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AFT Books, Features Indonesia

Listen up: how audiobooks could help literacy in Indonesia

Literacy beyond the classroom

By Irfan Rifai, Bina Nusantara University in Jakarta

 

Since adults learn differently to children, tapping into familiar mediums could help boost literacy.

For the Gen Xers of Indonesia, radio dramas of the eighties like Saur Sepuh — a show dramatising the power struggles of the Majapahit empire — were akin to the Netflix of today. Some of these shows were so popular they helped to preserve regional languages.

Decades on, Indonesia’s literacy levels are not where they could be. Encouraging more Indonesians to embrace audiobooks could be a way forward.

While the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the global use of digital applications for people to consume and exchange information, Indonesia’s digital literacy index is still at the “medium” level.

The government wants to increase digital literacy among women, those with a low income, and low-educated and senior citizens, all groups who are falling behind on digital literacy.

Unlike children, adults learn using their existing base of knowledge and life experience. And for Gen X and Y, groups which collectively make up 47.75 percent of Indonesia’s entire population, radio dramas are a good frame of reference.

These generations have also witnessed the change in people’s behaviour toward data consumption and storage, not to mention the transformation of texts into eBooks, and then to other forms integrating visual and audio-visual components.

In the United States, adults aged 30 to 49 years are the biggest users of audiobooks, helping to drive overall growth in the sector.

Despite the rising popularity of audiobooks, many language and literacy scholars still question the platform’s contribution to supporting students’ comprehension. Some argue that for non-disabled students, listening to an audiobook is “cheating” as it does not provide the same experience as for those reading regular books or texts.

On the other hand, many literacy skills and strategies used by audiobook readers are comparable to those used by text readers. For example, students must use background knowledge and inferencing to understand stories, at the same time improving their comprehension, while listening to audiobooks.

The patterns of stress and intonation in a language spoken by narrators, known as prosody, can also help listeners clarify the meanings of certain ambiguous words.  Despite the lack of popularity of audiobooks in Indonesia, and scholars dismissing them, the habits of listening to narratives told in audio forms could become a significant “fund of knowledge” for adults wanting to improve their literacy via a familiar medium.

Busy Indonesians are already big users of Spotify, and audiobooks suit their fast paced lifestyle, able to be consumed while commuting, any time and anywhere.

Younger, more active adults can listen to audiobooks as they exercise, jog, or visit the gym. Those in rural areas or with poor internet infrastructure can even listen to audiobooks by having them pre-downloaded on their cell phones from school or public library computers.

For human beings, listening is a foundational skill for all kinds of learning. But as with any other skill, getting better at it requires practice. Listening and reading are two integrated receptive skills required to significantly improve one’s mastery of a foreign or second language. A regular habit of listening to audiobooks could also help build phonemic and phonological awareness or awareness of the sounds in their own language.

Students can start by listening to longer audiobooks than they read.

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AustraliaFitnessToday.com has selected this article, “Listen up: how audiobooks could help literacy in Indonesia” (link: https://www.australiafitnesstoday.com/2022/09/12/360-listen-up-how-audiobooks-could-help-literacy-in-indonesia/).

Irfan Rifai is a lecturer in the English department, Bina Nusantara University, Jakarta Indonesia. He is actively involved in Indonesia Literacy Educators’ Association. His research focuses on Reading and Writing Instructions ; Literacy ; and Readers’ Response. Dr. Rifai declares no conflict of interest and did not receive any funding of any form.

Originally published under Creative Commons by 360info™.

Commonwealth Games

Statement on the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Patron of the Commonwealth Games Federation

Dame Louise Martin, President of the Commonwealth Games Federation said:

“It is with profound sorrow that we learn of the passing of our Patron, Her Majesty The Queen.

Throughout her long life and reign, her extraordinary dedication and service to the Commonwealth has been an inspiration to so many, including all our Commonwealth Games athletes and officials.

Her Majesty’s vision for the Commonwealth as a diverse and united family of nations will continue to inspire us – and will remain our mission and duty for the benefit of all athletes and communities, through the power of sport.

Our thoughts and prayers are with His Majesty The King, The Queen Consort and all members of the Royal Family as we join with citizens across the Commonwealth in mourning her loss at this very sad time.”

