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Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games: APAC focus

Share link: https://bit.ly/TOKYO2020AFT #Tokyo2020

Last update 10/8/2021, first published 22/7/2021 with fresh updates on Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in 2021 (23 July – 8 August) & Paralympic Games (24 August – 5 September) with a focus on athletes from the Asia Pacific region.

LEGEND: NEWS | VIDEOS | PODCASTS | SCHEDULE & RESULTS | WHERE TO WATCH | REPLAYS & HIGHLIGHTS

Live blogroll, focused on APAC athletes:

8/8/2021

OVERALL Australia’s fourth place medal ranking at Tokyo 2020 was impressive, the best so far and received a congratulatory acknowledgement from the Australian Institute of Sport (read more). Watersport was a winner with 35 Aussies competing in the swimming pool and 26 in water polo, with a total of 483 participants for Team Australia. Medals were brought home in these areas of sport; athletics, basketball, beach volleyball, boxing, canoe, cycling bmx, cycling track, diving, equestrian, hockey, rowing, skateboard, sailing, swimming & tennis.

CYCLING KEIRIN Silver medalist Mohd Azizulhasni Awang of Team Malaysia was pride of his country during the medal ceremony at the Men’s Keirin final on day 16 at Izu Velodrome in Shizuoka. The 33-year-old’s hope for gold was crushed by Great Britain’s Jason Kenny. Known as the “Pocket Rocketman”, Azizulhasni is now the proud owner of two Olympic medals after winning a bronze in Rio 2016.

9/8/2021

DIVING WRAP-UP Singaporean diver Jonathan Chang’s journey to Tokyo 2020 stemmed from a Youth Olympic Games (YOG) spectator in 2010 and competitor in 2014, to the Tokyo 2020 Games where he is set to become his nation’s first male Olympic diver.

  • Seven out of eight gold medals won by China, with Great Britain taking the other one, just as at Rio 2016.
  • Leading the way for China were powerhouse divers XIE Siyi (Men’s 3m springboard gold medal) and SHI Tingmao (Women’s 3m Springboard Final), who both landed two gold medals.
  • Great Britain’s Tom Daley (Men’s 10m Synchro) closed in and took home the gold. Daley made his Olympic debut as a 14-year-old at Beijing 2008.
  • 14-year-old QUAN Hongchan scored three 10s to win the Women’s 10m platform final.

Individual

Men’s 3m springboard

  • Gold: XIE Siyi (CHN)
  • Silver: WANG Zongyuan (CHN)
  • Bronze: Jack Laugher (GB)

Women’s 3m springboard

  • Gold: SHI Tingmao (CHN)
  • Silver: WANG Han (CHN)
  • Bronze: Krysta Palmer (USA)

Men’s 10m platform

  • Gold: CAO Yuan (CHN)
  • Silver: YANG Jian (CHN)
  • Bronze: Tom Daley (GB)

Women’s 10m platform

  • Gold: QUAN Hongchan (CHN)
  • Silver: CHEN Yuxi (CHN)
  • Bronze: Melissa Wu (AUS)

31/7/2021

Major coverage roundup on badminton. The Badminton World Federation announced 87 male and 86 female players competed at Tokyo 2020. 

Chinese Taipei
China
Malaysia

BADMINTON, MEN’S DOUBLES Lee Yang and Wang Chi-Lin, representing Chinese Taipei are the happy Gold Medallists winning against China’s Li Jun Hui and Liu Yu Chen on day eight of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Musashino Forest Sport Plaza. The game lasted 34 minutes with a score: 21-18, 21-12. No. 2 seeds, Indonesia’s Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan were beaten by the same Chinese Taipei pair 21-11, 21-10 in one of the two semifinals, and Malaysians Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik take home the Bronze.

Indonesia
China
Republic of Korea

BADMINTON, WOMEN’S DOUBLES

A huge surprise but a gleam evident on the faces of Greysia Polii and Apriyani Rahayu for bringing home Indonesia’s first ever Olympic Women’s Doubles Gold, while China’s Chen Qing Chen and Jia Yi Fan settle for silver on day ten. Republic of Korea’s Kim Soyeong and Kong Heeyong won the bronze medal. 

