IN 2009, the Guam Table Tennis Federation (GTTF) had designed the Family Youth Development Program, a three-phase program created to help provide family and community togetherness to prevent crime. Phase 1 involves school implementation and movement for table tennis to become an interscholastic sport at the local schools, and is still underway.
For Phase 2, the village implementation part, GTTF President James Ji and International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Oceania Development Officer Michael Brown have been distributing table tennis equipment to the 19 districts on Guam for added recreation to the community for community-family bonding and to further promote the health benefits of the sport.
Sponsored by Calvo’s Insurance SelectCare, Paul Calvo, president of Calvo’s Insurance, was actively participating in the demonstration of the sport at the Agana Heights Village Summer Camp and the Agat Village Summer Camp which had a yield of more than 100 participants of all ages.
The Village Implement Phase requires that each village formulate a district or village team with competitions within the village as well as monthly challenges with other districts. Each district is also required to compete in the Gov. Paul M. Calvo Cup tournament in April of each year, commencing April 2013.
Today, SelectCare President Calvo along with GTTF and ITTF will once again be demonstrating the skill of the sport at the Mangilao and Dededo Senior Citizens Centers.
Having table tennis equipment in all the villages on Guam is one of the greatest mediums to fulfill the desire of all ages having an activity they can all do together. The game is compatible to people of all age groups. Players from children to adults as well as young players to the elderly can participate in the game of table tennis together or against each other. And playing with others provides a sense of intimacy, and instills respect and good lessons of sportsmanship.
Consequently, there is need for programs and policy actions as early as possible at the family, community, schools, and governmental levels to address the problem of decreasing physical activity with increasing age. GTTF has already addressed these needs. And with SelectCare Insurance as a sponsor, they are sure to meet the federation's 3H mission statement to attain healthy youths, happier families, and a healthy Guam.
GTTF is currently providing training camps at the Tamuning Community Center – Monday through Friday from 9 to 11 a.m. and offers practice and free play at the Dededo Sports Complex every Tuesday and Thursday from 6:30 through 9:30 p.m. For more information, contact respective village mayors about village practices or contact the GTTF office at 477-9219/9220.
(Information obtained from a press release)