—

This message has been published in Asia Fitness Today and Australia Fitness Today from a statement received from The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), the organisation that is responsible for the direction and control of the Commonwealth Games, and for delivering on the vision of the Commonwealth Sports Movement: through sport, we build peaceful, sustainable and prosperous communities across the Commonwealth. 

AFT Interviews, Pods Malaysia

AFT Interviews: Eyes on Amina Jindani and the ‘Theatre of the Mind’ collective

Amina Jindani is a performance art entrepreneur and founder of Mo One Drama. A teacher and a student, she has studied acting, creative writing and directing in London at the Royal Court Young Peoples’ Theatre. She embraced Malaysia as her home since 1991, and has explored theatre, film and television as an actress, presenter, producer, director, writer & performance educator for all ages.

A Speech and Drama teacher for over 25 years, Amina is passionate about helping her students grow from school children into creatively competent adults who are able to represent the nation on the world stage; giving speeches at international conferences; working in television, stage and film; winning awards at creative writing, public speaking and the arts; as well as possessing inspiring, creative skills that can enhance their profession in all types of careers.

 

Amina attained a Licentiate in Teaching Speech and Drama (Distinction) from Trinity College London and is certified and trained as professional teacher of Cambridge IGCSE Drama. Also known fondly in the arts circle as ‘Moone’, Amina was selected the Malaysian Winner of the Motion Picture International’s Script to Screen feature film pitching competition (2019) and won an Award of Excellence from Trinity College London (2017).

Team AFT spent some time to learn about Moone’s life stories and her latest projects; a radio play that is gaining attention from listeners around the world.

AFT: How did you ‘play’ while growing up?

Moone: I was one of those children who could play for hours on my own.  Sometimes, I’d make things out of old boxes, toilet rolls and sticky tape, sometimes it was about dressing up and creating characters to play and sometimes I’d record soundscapes on tape and invite my friends over to listen.  My favourite was making haunted house sounds for Hallowe’en.

AFT: What influenced your artistic eye?

Moone: I was very inspired by TV shows that taught children how to paint and make things but also museums.  I think my two favourite museums when I was a child were the V&A Museum and the Commonwealth Institute.  They made my mind explore culture and history and opened up my imagination and appreciation.  Art is everywhere but for me it’s mainly in how people past and present express themselves.

AFT: Theatre of the Mind is a fairly new installation, why did you come up with this form of radio drama? Do you think there an audience for this kind of classic radio play?

 

Moone: There is a niche audience that is growing.  When I was a teenager, I was challenged to make radio plays popular for young people and went on the radio with some scripts I wrote.  I think it was the wrong era as other young people weren’t really interested.  Then, recently, I noticed a new generation of younger people listening to audio online again.  It was time to pick up the thread and reach out once again.  I’ve waited a long time for this.

Eight months ago, here was the ‘cold’ reading of a script written by Amina Jindani of the first episode of Derek Kong, Private Detective. Video link: https://youtu.be/ARtq7QiTY5E.

AFT: Did you produce any scripts or produced any plays or dramas during COVID19? What did you do to pass time?

Moone: The first thing I did was embrace the art of not doing anything at all!  It was liberating.  I lived like a cat eating, sleeping, stretching and sitting looking out of the window.  Then I started to cut old clothes and sew them into a bedspread.  I enjoyed the slow pace and listened to stories online while sewing.  Then all of a sudden all these script ideas came flooding to me and I started writing.  Shakespeare wrote his best works during the great plague and I realised why – ideas need space to develop – not a cluttered schedule of stuff to do.

 
The poem, Wau Bulan, was written a few years ago by Amina Jindani and is published in Celine’s Anthology – Part 1, published by Wordville (UK), 2021 during the MCO lockdown. It has been used in Malaysian school performances, for teaching in classes. Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCSy3q7wV7g

AFT: What is the one thing you strive to do with Moone Drama? Tell us about the early days, how you started this company. Have you been successful?

Moone: MoOne Drama strives to develop performance arts pedagogy as the basis for all education.  To develop creativity, expression, interpretation and to think critically with experiential learning.  I started it because mainstream education is a rewards-based system focused on the end product and not the journey.  I wanted to create a learning experience that is about the journey for the personal development of people – all people. In 2021, we won an award as Malaysia’s Best Performing Arts Institute.  This year, we launched MO1 Productions where trainees can learn to work with established professionals. It’s growing and I’m happy with the progress.

