The Cayman Islands sporting scene has certainly blossomed in the past four years since Hurricane Ivan.
There has been a flourishing of new – such as flag football – and a huge expansion of some establsihed – such as softball.
Even the governor, Stuart Jack, enjoys the odd game Photo: Ron Shillingford |
Numerous sporting options that have become widely popular amongst residents.
Five years after a fledgling group of enthusiasts made early steps to organize the association, the Cayman Islands can at long last welcome the Cayman Islands Table Tennis Association as the newest organized sport to have a presence here.
The association was ushered into the sports scene last week under the auspices of the Cayman Islands Olympic Committee. Among the members of CITTA who were present were President Peter Smith, Director Roland Henry, Treasurer Robert Sairsingh and PR Officer Colleen Williams.
Looking on for the CIOC were President Donald McLean, Vice President Lori Powell, Secretary Carson Ebanks and Treasurer Bernie Bush.
With recognition as a member and support from the CIOC and also a pending application for full membership and voting rights with the International Table Tennis Federation, the CITTA has suddenly steam rolled with momentum since being officially incorporated just three months ago.
Starting with a core mix of various talented players in 2003, the foundational plans for the CITTA were laid. Like most everything in Grand Cayman, plans were sidelined with the distraction of having been impacted by Category 5 Hurricane Ivan.
The story of restoration, resilience, rebound and return to normalcy that has been the hallmark of the miraculous recovery of Cayman has extended to the CITTA as well.
Sports really was and continues to be an incredibly productive way to channel energies for both adults and children alike in the weeks, months and now years since Ivan and table tennis fans eventually found ways to get back together to play on occasion with the purchase and importation of new tables.
Once the play resumed, the conversation turned to organizing again and the ball started rolling to get the association properly registered and recognized.
With many thanks to His Excellency Governor Stuart Jack, the CI Sports Department and the Ministry of Sports for organizing the Sports at Governor’s House, table tennis was introduced to the Cayman sporting public this year.
BDO helped with their generous corporate sponsorship, First Baptist Church and First Baptist Christian School gave logistical support and Maples and Calder gave tremendous legal advice.
Thanks also to Citco Fund Services, Citco Bank and Trustees, Cayman National Bank and the families of the new Association Officers.
The CITTA is now poised to make a positive impact on enthusiasts who are interested in taking up table tennis.
The CITTA has a three-fold goal of being inclusive and all embracing for the casual and social player as well as being an outlet for the more competitive experienced players.
The association’s first official actions have actually focused on the development of the youngest and newest players to the sport.
The association has already made a donation of four first-class, top-of-the-line tables to the four high schools on the George Hicks School campus.
Additionally, the association has two executive officers serving as volunteer coaches in the first ever table tennis after school club at First Baptist Christian school.
With plans of holding perhaps three tournaments per year – two for adults and one for students – the association is now accepting membership from anyone interested.
While fund raising for tournaments will start early next year, one of the main goals of the CITTA will be to get more boards into schools.
The idea is to create more opportunities for both the youth to learn the game as well as the adult players.
As not only a useful avenue in which to channel untapped sports energy but one that can develop skill and camaraderie, there is also the potential for international travel and competition on the world stage in the sport of table tennis.
The CITTA has already been invited to Japan in 2009 by the International Table Tennis Federation. The association is also looking at the possibility of sending a team to the NatWest Island games in Aland next summer.
Additionally, with table tennis an Olympic sport and also wildly popular in China, the association would like to one day send a Cayman contingent to the Olympics.
New CITTA President Peter Smith, who is one of the top unofficial players in the sport on-island, is eager to spread the word about table tennis.
‘We know there are players out there who just haven’t heard about this opportunity to play as yet so we want to do everything we can to spread the word to increase both the number of players and the level of enthusiasm for the game,’ Smith said.
‘We want to make it fun and exciting, so we invite everyone who has ever even thought about taking up table tennis to come out to our initial membership registration drive at the George Hicks campus each Saturday from 10am until 12noon.’
Matches will be played at the George Hicks campus during the week.
‘You can also catch some of the action on Tuesday and Thursday evenings starting at 7:30pm at the George Hicks gymnasium. Feel free to bring a friend as racquets and balls will be available for those who want to give it a try.’
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