Australia makes its application
to join World Gateball Union
Serious activities start |
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Recently, Australia made its application to enter World Gateball Union. The
application is presently under examination by World Gateball Union's board of
directors. If the application is accepted, Australia will be the first nation
to join from Oceania and the 14th to become a member of the Union.
Gateball got started in Australia in 1986. After taking part in various exchange
programs it participated in the 7th World Championships in Hawaii in '98, and
in the 8th World Championships last year in Toyama. Besides, from 2000 on, the
Australian Championships have been held and activities within the country have
been very vigorous. Focused mainly in Sydney and Melbourne, gateball lovers have
organized clubs and are very active. The name of the organization is “Australian
Gateball Promotions”(abbreviated AGP).
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World Gateball Union's Mini Chronological
Table
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AGP's first President, Mr. Peter Tavender, and National Gateball Director Mr.
Keith McLeod. Though both men, from Canberra and Melbourne, have been busy managing
their clubs, they have spent many years promoting gateball. Both have also experience
in the World Championships. |
| 1985年 |
At Japan's instigation the World Union
started with Japan, China, South Korea, Brazil, Chinese Taipei and Hawaii (5 countries
and 1 district) |
| 1986年 |
he First World Championships held in Sapporo, Japan.
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| 1987年 |
Paraguay, Peru and Bolivia become members |
| 1989年 |
Canada and Argentina become members |
| 1994年 |
Singapore becomes a member |
| 1996年 |
International Referees' Regulations promulgated.
U.S.A. becomes a member |
| 1998年 |
Chinese Hong Kong becomes a member |
| 2003年 |
International Referees System established. Australia
makes its application for membership. |
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Australian gateball lovers and Japanese Players who participated in the course
.(in Melbourne) |
President Tavender(right) gently instructs elementary school children during their
first experience of gateball. |
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Sydney
Their Debut! These Are Australia's Junior Players
 
At the same time Australia made its application to join the Union, Japan Gateball
Union and Japanese gateball players visited Australia March 10 - 17. In Sydney
and Melbourne refereeing and tactics courses were held, and also a course to explain
rules revisions was held.
*
At Mosman Croquet Club in a residential district about a 20-minutes drive from
Sydney city center approximately 20 gateball lovers from various clubs got together.
On the first day, a course in refereeing was held and on the second day a techniques
and tactics course was held. The Japanese players demonstrated play and techniques.
On that day, Mosman Club members were giving croquet instruction to 30 local
primary school children who ended up joining in the gateball course. All of a
sudden a junior course was begun. The local newspaper, “The Mosman Daily” reported
on the event which was great fun.
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Their first appearance in this journal: Australia's junior players |
“I want to play, too.” Children compete to get a number singlet |
Children receive croquet lessons from Mosman Club members a number
of times during November every year |
Look at the expression when good stroke has been made! |
About 30, 9 - 11-year-old primary school children, their teacher
and course participants |
Games were played focusing on instruction on refereeing and tactics.
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| Melbourne |
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In Melbourne too, games in the course focused on refereeing and
tactics |
With many members who played in the World Championships participating,
the course ended in a class reunion atmosphere |
Members of the Wombats team with the article about their participation
in the World Championships last year which appeared in this journal |
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Australian Croquet Association's
Referee Committee Chairperson
has his first experience of gateball
The course schedule of 2 days for the old capital of Melbourne was the same as
for Sydney. The course was held at the Essendon Qroquet Club where many players
who took part in last year's World Championships are members. About 30 people
participated. Their level of play was clearly displayed at the World Championships.
Their technique and tactics are far beyond beginner level. Indeed, the practice
game with the Japanese team was held in a hotly contested atmosphere.
Also, on the day a number of inexperienced players joined in. World you believe
it? One of them was Australia Croquet Association's Referee Committee Chairperson,
Mr. Owen Edwards. We hope to receive advice on rules and other matters from him.
And for gateball, which is endeavoring to spread throughout the world, he was
a very important person to meet.
Mr. Edwards and those who like him participated for the first time said that
they thought gateball was a wonderful sport which allowed everybody to play on
equal terms irrespective of age or sex. It was also said that gateball does not
need as large a court as croquet and that considering the cost of equipment, it
appears gateball is an easier sport to participate in.
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The Australia Croquet Association' Referee's Committee Chairperson,
Mr. Owen Edwards, has his first experience playing GB |
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Having his photo taken at the scenic spot of Blue Mountain, Mr.
Sakou with an aborigine 
The 5 Japanese participants. From left: Mr. Sakou (Tokyo), Ms.
Takahashi (Iwate), Ms. Nakamura (Tokyo), Ms. Yuzuriha (Tokyo), Ms. Nishida (Tokyo)
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What the participants said
GB is a sport which can be played anywhere in the world
Kayoko Yuzuriha (Tokyo)
In my neighborhood we are preparing to set up a general sports club. During this
course I was able to observe the management of clubs in Australia which have a
close affinity with the community. They were managed much more simply than I had
expected. I learned a lot from how the members manage and participate in their
clubs.
I was a little worried about my language ability this time, but I realized
that gateball is a sport which can be played and enjoyed anywhere in the world.
I had a wonderful international exchange experience. I would like to invite those
people I was indebted to during the trip to our club.
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