AFT: Tell us about work that you have not finished or can’t complete? What happens then?

Moone: I have written screenplays with a lot of trial and error in the process.  There’s such a big gap between writing a screenplay and producing one.  I am determined to start getting these stories made one day.  I will keep going.  Sometimes, it’s about meeting the right people or it’s about the timing.  Sometimes, you realise you need to do a re-write and so I work on these in the background.

AFT: Is health and fitness important to you as a scriptwriter and performance artist? Can you share a little about your daily routine?

Moone: When my mind travels into my ideas, I kind of feel like my body is not doing anything.  I’m not even aware of it.  After a while, I notice that I have not even moved.  That’s when I decide to take a long walk.  I don’t drive and have been a pedestrian all my life.  Walking is my source of fitness.  When I walk, I go on for miles and miles.  When I don’t walk, I make sure I do household chores the old-fashioned way.  I don’t use a washing machine – I hand wash clothes every day.  I mop, clean, scrub, dig the garden and saw the excess branches off trees. It’s like going to the gym.

AFT: Finally, what’s your ultimate favourite thing to do?

Moone: Zone out! I can sit and do nothing and relish that feeling of incoming creativity.  Ideas forming. After I zone out, I am so much more productive.

If your curiosity is piqued about what a Noir Parody Audio Drama could sound like, tune in to the Theatre of the Mind’s production of Derek Kong, Private Detective on Facebook, YouTube and SoundCloud. Or, visit the official website: https://www.moonedrama.com/about-3.

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Originally published in AsiaFitnessToday.com AFT Interviews: Eyes on Amina Jindani and the ‘Theatre of the Mind’ collective is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International license. Source: https://www.asiafitnesstoday.com/?p=12679.

Features Australia/NZ, Features Australia/NZ, Features Australia/NZ, Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs), Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs), Seniors' Health

Celebrities combine forces and voices to support people impacted by dementia, plus National Dementia Helpline now 24/7

Dementia Action Week takes place from 19 – 25 September 2022 in Australia.

Celebrity supporters, Ambassadors, Patron Ita Buttrose AC OBE and a person living with dementia have combined forces and lent their voices to an audiobook version of Dementia Australia’s Dementia Guide.

“The Dementia Guide is the go-to online resource for any person impacted by any form of dementia, of any age, in any location across Australia,” Ms Buttrose said.

“Speaking for the voices team, I know we have all been thrilled to contribute to The Dementia Guide Audiobook to increase the accessibility to vital information about dementia and the support available.

“Each person who has shared their voice has had an experience of dementia in their family and we have done this to raise awareness and help others to know they are not alone and that there is support available.”

Dementia Australia Ambassadors and voices Natarsha Belling, Stephanie Bendixsen, Takaya Honda, Mark Seymour, Denis Walter OAM, Pat Welsh and celebrity supporters Rhonda Burchmore OAM and Geraldine Hickey wholeheartedly echo Ita’s words and have enthusiastically backed the project.

Not just for people living with dementia, The Dementia Guide is also for friends, families and carers, and talks to the impact dementia may have on a person, the treatment, support and services they may need, and how loved ones can provide support.

Stephanie Bendixsen, video game critic and television presenter, said she added her voice to the audiobook as she sees the value in a more accessible resource for families, such as hers, who need to navigate life with dementia.

“My mother passed away from Alzheimer’s disease in 2018, and we really knew so little about dementia when she was diagnosed,” Ms Bendixsen said.

“This made it difficult to understand why certain things were happening with her behaviourally, and we struggled to understand what was truly going on inside her brain, how her physicality was affected and how best we could support her and my Dad, her main carer, as a family.
“Resources like this are so very valuable, and their accessibility even more so. Even though I consider myself a big reader – finding the time to sit down and read a book can be tricky when you have a busy lifestyle. I switched to audiobooks years ago so that I can absorb books while I’m driving, walking the dog, doing chores – it’s been life-changing. An easily accessible resource like this would have made a wonderful difference to me and my family when we were coming to terms with how Mum’s – and our lives – would change.”

The audiobook includes a welcome from Dementia Australia CEO Maree McCabe AM and a chapter recorded by Ann Pietsch, who is a Dementia Advocate and lives with dementia.

“I was invited to read one of the chapters and I personally think that The Dementia Guide is a valuable resource, making it available as an audio book is a great idea as it will now be easily available to more people living with dementia, carers, and families and the wider public,” Mrs Pietsch said.

