by Australian High Commission official Samuel Cox at the opening of a two-day SDB Table Tennis Coaching Workshop at the Multi-Purpose Hall in Honiara on Thursday.
The two-day workshop kicked off with speeches by guest speakers, including Mr Cox from the Australian High Commission, the Honiara City Council (HCC) Sport Division Director Gabriel Riotarau, SDB Fiji Manager Harvi Yee and SDB Solomon Islands in-country Coordinator Kevin Olea.
Mr Cox highlighted Australia’s continuing partnership with Solomon Islands in sports and Australia being the main sponsor of the SDB program under the TEAM UP sports program in Oceania.
He said Australia will continue to support the SBD program as it is crucial in engaging people with disabilities through table tennis, adding that SDB is aiming to reaching more communities and schools in and around Honiara and in the provinces.
Mr Cox wished the workshop participants all the best and expressed hope that they will one day help transform lives through sports.
HCC Sport Division Director Riotarau, in his remarks, expressed his hope to see the workshop participants help transform the lives of many people, both the physically-able and disable, after completing the SDB Table Tennis Coaching Workshop.
The coaching workshop is aimed at equipping local coaches with knowledge in coaching to roll out the SBD program and help transforms lives in local communities and schools in both Honiara and in the provinces.
A total of 24 local coaches and tennis players from schools, communities are attending the workshop. It is facilitated by the Fiji SDB Manager Yee alongside the Solomon Islands SDB in-country Coordinator Mr Olea.
On the first day of the workshop, participants were given the opportunity to discuss and present their ideas on the responsibilities of a coach and training session plans.
By FLOYD TERRY JNR
Solomon Star, Honiara
Photo caption: The SDB Table Tennis Coaching Workshop participants with SDB Fiji Manager Harvi Yee, Mr Cox from the Australian High Commission and Mr Liotarau from HCC