Indonesia
China
Japan

BADMINTON, MIXED DOUBLES

Wang Yi Lyu and Huang Dong Ping of China win gold in an all China final! They beat Zheng Si Wei and Huang Ya Qiong after a thrilling final. Japan’s WATANABE Yuta and HIGASHINO Arisa won the bronze medal against TANG Chun Man and TSE Ying Suet from Hong Kong, China in two straight sets 21-17 and 23-21.

Denmark
China
Indonesia

BADMINTON, MEN’S SINGLES China’s CHEN Long, the only reigning champion to defend his title in Japan against Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen in the gold-medal match will have to be happy with a silver. Anthony Ginting of Indonesia brings home the bronze after a 21-11, 21-13 against Kevin Cordon of Guatemala, the first Latin American player to reach the semi-finals of an Olympic badminton tournament.

China
Chinese Taipei
India

BADMINTON, WOMEN’S SINGLES China’s CHEN Yu Fei beat world number one Chinese Taipei’s TAI Tzu-Ying in a thrilling two sets to one final of the women’s badminton singles at Tokyo 2020. World champion and Rio 2016 silver medallist India’s Pusarla took home the bronze after beating China’s HE Bing Jao by two sets: 21-13, 21-15.

29/7/2021

ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS She’s the first gymnast of Asian descent to win the women’s all-round. She’s from Minnesota, USA and also the first Hmong-American to make the Olympic team. #hmong

🥇 Sunisa Lee (USA) 57.433 🥈 Rebeca Andrade (BRA) 57.298 🥉 Angelina Melnikova (ROC) 57.199

TABLE TENNIS China vs. China CHEN Meng has won over country mate SUN Yingsha in the Women’s Singles to bring home Gold and Silver. Japan’s ITO Mima wins the Bronze, her second medal after winning Gold at the mixed doubles yesterday. China has won every gold medal in women’s singles since the sport’s Olympic debut in Seoul 1988.

SWIMMING Australia’s prowess at the pool was challenged at the Women’s 4x200m Freestyle Relay today. China wins gold and smashes Australia’s 2019 world record at 7:40:33.

  1. China (Yang, Tang, Zhang, Li)
  2. USA (Schmitt, Madden, McLaughlin, Ledecky)
  3. Australia (Titmus, McKeon, Wilson, Neale)

In the 200m Women’s Butterfly, ZHANG Yufei (CHN) takes the gold in a new Olympic record time 2:03.86, with USA’s Smith in second and Flickinger taking bronze.

JUDO Japan’s HAMADA Shori takes the gold medal home winning against Madeleine Malonga of France. Anna-Maria Wagner (GER) and Mayra Aguiar (BRA) won bronze.

28/7/2021

SWIMMING: Japan’s golden girl Ohashi Yui wins the women’s 200m individual medley to add to her 400m IM title!

Aussies golden girl Ariarne Titmus (AUS) wins top spot and sets an Olympic record of 1:53.92 for the 400m! Silver for Haughey and bronze to Oleksiak – Ledecky was fifth.

BADMINTON:

27/7/2021

SOFTBALL Japan’s done it! Japan win 2–0; USA silver; Canada bronze.

TAEKWONDO Women’s +67kg results:🥇Milica Mandic (SRB)🥈LEE Dabin (KOR)🥉Bianca Walkden (GBR) 🥉Althea Laurin (FRA).

In the Men’s 80kg category, IN Kyo Don (KOR) wins bronze.

WEIGHTLIFTING Taiwan has clinched a bronze medal in the Women’s 64KG category – well done,🥉CHEN Wen-Huei (TPE) – 230kg

KUO Hsing-chun (TPE) powers her way to gold in the women’s 59kg weightlifting. Silver goes to Turkmenistan – that country’s first ever Olympic medal. ANDOH Mikiko (JPN) took bronze. KUO has broken the #Olympics records in the snatch, clean & jerk and overall in #weightlifting 59kg.

JUDO NAGASE Takanori (JPN) has won men’s -81kg gold against Saeid Mollaei from Mongolia.