This media release has been provided by DementiaAustralia.org media release issued on 17 August 2022.

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AustraliaFitnessToday.com Celebrities combine forces and voices to support people impacted by dementia, plus National Dementia Helpline now 24/7 is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International license. Source: https://www.australiafitnesstoday.com/?p=12423&preview=true

AFTNews, Features Malaysia, Fit Tech & Gadgets, Fitness, Olympics

Dato Pandelela Rinong dives into the “OpenSea” with release of non-fungible token (NFT) collectible, ‘P.ZERO1’

AFT News | Malaysia

(PRNewsGIG/AFTNN) – Malaysian athlete Dato Pandelela Rinong revealed her exclusive non-fungible token (NFT) collectible ‘P.Zero1’, which is up for auction until 31 August 2022 via the digital NFT market, OpenSea. Fans will have the opportunity to bid to become the sole owner of the NFT which unlocks a priceless personalised experience with Pandelela and a framed printout of the NFT hand-delivered by the athlete herself.

(From Left): Jolene Knight, Founder & Brand Manager of Knight Communications, Pandelela Rinong, Nicholas Chuan, the digital artist behind the “P.Zero1” NFT and Yong-Chul Yun, Founder of Prime Sports NFT

Intrigued by the evolving NFT industry globally, Pandelela was driven to create her own line of digital artworks as an expression of her professional and personal journey as an athlete.

My vision for ‘P.Zero1’ was to share a piece of my story with the world and to pay homage to the sport which has drastically changed my life from a young Bidayuh village girl to an internationally recognised sportswoman. The adage ‘Zero to One’ reflects the journey I went through – of fate, perseverance, mental strength and dedication that has taken me thus far as well as this whole process of creating something radically new. It is an exciting phase for me and it challenges me to learn and try new things. As they say – the sky’s the limit and my message is for people to always strive for self-discovery and growth with an unwavering commitment to their goals.

Dato’ Pandelela Rinong, Malaysian Olympian & World Championships medalist

I have seen Lela grow from a shy young lady to a confident and courageous adult who is always curious about the world outside sports. There are so many things for her to learn and so many opportunities to explore to create and establish her own brand – something which she could be proud of. This is her first step towards more exciting things. This project has been months in the making and we are excited to share ‘P.Zero1’ with Malaysians and the world. As NFT innovation continues to develop globally, both Pandelela and I are thrilled to venture into this space with the goal of contributing positively and inspiring the youth. We are also thrilled to organise this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the NFT owner to have a tailor-made personalised experience with Pandelela”.

Jolene Knight, Founder and Brand Manager of Knight Communications who has journeyed alongside Pandelela as her Business Manager for 7 years.
Pandelela Rinong holds a framed printout of her NFT collectible – ‘P.Zero1’

Embarking on this creative journey with a prolific athlete like Pandelela has been monumental. Our mission has been to nurture the creative process between athlete and artist while bringing the NFT to market for the fans. We are strong proponents of promoting closer bonds between athletes and fans and are constantly looking for ways to innovate these engagements.”

Founder of Prime Sports International (PSI), Yong-Chul Yun

The collaboration with Pandelela also marks the second initiative and brainchild of Prime Sports NFT which aims to connect the world of sports, arts and culture. Following its recent success with footballer Safee Sali’s ‘SEPULUH’ NFT collection, Prime Sports NFT has been making waves to further partnerships with athletes, artists and partners in the region to be part of the rising industry.

Hailing from Penang, Nicholas Chuan is the digital artist behind Pandelela’s ‘P.Zero1’ NFT who also carries a portfolio of illustrations for world-renowned organisations such as UEFA, Formula 1’s Red Bull Racing, Liverpool FC and FC Bayern and most recently football legend Safee Sali’s ‘SEPULUH’ NFT. “I’m proud to be able to once again represent and work closely with a prominent Malaysian athlete like Pandelela. In addition to her accomplishments, I have always admired her work ethic, determination and courage as a female athlete and wanted to translate her amazing story and core values into ‘P.Zero1’. I hope the fans will enjoy it as much as I have.”

