Overseas Topics
First GTBL in Eastern Europe!
First Efforts to Spread GTBL to Ukraine |
| Helped by 11 enthusiasts, including university and high school
students, in mid September the Japan Gateball Union (JGU) began to promote GTBL
to Eastern Europe for the first time as part of a sports exchange program run
by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.
Ukraine, part of the former Soviet Union, was the region targeted, and promotion
of the game was centered on university students. Grass roots cultural exchange
through GTBL has deepened friendship and goodwill between Japan and Ukraine. |
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Ukrain
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Students of Donetsk State Institute of Health Physical Culture
and Sports Experience Gateball. State Committee Ukraine of Physical Culture and
Sports Promises |
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With the government's backing and
the enthusiasm of the local people, I believe gateball will continue to spread
in Ukraine. A future issue is the development of local instructors. I would like
to visit again in the future so that I can play a part in the training of instructors.
(Mr. Taki, from Kagawa Prefecture, 2nd player on photo)
I am a high school student and glad to have been
able to participate in promoting gateball overseas. In my exchanges with local
students and at the exchange meetings I experienced the differences in our cultures.
Now I have returned to my everyday life and feel a little flat! I want to go back
again. (Miss Katayama, from Saitama Prefecture, 6th player on photo)
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Local children also quickly succumb
to the allure of GTBL!!
A courtesy visit was paid to Mr. Dudchak Miroslav Vasilyovich, (third from right),
Deputy Chairman of the State Committee Ukraine of Physical Culture and Sports.
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| Ukraine was the target
of the first efforts to spread GTBL to Eastern Europe. Two cities - the capital
Kiev and Donetsk - were chosen. First of all, courtesy visits were paid to government-
and sports-related organizations. The State Committee Ukraine of Physical Culture
and Sports at Kiev and the Donetsk State Regional Administration on Physical Culture
& Sports Issues also expressed interest in GTBL and promised to cooperate in its
future promotion. In particular, Mr. Dudchak Miroslav Vasilyovich,Deputy Chairman
of the State Committee Ukraine of Physical Culture and Sports, commented: "I
want to promote GTBL to sports people all over Ukraine. I therefore hope you will
give demonstrations next time you visit." Also, this GTBL Course was held
over two days in Donetsk. The venue was the Jaguar Sports Club, about ten minutes
by car from the center of the city. The local participants were mainly professors
and students of the Donetsk State Institute of Health Physical Culture and Sports,
who were very quick to grasp playing techniques and understand game tactics. During
the two days of the course, their skill levels went up dramatically. On the final
day, a staff supervisor said that he wanted to "teach gateball to the students
of the university on an ongoing basis." The promotional visit was also covered
extensively by local sports newspapers and television. |
The staff at the Jaguar Sports Club where this course was held.
Fooling around using polo sticks for GTBL. |
 
Local children are totally fascinated by their first experience
of GTBL. |
The promotion activities in Donetsk took place over two days and
Ukraine KTR Television covered the story. |
Mr. Imagawa, Director General of the Japan Gateball Union, is interviewed
by the newscaster (left) for the TV program "Morning Show." |
A photograph of all the players after a goodwill match with locals.
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Student players from Shiki High School, Saitama Prefecture in front of an historic
temple in Kiev. |
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| Participants
from Japan Speak Up |
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| Memory of promotion activities will
be cherished forever Yuji Aoki (Chiba pref.) |
A series of wonderful and moving
experiences Ritsuko Naoshima (Chiba pref.) |
Giving GTBL instruction in Ukraine produced happy memories for me that will never
be forgotten as long as I live. In particular, I noticed how seriously university
students take sports and strongly felt the depth of their interest in GTBL. I
hope that these promotion activities will not be temporary but that GTBL will
become an established sport in Ukraine. |
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I really felt that the basis of our promotion activities was the wonderfulallure
of GTBL. When I wondered whether the Ukrainians would continuewith GTBL in the
future, I realized that patient and steady promotion would hold the key. I hope
that this experience will also benefit the local people. |
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| Featuring in Ukraine broadcast an
unforgettable memory Sadaaki Maeda (Chiba pref.) |
Heartfelt thanks and encouragement
to those met in Ukraine Hirozo Kudo (Kyoto pref.) |
Our GTBL visit was the subject of a special Ukraine KRT Television sports program
and I had the luck to be interviewed by a sports caster. I was able to explain
that I got interested in GTBL as a result of the physiotherapy I had ten years
ago following an illness. I will never forget the shining eyes of the local students
and children who participated in the GTBL course. |
I was humbled by the enthusiasm of the university students and other local people
who participated in the course. In particular, I take my hat off to the sheer
persistence of those who tried time and time again to get past the first gate.
I think some truly wonderful players will emerge. I pray that GTBL takes root
in Ukraine, where we were able to plant the seeds for its growth. And I am very
keen to go back to Ukraine if possible. |
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Turkey
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GTBL Has Started Spreading in the Middle East! Ankara University
and Turkish University Sports Federation Decide to Promote GTBL |
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Students of National Ankara University enjoy their first taste
of GTBL. |
Students and staff of National Ankara University absorbed the basics of GTBL on
the day this picture was taken. |
The Rector of National Ankara University (sixth from right) and
staff of the Turkish University Sports Federation. |
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The well-known Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, Turkeys
capital. |
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Cappadocia is famous for its strange and wonderful
rock formations. |
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A commuter train in Istanbul |
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The GTBL course was held on the campus of the National Ankara University.
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| In Turkey, the promotion
of GTBL through the Turkish University Sports Federation started with a GTBL course
held at National Ankara University. The students were totally fascinated by their
first experience of GTBL, and reacted to each shot with smiles or frowns. The
National Ankara University is a huge research facility with large numbers of visiting
professors and overseas students. If the spread of GTBL succeeds here, there is
a good possibility that GTBL will spread far and wide, including to neighboring
Middle Eastern countries and around the world. We have now completed our GTBL
promotion activities in Turkey. But because most of those participating locally
in the activities were university students, GTBL looks set to spread through the
university network. The students were quick to learn playing techniques and understand
game tactics, and these activities will have greatly boosted GTBL's spread in
Turkey. |
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| Participants from Japan Speak Up |
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| Conveying the spirit of Japan Yasuji Nakano
(Chiba pref.) |
Enjoyed grassroots international exchange Sachi
Maruta (Saitama pref.) |
When I saw the local landscape and the people playing GTBL, I felt that the culture
and spirit of Turkey were like Japan's. I am sure that GTBL will also flourish
in there. In the future, when there is an opportunity for GTBL - which comes from
Japan - to be taken to other countries, I would like the spirit of Japan to be
taken along with it. The beauty of the local spots we visited also remains etched
in my memory. |
The heart-warming GTBL exchanges with students were totally harmonious and really
pleasant. I was able to see the true essence of GTBL in a place I wouldn't normally
get to see.
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