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Sports
Notes
- Gerard
Brouwers WOVD Sport and Competition Director Talks Volleyball World
Cup
- October
2007
James Loving - National Radio Text Service - Cambodian National Volleyball League Disabled (CNVLD)
Cambodia’s successful bid to host it’s first ever World Cup team sports event is scheduled to take place November 24th to December 1st 2007 at Olympic Stadium's Indoor Arena in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Phnom Penh, Cambodia - Wednesday October 17, 2007 Browers responsibilities include: "As WOVD Competition Manager in my department following committees are active: "Competition Committee: responsible for strategy and development of competitions on world level "Classification Committee: responsible for education of classifiers and classification of athletes "Referee Committee: responsible for education of international referees and nomination and evaluation of referees for world competition. Also responsible for the Rules of the Game. In brief my department is responsible for competition world wide and the necessary International Technical Officials." What was the reasoning within the WOVD behind granting Cambodia the rights to host the 2007 WOVD World Cup and how important is it for both the WOVD and Cambodia to host the World Cup here? There were several arguments why Competition Management supported the bid of Cambodia: first of all Cambodia has proven to be well structured and organized, having a real national competition, competent leaders, being geographically in the centre of possible development of standing volleyball and last but not least the enormous enthusiasm showed by the Cambodia Standing Volleyball Management How important do you consider the participation of developing nations such as Cambodia, Rwanda etc. in international sporting competitions? "It is extremely important that nations like Cambodia, Rwanda but also India, Sri Lanka etc. participate in this event. Is it not for the medals then for the gathering of knowledge how to get started, become better etc by watching other “adult” teams and special by communicating/exchanging information between teams/players/coaches and team officials." How important do you see sport as a catalyst for improving international relations and development in states such as Cambodia? "In my view sport is a universal tool for people to meet and learn from each other where politics are excluded and race, colour or religion does not play a role at all. This helps in special networks improving relationships between nations. If you do not understand the other one you never will be able to work and live with the other one." Given the increasing participation in sport by nations recovering from the legacies of armed conflict and the landmine, what role do you think Standing Volleyball can play to promote the awareness and implementation of the International Campaign to Ban the Landmine? "Standing Volleyball can contribute to the self awareness of our athletes helping in gaining a respectful place in daily society." What is your opinion on the exclusion of Standing Volleyball from the Paralympic Games and what do you think are the chances of having it re-instated? "It was a real disappointment that Standing was excluded from the Paralympic program. On the other hand we must realize that rules are rules and also WOVD has to comply to the rules set out by the IPC General Assembly. Our task is to get the second discipline back on the Paralympic program. It will not be easy but with the help of our member nations we will be back." What are the greatest challenges and rewards you face in your position? "Finding competent Local Organizers for World Championships and World Cups resulting in a balanced competition program that suites especially the athletes involved." How has Standing Volleyball as an internationally recognised spectator sport evolved during the time you have been involved? "On a technical level: Standing Volleyball is evolved to a very exiting sport for the public. Great attractive competitions and full involvement of the athletes, Organizers and participating nations. Due to IPC rules and lack of results in the development Standing was withdrawn from the Paralympic program, creating another problem for the development world wide. But I believe in the development of the discipline leading to renewed recognition by IPC." Which teams do you think will be challenging for the top positions during the 2007 World Cup? My top list consists of Canada, Germany, Czech Republic and Cambodia Highlights of Brouwers career include * Played competitive volleyball 1962-1997 including 2 years on the Dutch National Able- Bodied Team * National Referee since 1966 able bodied Volleyball * National Referee disabled volleyball since 1983 * WOVD International Referee since 1991 * Organiser EuroCup 1993 * Referee Commissioner European Zone 1994 * Board member European Zone 1994 * Member Volleyball Referee Committee WOVD 1994 * WOVD Deputy Sport Director 1996-2000 * WOVD Sport Director since 2000 * WOVD Competition Manager since 2006 Note: In July 2005 we covered a disabled volleyball tournament at Phnom Penh's Olympic Stadium's Indoor Arena that featured Canada then and now rated the World's # 1 team in the sport against teams from the Southeast Asian region. Since that time The MVP of that tournament Neil Johnson has retired from the team Canada. That's the bad news since Johnson was such an accomplished player who played with an able-bodied team in Germany he was a true example of what one can do to get the best out of one's abilities. The good news is that team Canada is scheduled to return to Cambodia for a tournament to be played from November 24th - December 2nd 2007. Christopher Minko the Secretary General of the Cambodian National Volleyball League has a web site that has information regarding the league in Cambodia as well as information for the forthcoming tournament. The following is some information from that site with Minko's permission. The WOVD Phnom Penh Volleyball World Cup will help raise global awareness about the landmine issue and assist Cambodia to secure the nomination for becoming the ASEAN Canter for Disability Sports. Hosting the World Cup will also assist Cambodia to secure accreditation to bid for other world sanctioned sporting events in the coming years and provide impetus for ensuring a strong Cambodian presence in the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Paralympic games. Renowned for their Deter-Mined performances, the Cambodian National Volleyball Team (Disabled) have nothing less than World #1 in their sights and will take on the world’s best at the Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh to prove their caliber. The current World Champions, Canada have already confirmed their attendance with Germany, Slovakia, Australia, Poland, and Rwanda expected to attend. Negotiations are also under way with Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Myanmar in order to support their efforts to participate and ensure a spectacular event to symbolize Cambodia’s successful return to the international sporting stage. The 2007 WOVD Phnom Penh Volleyball World Cup will also draw the attention of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) to Standing Volleyball as the ‘missing sport’ in the global Paralympic movement. The Cambodian World Cup will demonstrate the importance of Standing Volleyball within the disability demographics of post-conflict nations ravaged by landmines and the IPC is strongly encouraged to return Standing Volleyball to its rightful place in the Paralympic Family. Standing Volleyball is the ideal team sport for encouraging the rehabilitation of amputee survivors of the landmine, being cost effective, playable in all conditions and allowing athletes with a disability to compete with dignity and pride. The 2007 WOVD Phnom Penh World Cup is to be organized under the Patronage of Samdech Prime Minister Hun Sen, a reflection of the support provided by the Royal Government of Cambodia to this historic sporting event. On behalf of the Royal Government and the People of Cambodia, the CNVLD looks forward to welcoming all athletes, officials, fans from over the world for the 2007 WOVD Phnom Penh World Cup.
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