Pandelela’s ‘P.Zero1’ NFT goes live on auction for a period of 7 days beginning 24th August to 31st August 2022 via OpenSea. Fans will have the opportunity to bid to become the exclusive owner of the exclusive NFT which will unlock exciting benefits including a unique personalised experience with Pandelela and a framed printout of ‘P.Zero1’ handed to the NFT owner by the athlete herself.

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AFTNews, Commonwealth Games, Features Australia/NZ

Women’s sport celebrated at Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games

International Working Group on Women and Sport calls for more to be done to drive global gender equality

August 4, 2022 via PRNews/GIG – Key figures from sport, media and politics have gathered to celebrate the success of women’s sport at the Commonwealth Games at a special event at New Zealand House. The event, staged in partnership with the International Working Group (IWG) on Women & Sport, was also an opportunity for global leaders to discuss what more can be done to achieve gender equality in sport and the benefits of doing so.

Birmingham 2022 is the first major multi-sport event in history to award more medals to women than men, while the debut of women’s T20 cricket has proved one of the success stories of the competition so far. 

The event at New Zealand House, which is part of the official handover of the IWG from Aotearoa New Zealand to the United Kingdom, saw CGF President Dame Louise Martin DBE, IWG Co-Chairs Annamarie Phelps CBE OLY and Raewyn Lovett ONZM, Minister for Sport Nigel Huddleston and New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister, Grant Robertson come together to celebrate the growing success of women’s sport. It was also an opportunity to reflect on the work still to be done to bring about true equality given:

  • Only 7% of Chairs and Presidents in Olympic and Paralympic sport are women ;
  • According to Forbes, only one of the top 50 highest paid athletes in 2020 was a woman;
  • In 2018 the Lancet Global Health found that more than a quarter of adults globally are insufficiently physically active and across most countries, women are less active than men which means that millions of women globally are missing out on physical health, mental health and social rewards of taking part in sport and activity.

Established almost 30 years ago in Brighton, the IWG is the world’s largest network dedicated to advancing gender equality in sport and physical activity. The network is committed to leading positive change which aligns to the UN Sustainable Development Goal to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

The IWG is currently hosted by New Zealand; with the 8th IWG World Conference on Women & Sport taking place in Auckland on 14-17 November 2022.

The UK will then receive the hosting baton for the quadrennial period of 2022-2026, with the 9th IWG World Conference taking place in Birmingham in four years’ time.
The event at New Zealand House helped to profile the upcoming conference in New Zealand, as a Graphic Illustrator captured discussions for a piece of artwork that aims to showcase the rise of women and sport, while outlining hopes for the future of gender equality.

CGF President Dame Louise Martin DBE said: “A key focus of our Games is women’s sport. 

“In that respect, Birmingham 2022 is quite special as the first major multi-sport event in history to have more medals for women than men. We can be so proud of the progress we have made and we have come a long way towards gender equality in sport, but there is still much more to be done.

“So, while today is a celebration of women’s sport, it is also a chance for us to look ahead and to continue to collaborate to bring about further progress.

“To that end, we are proud to help promote the work of the International Working Group on Women & Sport as they continue to advance gender equity and equality in sport across the world.” 

IWG Co-Chair Annamarie Phelps CBE OLY said: “In the week when England won the women’s Euros, helping to catapult women’s sport into the spotlight like never before, it’s the perfect time to be pushing to achieve gender equality across the globe. 

“The IWG network is a platform to both advocate for change and share insights and learnings to help advance gender equality, harnessing the knowledge and momentum from within the IWG movement.”

New Zealand Co-Chair of the IWG, Raewyn Lovett said: “It’s been an honour and a privilege to have been kaitiaki – to have been the guardian – of the world’s largest network dedicated to advancing gender equity and equality in sport, physical education and physical activity. 

“Today, we opened the circle, with IWG UK taking over Secretariat leadership globally. IWG New Zealand will continue to lead delivery of the 8th IWG World Conference on Women & Sport through to its staging in Auckland this November: where we will close the circle and complete the handover.

“The people and organisations in the room today have extraordinary power and influence and the ability to positively impact the lives of women and girls the world over. We issued them with an invitation to bring this expertise to the table in Auckland, to help us drive change through sport.”

Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston said: “It’s been a seismic week for women’s sport with the Lionesses’ stunning victory at Wembley and many incredible performances at Birmingham 2022.  

“While women’s sport continues to go from strength to strength, we know there is more to be done to support women both on and off the field of play.

