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Micro Games volunteers attend table tennis workshop
Participants in the International Table Tennis Federation technical training workshop gather around the new table tennis tables at the Yap Sports Complex, which will host the 2018 Micronesian Games. (Contributed Photo)
COLONIA, Yap—Technical training for table tennis was the topic of the 14-day workshop at the Yap Sports Complex as participants learned the technical aspects of the sport and gained coaching skills in time for the 2018 Micronesian Games in Yap this summer.
The workshop, held from Feb. 11 to 25, is supported by the $20,000 grant from the International Olympic Committee and was hosted by the Federated States of Micronesia National Olympic Committee.
Former German semi-professional player Patrick Wuertz conducted the two-week long training that is part of Yap’s preparations for its hosting of the Micro Games, which will be held from July 15 to 27. Wuertz now resides in Melbourne, Australia after becoming the ITTF-Oceania high performance officer. He specializes in the development of performance-orientated structures in sport and coaching education.
The German said that the course includes coaching skills to introduce table tennis to beginners, its rules, tournament organization and competition formats, and provide information on para-table tennis for disabled athletes.
“The ITTF was founded in 1926 and today it’s the only sport with national federations in 226 countries around the world,” said Wuertz.
Table tennis was first played in Victorian England as an after-dinner parlor game among the upper class. It was introduced as an Olympic sport in the 1988 Summer Games in Seoul, South Korea.
“We’re still in need of more umpires and volunteers. It’s a fast-paced and exciting game for everyone who gets involved,” said Wuertz.
Free training will be provided for anyone interested in learning more about table tennis and how to become an umpire.
For more information and to sign up, email Castro Joab at 2018MicroGames@gmail.com. (PR)