26/7/2021 SUMMARY: Athletes from 46 countries have clinched medals and of that, 11 are Asia Pacific countries with host nation Japan leading the way at top No. 1 spot, P.R. of China in 3rd place, R. of Korea in 6th place followed by Australia in 7th position. Tied on 16th spot are Hong Kong, China, Philippines & Thailand, Chinese Taipei in 25th and Indonesia 28th place, India 33rd and New Zealand 46th.

TABLE TENNIS MIZUTANI Jun and ITO Mima (JPN) left opponents XU Xin / LIU Shiwen (CHN) shell shocked with a GOLD WIN for the host country, ending China’s winning streak since Athens 2004!

Taiwanese duo LIN Yun-ju / CHENG I-Ching (TPE) won over the French to bring home a bronze in the mixed doubles match.

JUDO ONO Shohei (JPN) wins men’s 73KG, silver goes to Lasha Shavdatuashvili (GEO), bronze to AN Changrim (KOR) and Rosgtbaatar Tsendochir (MGL).

WEIGHTLIFTING Philippine’s FIRST GOLD MEDAL! Hidilyn Diaz brings home the GOLD for 55KG, beating LIAO Qiuyun (CHN) by 1KG with a total of 224KG for an Olympic record! Bronze goes to Zulfiya Chinshanlo (KAZ).

FENCING Hong Kong China’s FIRST EVER MEN’S OLYMPIC GOLD! CHEUNG Ka Long (HKG) brings it home beating Daniele Garozzo (ITA).

SWIMMING WANG Jianjiahe (CHN) sets an Asian record 15:41:49 in the Women’s 1500m freestyle heats.

ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS A tight race to the top between ROC and CHN

SKATEBOARDING: 13-year old NISHIYA Momiji (JAPAN) has won the Olympics first female Skateboarding Gold medal – women’s street at #Tokyo2020, Rayssa Leal (BRAZIL) silver and NAKAYAMA Funa (JPN) bronze!

25/7/2021: Update from #Tokyo2020

Medal tally as of today, with APAC countries pinned

25/7/2021: SWIMMING Aussie Swim Team brings home Gold, Silver & Bronze medals & a world record Women’s 4x100m. The Dolphins clocked in at 3:29:69, smashing the World Record. The Aussies won Olympic gold in London 2012 and Rio 2016 and at the 2014 and 2018 Commonwealth Games.

In the Men’s 400m Freestyle, Australian Jack McLoughlin came second to Tunisia’s Ahmed Hafnaoui, while bronze went to American Kieran Smith.

Dolphin Brendon Smith won bronze in the men’s 400m individual medley.

24/7/2021: Update from #Tokyo2020

JUDO Naohisa Takato brings home Japan’s first GOLD medal in the men’s -60kg judo. Silver goes to Yang Yung-wei of Taiwan and bronze to Yeldos Smetov of Kazakhstan and Luka Mkheidze of France.

24/7/2021: TAEKWONDO Panipak Wongpattanakit of Team Thailand wins GOLD at the Women’s -49kg Taekwondo category on day one of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Makuhari Messe Hall in Chiba, Japan. Spain’s Adriana Cerezo Iglesias brought home the silver while bronze went to Israel’s Abishag Semberg and Serbia’s Tijana Bogdanovic.

24/7/21: WEIGHTLIFTING Congratulations team Indonesia – women’s weightlifting (49KG) Windy Cantikah Aisah for winning the first medal for ASEAN nations. She registered a total lift of 194kg, with a snatch of 84kg and a clean and jerk of 110kg, coming in third place after India (silver) and China (gold).

24/7/21: SHOOTING China picks up the first gold medal at the Olympic Games! On the first day of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, YANG Qian, 21, from the People’s Republic of China, won the first gold medal of the Games in the 10m air rifle.

IOC president Thomas Bach presented Yang with her gold medal, as well as silver to Anastasiia Galashina from ROC and the bronze to Switzerland’s Nina Christen, but due to COVID-19 countermeasures in these unique Games, they collected their own medals from a tray and placed it around their own necks.

23/7/21: IOC President Thomas Bach delivers opening speech

“This feeling of togetherness – this is the light at the end of the dark tunnel. 

The pandemic forced us to be apart. To keep our distance from each other. To stay away even from our loved ones. This separation made this tunnel so dark.