“The handover of the IWG is an incredible opportunity to build on the success so far and to push for true gender equality in sport.” 

CEO of UK Sport, Sally Munday, said: “The handover of the IWG from New Zealand to the UK is an opportunity that goes far beyond the four years that we will host it.

“The important thing is that we are consciously making decisions which nurture a strong legacy for gender equality globally. Being part of the world’s largest network that is devoted to achieving gender equality in sport means we all have a responsibility to inspire positive change. The impact that this change will have on the next generation of sport is in our hands.

“What we have witnessed both at the women’s Euros and over the last week here in Birmingham reflects what an exciting time this is for female athletes and all of us involved in sports administration to be promoting change. The scope for progress in this space is immense and I am looking forward to seeing women and girls in sport thrive in the future.”

Tim Hollingsworth, CEO of Sport England, said: “The UK taking the baton as hosts of the IWG could not be coming at a better time as we look to capitalise on the incredible success of so many of our brilliant female sporting stars. 

“Their achievements are a reminder that the work to break down the barriers that stop so many women and girls from participating fully in sport must continue to be a huge focus for us all. 

“Becoming hosts of the IWG provides an important and exciting catalyst for this work, and we must ensure that we use its potential to bring decision-makers and influencers together to create lasting change.”

Dame Janet Beer, Chair of the Sport and Recreation Alliance said: “I am delighted that the collaborative work led by the Sport and Recreation Alliance for the last two years has now officially reached the stage when the Secretariat for this prestigious group moves to the UK. As a part of the Alliance’s strategic commitment to support the improvement of equality, diversity and inclusion, the most influential, impactful and diverse voices from sport and recreation were convened to make this happen and we look forward to playing our part as leaders from across the global sporting stage.”

New Zealand Olympic Committee CEO Nicki Nicol: “New Zealand’s female athletes have contributed to New Zealand’s proud Olympic and Commonwealth Games History and at Birmingham 2022 we have, for the first time, more women than men in the team. Their feats of strength, speed, resilience and commitment contribute to building our nation’s identity. Their potential to connect with and inspire new generations of young boys and girls cannot be understated and we are delighted to be supporting conversations and progress around women in sport.”

Ends.

About the CGF
The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) is the organisation that is responsible for the direction and control of the Commonwealth Games, and for delivering on the vision of the Commonwealth Sports Movement: through sport, we build peaceful, sustainable and prosperous communities across the Commonwealth. 

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Fitness

The World Games comes to a close in Birmingham Alabama

2 August 2022 via PRNewsGIG — The World Games 2022 Birmingham, USA are over. Here are some figures of the 11th edition of the multi-sport event that was held 7–17 2022 July in Alabama:

