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Athletes take off on Sister Cities Sports Exchange

The first leg of the 2006 Sister Cities Sports Exchange kicked off on Sunday 15 January when a delegation of young Latrobe City athletes commenced their journey to Japan.

By Latrobe City Council - 16th January 2006 - Back to News

The first leg of the 2006 Sister Cities Sports Exchange kicked off on Sunday 15 January when a delegation of young Latrobe City athletes commenced their journey to Japan. An under 14 boys soccer team (14 boys) and an under 14 girls basketball team (12 girls) flew out on Sunday for the trip of a lifetime.

The students are flying to Osaka via Singapore and will then continue on by train to Latrobe City’s Japanese sister city, Takasago.

The first five days after arriving in Takasago will be a gruelling culmination of sporting and cultural experiences. Both the basketball and soccer teams will play a demanding three matches against local schools. Latrobe City deputy mayor, Cr Bruce Lougheed, said that our teams can expect to meet with some stiff competition, but that we have faith in the students and are confident that they will play to the best of their abilities, and be great ambassadors for Latrobe.

The students will be fully immersed in the Japanese culture during their stay. Some of the opportunities available to the students while in the country include attending the Hakuryo Junior High School where they will gain an experience of Japanese schooling; they will also have the chance to take in an educational tour of Takasago and its surrounds. Another unique experience will be the home stay arrangements put in place, where the children will be billeted out to local families to get a true taste of how the Japanese live.

Before returning to Osaka for the trip home, the group will have stopovers at Himeji where they will come to terms with historical wonders such as renowned word heritage listed site - The Castle of the White Egret; and Hiroshima, where they will be confronted with its global significance and the powerful awareness of how war can affect the civilian population of a country.

Accompanying the children will be a coaching and support team made up five adults from the Latrobe Valley Soccer Association and the Latrobe City Energy Basketball Club. Latrobe City Marketing and Communications Manager, Grantley Switzer, will also be accompanying the teams on the trip, and the group will be met by Yuki Poole, Latrobe City’s International Relations Officer, who is currently on extended leave in her hometown in Japan.

Cr Lougheed added that Latrobe City eagerly awaited the students return. "Their trip will be a one of a kind experience and we look forward to them returning with stories of the experiences and adventures which they have embarked upon during their time away," Cr Lougheed said.

"The students visit is not only a great learning experience for them, but it also benefits the whole community by bringing the relationship with our sister cities another step closer," Cr Lougheed said.

The tour is arranged and subsidised by Latrobe City, however the children and their families have made considerable contributions in terms of fundraising and monetary contribution.

In addition, corporate sponsorship has been a critical element in funding the trip, with Tru Energy Yallourn, Loy Yang Power, Australian Paper and Flight Centre Traralgon coming on board as the major sponsors.

The group was officially farewelled on Friday at an official Council and Sponsors luncheon at the Traralgon Civic Precinct.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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