But today, wherever in the world you may be, we are united in sharing this moment together. The Olympic flame makes this light shine brighter for all of us…” Source: IOC

23/7/21: Indonesia to launch bid to host Olympic Games in 2036

Indonesia, which is the world’s fourth most populous country with more than 270 million people, is trying to become only the fourth Asian country to host the Games after Japan, China and South Korea. Source: The Star

23/7/21: Animated short film “Tomorrow’s Leaves” releases worldwide today

Commissioned by the Olympic Foundation for Culture and Heritage (OFCH), and produced by the Academy Award-nominated Yoshiaki Nishimura of Studio Ponoc, the film provides a fresh perspective on the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect. Source: IOC

21/7/21: The Youth Olympic Games on track

Gangwon 2024 draws upon the successful delivery of the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018, and aims to continue their vision of bringing winter sport to a new generation of athletes.

Dakar 2026 – The postponement of the Dakar Youth Olympic Games from 2022 to 2026 will strengthen the mobilisation of young people in the organisation. 

21/7/21: IOC elects Brisbane 2032 as Olympic and Paralympic host

International Olympic Committee Members today voted to elect Brisbane 2032 as host of the Games of the XXXV Olympiad. Brisbane received 72 yes and 5 no votes from 77 valid votes.

20/7/21: IOC Session welcomes Refugee Olympic Team Tokyo 2020.

The members of the IOC Refugee Olympic Team (EOR) Tokyo 2020 were welcomed today by the IOC Session. Athlete representative Yiech Pur Biel addressed the IOC Members on behalf of the team. Biel competed at the first Refugee Olympic Team Rio 2016. He said, “My experience of being part of the Refugee Olympic Team changed my life. It opened up opportunities for me, such as joining the Olympic Refuge Foundation as a Board member, becoming a Goodwill Ambassador for the UNHCR and moving to train and live in the United States of America. I would never have thought that my dreams would become a reality when living in the Kakuma refugee settlement in northern Kenya. Most importantly, I can now call myself an Olympian, which makes me proud every day.”

Videos:

Constellation of drones form globe at Tokyo opening ceremony – Source: Reuters
TOP 10 most medalled female Olympic badminton players! – Source: IOC Channel
Last 5 Champions of Women’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay 🏊‍♀️ Source: IOC Channel
Evolution of Diving at the Olympics! Source: IOC Channel
India’s Top Pistol Shooter Manu Bakher | Jee Jaan Se – Source: IOC Channel

Official Games Schedule

(Click for schedule)

The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in 2021 competition schedule features a 33 sports, 339 medal events held across 42 venues. The Games will open on 23 July 2021 and close on 8 August.

21 July: Actual competition starts two days before the Opening Ceremony with softball in Fukushima – in line with the Games’s theme of recovery.

24 July: The first medals of the Games are awarded on 24 July in the women’s 10m air rifle shooting event. 11 medal events takes place today including judo, the sport in which Japan normally wins their first medal of an Olympics. New sport, 3×3 basketball will take court.

25 July: Skateboarding (street) & surfing.

31 July: “Super Saturday” features 21 medal events, four debut games: the 4×400 mixed relay in athletics, judo mixed team, triathlon mixed relay, and shooting trap mixed team.

1 August: “Golden Sunday” will see 25 gold medals given out, including the men’s 100m in athletics as well as four artistic gymnastics events. The men’s tennis singles final is also on the cards.

3 August: Sport climbing

5 August: Karate

7 August: Tokyo 2020 peaks today with 34 medal events being held, such as the women’s marathon in Sapporo and the finals for baseball, men’s basketball, football and volleyball.

Source: Tokyo 2020 Olympics

Where to watch the games? Click here for full list.

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Compiled & updated by the team at PRNewsGIG by GoInternationalGroup.