  • Over 3,459 athletes from 99 nations competed.
  • The world saw outstanding performances in 34 sports, 58 disciplines and 223 medal events.
  • All sports were held across 23 venues.
  • 375,000 spectators created this special atmosphere: for the feeling of being in Sweet Home Alabama.
  • Those who could not be present in the stadium watched on the screen. ISB, the host broadcaster, produced 640 hours of TV pictures of the Games with more than 300 employees from 21 countries.
  • These images were shown on TV in more than 80 countries, including the USA, China, Germany and Ukraine, as well as throughout South America.
  • Those who could not watch the Games on TV used Olympics.com to stream the thrilling performances of The World Games 2022. In short, the whole world was watching the athletes perform at their best.
  • 750 media representatives had accredited for the Games. By far the majority came from the United States.
  • 32 National Olympic Committees or National Sports Organizations were present in Birmingham to support the athletes from their countries.
  • To make sure that everyone knew what the score was, what time was run or not run, or what points were awarded by the judges, the Result Module from Swiss Timing provided prompt service. It can be accessed on the website. Congratulations to the tireless efforts of 3,000 volunteers who made the athletes feel that Southern Hospitality.
  • 🇩🇪 Germany won the medal standings for the first time at The World Games with 24 gold, 7 silver and 16 bronze medals. 🇺🇸 Team USA used the home advantage and came second with 16 gold, 18 silver and 10 bronze medals. 🇺🇦Ukraine came in third (16/12/17). Germany is now ranked two (behind Italy) in the overall medal tally of all 11 editions.
  • 73 countries won a medal at The World Games. That is a new record number, and there for several who won their first medal ever: Brunei, Panama, India, Tunisia and Virgin Islands, USA.
  • Johana VIVEROS MONDRAGON from Colombia won four times gold and once silver in Speed Skating. She was the athletes with most medals at The World Games 2022. Nina HOLT from Germany won four times gold and one bronze in Life Saving.
  • Bart SWINGS (Belgium) is the first athlete to win gold at both the Olympic Games and The World Games in the same year. In Birmingham, the speed skater won four gold and one bronze. Earlier this year, in February, he won Olympic gold in Ice Skating.
  • Powerlifter Yukoko Fukushima won gold for the first time at her sixth edition of The World Games. The legendary powerlifter proved that perseverance pays off.
  • The Dutch in Korfball, on the other hand, know no dry spell. They took part for the tenth time and won gold for the tenth time.
  • The first gold medal of the Games went to the Colombian skater Geiny Pajaro, who won the 200 meters time trial at 9:43 am on Friday 8th July. The last one was awarded to the Men’s Canoe Polo Team from Germany on Sunday 18th July at 3:15pm.
  • A new sport on the programme was Wheelchair Rugby – this was the first time a para-sport was on the programme of The World Games. Drone Racing (Air Sports), Breaking (DanceSport), Parkour (Gymnastics) and Flag Football (American Football) made their debut as new disciplines in Birmingham, Alabama.
  • And another premiere: The World Games introduced EGaming for the first time. Fans could try their hand at the virtual versions of our sports Archery, Baseball and Racquetball.
  • Birmingham’s Mayor Randall Woodfin officially opened the Games on 7 July and IWGA President José Perurena ceremoniously closed them on 17 July.
  • IOC President Thomas Bach said during his visit: “If the athletes are happy, we’re happy.” What we heard from the athletes was: “We are very happy here in Birmingham.” The response from the athletes on social media was also overwhelmingly positive.
  • An emotional moment: The 98 athletes from Ukraine were greeted with a standing ovation by the 27,000 spectators as they entered Protective Stadium for the Opening Ceremony.
  • Sergey Bubka, the President of the Ukrainian NOC, received a cheque for 54,000 dollars from the hands of the Chair of the Birmingham Organising Committee, Jonathan Porter. From each ticket and merchandise item sold since April 2022, the organisers had donated one dollar for the reconstruction of sports facilities in Ukraine.
  • The President of the USA, Joe Biden, sent a letter to the athletes and organisers with words of encouragement and appreciation.
  • Chengdu, People’s Republic of China invited us to celebrate the 12th edition of The World Games in 2025.

Congratulations to the people and the host city of Birmingham! 

About The World Games (TWG): TWG is a multi-sport event staged every fouroo years by the International World Games Association, organised with the support of the International Olympic Committee. The 11th edition of The World Games is held in Birmingham, Alabama, USA, 7-17 July 2022. 3,600 athletes from 34 sports and over 100 countries take part in The World Games.

AFT TV, Documentary

AFT Film Recommendations: KARMA

KARMA is a small film with a big philosophical question: what is more important, inner development or outward social action? In a nunnery in the high desert mountains of Mustang, a revered abbess dies, leaving signs that she will be reborn in the precious human form once more. Prayers and rituals must be done to help her consciousness into its next rebirth, but the nunnery coffers are empty. The senior nuns decide that the only way out is to retrieve money loaned out by the nunnery. The two nuns assigned this mission are Karma, a free-spirited nun, and her opposite, Sonam, a more by the book nun.

Subscribe the the Mila Productions channel: https://bit.ly/2K35T00

PRNews

ALTY Orthopaedic Hospital and Viatris drive awareness on scoliosis

Via PRNews/GIG

Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine that most often is diagnosed in adolescents. ​Most cases of scoliosis are mild, but some curves worsen as children grow and severe scoliosis can be disabling. An especially-severe spinal curve can reduce the amount of space within the chest, making it difficult for the lungs to function properly, and thus creating complications such as chronic pain, breathing difficulties, and a reduced capacity for exercise.

In conjunction with the official Scoliosis Awareness Month in June 2022, ALTY Orthopaedic Hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia has partnered with pharmaceutical company, Viatris to drive awareness among Malaysians. The collaboration will be held across four pharmacy branches in Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya and walk-in visitors will receive a complimentary posture screening to detect early signs of Scoliosis if any.