AFT Podcast, AFTNews, AFTNews, Olympics

AFT Podcasts: Tokyo 2020 Olympics

From the Olympic Channel:

Catch Malaysia’s darling at the dive boards – Pandelela Rinong who has won first two Olympic medal and five World Championships. A Sabahan from Malaysia’s Borneo, Pandelela was the First Female Athlete to win a gold medal for her country. Watch her in action on 27/7/2021

Start TimeLocationEventStatus
Tue, 27 Jul 15:00Tokyo Aquatics CentreWomen’s Synchronised 10m Platform Final
Wed, 4 Aug 15:00Tokyo Aquatics CentreWomen’s 10m Platform Preliminary

Other related:

AFTNews, AFTNews, Olympics

Tokyo 2020 Olympics Schedule

Olympics-Schedule-by-AsiaFitnessTodayDownload

Text Format

Olympics Opening Ceremony – July 23

3×3 Basketball – July 24-28

Archery – July 23-31

Artistic Gymnastics – July 24 – August 3

Artistic Swimming – August 2-7

Athletics – July 30 – August 8

Badminton – July 24 – August 2

Baseball/Softball – July 21 – August 7

Basketball – July 25 – August 8

Beach Volleyball – July 24 – August 7

Boxing – July 24 – August 8

Canoe Slalom – July 25-30

Canoe Sprint – August 2-7

Cycling BMX Freestyle – July 31 – August 1

Cycling BMX Racing – July 29-30

Cycling Mountain Bike – July 26-27

Cycling Road – July 24-28

Cycling Track – August 2-8

Diving – July 25 – August 7

Equestrian – July 24 – August 7

Fencing – July 24 – August 1

Football – July 21 – August 7

Golf – July 29 – August 7

Handball – July 24 – August 8

Hockey – July 24 – August 6

Judo – July 24-31

Karate – August 5-7

Marathon Swimming – August 4-5

Modern Pentathlon – August 5-7

Rhythm Gymnastics – August 6-8

Rowing – July 23-30

Rugby Sevens – July 26-31

Sailing – July 25 – August 4

Shooting – July 24 – August 2

Skateboarding – July 25-26, August 4-5

Sport Climbing – August 3-6

Surfing – July 25 – August 1

Swimming – July 24 – August 1

Table Tennis – July 24 – August 6

Taekwondo – July 24-27

Tennis – July 24 – August 1

Trampoline Gymnastics – July 30-31

Triathlon – July 26-31

Volleyball – July 24 – August 8

Water Polo – July 24 – August 8

Weightlifting – July 24 – August 4

Wrestling – August 1-7 Olympics

Olympics Closing Ceremony – August 8

View schedule & results

Source: Olympics.com

AFTNews, AFTNews, Olympics, Short Films

What Agnes Saw, world’s oldest living Olympian shares in new film

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) launched “What Agnes Saw” – a film which features the oldest-living Olympic champion, Agnes Keleti, and the 13-year-old British skateboarding prodigy Sky Brown. The video juxtaposes the wisdom of age with the passion of youth to offer a light in the darkness and remind us of the moments of hope and inspiration that occur when the world comes together for the Olympic Games.

Agnes is a reminder of the power of resilience, and proof that one can experience the worst aspects of humanity and, against all odds, rise above it. This film is a part of the IOC’s StrongerTogether campaign and reminds us of the importance of having inner resilience. It reflects the Olympic motto: “faster, higher, stronger – together.

The film, voiced by actor and UN Women Goodwill Ambassador Danai Gurira (The Walking Dead, Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: End Game), was directed by Martin Desmond Roe and Travon Free – the Academy Award-winning directors of the acclaimed short film “Two Distant Strangers” – and produced for the IOC in partnership with Oscar-, Emmy- and Gold Lion-winning studio Dirty Robber.

Revolving around a people-centric message that we are stronger together, the digital campaign emphasises the IOC’s belief in solidarity – that the world only moves forward when it moves together – and the power of the Olympic brand to unite people, communities and nations across the globe. 

Source: AFTNN/IOC

AFTNews, AFTNews, Features Malaysia, Features Malaysia, Kid's Health

Kempen ‘Chosen’ memperkasakan kanak-kanak dengan peluang untuk mengubah hidup mereka dari kemiskinan

Kempen Chosen dari World Vision Malaysia memberi peluang kepada kanak-kanak untuk mengambil langkah pertama dalam mengubah masa depan mereka. Buat pertama kalinya, kanak-kanak berpeluang memilih penaja mereka.

Organisasi kemanusiaan antarabangsa, World Vision Malaysia melancarkan kempen Chosen untuk membasmi kemiskinan dari komuniti B40 yang terjejas pada 8 Julai 2021 ini.

Gambar di atas, kanak-kanak menunjukkan gambar penaja yang mereka pilih sendiri. (sumber: World Vision Malaysia)

Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif World Vision Malaysia Encik Daniel Boey berkata, “Chosen adalah anjuran terbaharu World Vision yang ingin memberi kanak-kanak peluang memilih penaja mereka sendiri – buat pertama kalinya dalam sejarah 70 tahun World Vision!

Kempen ini akan bermula dengan komuniti di Kemboja di mana sejak kes pertama COVID-19 dikenal pasti, kanak-kanak telah kehilangan masa kecil mereka dan hidup dalam ketakutan untuk kesejahteraan mereka.

Tajaan bulanan sebanyak RM65 akan membawa air bersih, pemakanan, pendidikan, penjagaan kesihatan asas, perlindungan dan harapan kepada kanak-kanak dan komuniti mereka. Penaja dapat menjalinkan hubungan dengan anak angkat mereka dengan menulis surat dan menghantar gambar.

Seorang bapa kepada dua anak, Encik Boey menambah: “Ramai kanak-kanak menunggu bertahun-tahun untuk dipilih oleh penaja. Sebagai seorang ayah, saya tidak dapat membayangkan bagaimana perasaan anak itu. Apabila kita memberi kanak-kanak peluang untuk memilih penaja mereka, kita juga memberi mereka harapan untuk menamatkan kemiskinan. Lebih daripada itu, kami memberi kuasa kepada mereka untuk mengambil bahagian dalam keputusan yang akan mempengaruhi kehidupan mereka, dengan menghantar mesej bahawa kami mengambil berat tentang apa yang mereka fikirkan. Kami berharap ini akan mendorong kekuatan untuk memilih masa depan mereka.”

Dia mengatakan bahawa rakan kerjanya di World Vision Malaysia telah memantau dan menyesuaikan program untuk bertindak balas terhadap situasi COVID-19 global. “Kanak-kanak akan memilih penaja mereka di acara pilihan (dengan semua amalan keselamatan COVID-19) pada 5 dan 6 Ogos, dan kami akan memberitahu penaja mengenai anak angkat mereka. Terima kasih kepada semua rakyat Malaysia kerana turut serta melindungi dan memperkasakan anak-anak dan komuniti mereka yang terjejas di dunia.

Pengasasnya Bob Pierce menubuhkan World Vision pada tahun 1950 dan Program Penajaan Kanak-Kanaknya memberi tumpuan kepada peningkatan kesejahteraan fizikal, emosi, rohani, dan sosial anak-anak yang paling terjejas. Di Kemboja, World Vision telah melaksanakan program bantuan dan pembangunan untuk memberi manfaat kepada anak-anak yang rentan sejak awal tahun 1970-an.

Di seluruh dunia, program ini membawa banyak kegembiraan dan harapan kepada keluarga. Kelmer yang berusia enam tahun dari Guatemala, memilih keluarga Justin Hollander untuk menjadi penaja.

Kelmer dari Guatemala, Amerika Selatan (sumber: World Vision Malaysia)

Kelmer yang berusia enam tahun memilih keluarga Justin Hollander sebagai penajanya.

“Anak perempuan mereka sangat cantik. Saya rasa bahawa dia suka berbual dan suka bermain,” katanya.

“Ibu bapa sangat cantik juga. Mereka kelihatan seperti suka memberi pelukan! Dan mereka suka bermain. “

Terdapat lima orang dalam keluarga Kelmer. Ibu, ayah, anak-anak berusia 9 tahun, 6 tahun dan 8 bulan. Kelmer berada di prasekolah. Dia suka belajar. Apabila dia dewasa, dia mahu menjadi guru. Ibunya, Yesica, mengatakan bahawa kadang-kadang anaknya jatuh sakit tetapi dia tidak mampu membawa mereka ke klinik berdekatan. Yesica mengatakan apabila Kelmer memilih penajanya, dia turut mengambil kesempatan untuk membuat pilihan sekeluarga. Dia teruja dan merasa terharu.” Dia memberitahunya bahawa ketika dia melihat semua gambar, “Saya hanya ingin memilih Justin Hollandar.”