“As a healthcare institution, we are committed to drive awareness and educate Malaysians to detect early signs of Scoliosis. Without early treatment, prolonged Scoliosis can severely impact health in the long term. We are also honoured to have partnered with Viatris who believes in the importance of driving awareness and educating fellow Malaysians on Scoliosis,” said Assoc. Prof. (C) Dr. G Ruslan Nazaruddin Simanjuntak, Consultant Orthopaedic & Joint Replacement Surgeon and Chairman, ALTY Orthopaedic Hospital.

“Through these screenings, we hope to make a difference in the patients’ lives and improving their quality of life. This is aligned with our mission of empowering people worldwide to live healthier at every stage of life” said Jeff Bote, Country Manager of Viatris Malaysia.

The Scoliosis community screenings are supported by strategic healthcare partners, Caring Pharmacy
and Health Lane Family Pharmacy. The screenings will be held throughout Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya in Malaysia with location and dates available via the website: www.altyortho.com.

Read more about Scoliosis in the Ministry of Health Malaysia website: Scoliosis – PORTAL MyHEALTH.

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AFTNews, Events, Fitness, Fitness Apps

Les Mills Live – The biggest festival of fitness heads to Melbourne in August 2022

Update: Tickets are A$64.95 for Les Mills Instructors and A$84.95 for non-Les Mills Instructors. Secure your spot: www.lesmills.com.au/live/melbourne.

Les Mills Instructors and class devotees across Australia and Southeast Asia will want to mark their calendar because LES MILLS LIVE – the ultimate international fitness festival – is heading to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on the 13th and 14th of August. The event promises incredible workouts with epic music, lights, energy and excitement. It’s also your chance to meet and work out with the world’s most inspiring Program Directors, Presenters and Instructors.

After two years of relentless lockdowns across Australia and Southeast Asia, LES MILLS LIVE Melbourne is confirmation the live revival has well and truly emerged. The Les Mills 2021 Global Fitness Report revealed that class attendances reached 120 per cent of pre-COVID levels across worldwide markets after restrictions lifted. This strong recovery by gyms across the globe has been reinforced by the trend of Instructors and members alike flocking back to group fitness as they celebrate the return to in-person exercise; which is why, LES MILLS LIVE Melbourne is expected to sell out.

Over two days, a thousand attendees will experience the brand new Q3 Releases across most Les Mills programs. This unforgettable event gives Instructors and LES MILLS+ subscribers the chance to enjoy the true essence of Les Mills programs, which lies in the unrivalled magic of a live experience. Plus, LES MILLS LIVE Melbourne is also a rare opportunity for attendees to meet some of their favourite Presenters and Program Directors from whom they’ve been working out with on-screen, including:

  • Dan Cohen (Program Director for BODYCOMBAT®)
  • Khiran Huston (Trainer/Presenter for LES MILLS SPRINT®, LES MILLS TONE®, THE TRIP®, RPM®, LES MILLS GRIT® and BODYPUMP®)
  • Vili Fifita (Les Mills Ambassador and Presenter for BODYCOMBAT and BODYPUMP)
  • Reagan Kang (Les Mills Ambassador, Trainer, Presenter for BODYCOMBAT, BODYPUMP and LES MILLS GRIT)
  • Bas Hollander (Education Director at Les Mills International, and Trainer for the Les Mills GRIT Series, LES MILLS SPRINT®, LES MILLS THE TRIP® and LES MILLS TONE®)
  • Dee Rowell (Les Mills Ambassador, Trainer and Presenter for RPM®, LES MILLS SPRINT, BODYSTEP® and LES MILLS TONE)
  • Bevan James Eyles (BODYATTACK® Presenter).

So, if you’re ready to enjoy an unforgettable fitness experience that is much like a rock concert experience mixed with your favourite high energy workouts and Presenters, and shared with a thousand friends and fans, then mark your diary because tickets go on sale in June.

LES MILLS LIVE Melbourne is set to be the group fitness event of the year, so to ensure you never miss a beat in the lead up to when registrations open, visit www.lesmills.com.au/live/melbourne and subscribe to receive priority notifications.

Les Mills Live Singapore 2018

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AsiaFitnessToday.com Les Mills Live – The biggest festival of fitness heads to Melbourne in August 2022 was first published on May 19, 2022 and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International license. Source: https://www.asiafitnesstoday.com/les-mills-live-2022/