Kelmer suka bermain bola sepak dan guli-guli. Dia berkata, “Sekiranya mereka (penaja) datang ke sini, saya ingin bermain bola sepak dengan mereka. Saya ingin menghantar kata-kata cantik. Saya gembira atas lawatan anda. Te quiero.“

Video ini menunjukkan masa kanak-kanak membuat pilihan mereka.

Lawati laman web: https://bit.ly/WorldVision-Chosen.

AFTNews, AFTNews, Diet & Nutrition, Diet & Nutrition, Diet & Nutrition

Learn about Fodmaps at the Free from Allergy Show

The Free from Allergy Show starts virtually today, Monday 12th July until 18th July live from Melbourne, VICTORIA, in Australia.

Follow the links below to sign up and learn about various topics concerning health and wellness and your diet including cooking demonstrations, Q&As, tips and tricks for living FODMAP friendly with recipes you can try cooking at home.

Each day throughout this week two new videos will be released at 10am (MEL/AEST/+11 GMT) on all things FODMAP.

Today, they’ve revealed two speakers:

Dr CK Yao- PhD, B. Nutr. & Diet. Hons.
Latest in FODMAP research and new updates in this field.

Crystal Austin – ISB and FODMAP dietitian
explains label reading, and the important tool of spotting hidden FODMAP ingredients.

REGISTER TO ATTEND
AFT Features, AFTNews, AFTNews, Travel & Wellness

All aboard… VSS Unity marks the begining of space travel tourism

Copy & share: Bit.ly/AFT-VSS-Unity

Latest! Message from aboard VSS Unity
Live streamed take off
The view from VSS Unity

Like a scene from a movie, we introduce you to Virgin Galactic’s crew.

Unity 22 Crew in their Yohji Yamamoto designer suits

From left to right:

Dave Mackay, Chief Pilot, Virgin Galactic

Collin Bennett, Lead Operations Engineer at Virgin Galactic. Bennett will evaluate cabin equipment, procedures, and experience during both the boost phase and in the weightless environment.

Beth Moses, Chief Astronaut Instructor at Virgin Galactic. Moses will serve as cabin lead and test director on Unity 22, overseeing the safe and efficient execution of the test flight objectives.

Sir Richard Branson, Astronaut 001, founder of Virgin Galactic. Branson will evaluate the private astronaut experience and will undergo the same training, preparation and flight as Virgin Galactic’s future astronauts. The Company will use his observations from his flight training and spaceflight experience to enhance the journey for all future astronaut customers.

Sirisha Bandla, Vice President of Government Affairs and Research Operations at Virgin Galactic. Bandla will be evaluating the human-tended research experience, using an experiment from the University of Florida that requires several handheld fixation tubes that will be activated at various points in the flight profile.

Pilot, Michael Masucci

Virgin Galactic’s VMS Eve, the carrier ship

And the two co-pilots of carrier ship ‘Mothership’ VMS Eve (named after Branson’s mother):

Pilot, C.J. Sturckow

Pilot, Kelly Latimer, the first woman to join Virgin Galactic pilot corps, she is NASA Armstrong Center’s first female research test pilot, a retired lieutenant colonel of the U.S. Air Force, and has logged more than 6,000 flight hours and 1,000 test flight hours during her work with NASA, the Air Force, and Boeing.

Background

On 1st July 2021, Virgin Galactic announced that the flight window for the next rocket-powered test flight of its SpaceShipTwo Unity opens July 11, pending weather and technical checks.

The “Unity 22” mission will be the twenty-second flight test for VSS Unity and the Company’s fourth crewed spaceflight. It will also be the first to carry a full crew of two pilots and four mission specialists in the cabin, including the Company’s founder, Sir Richard Branson, who will be testing the private astronaut experience.

Building on the success of the Company’s most recent spaceflight in May, Unity 22 will focus on cabin and customer experience objectives, including:

  • Evaluating the commercial customer cabin with a full crew, including the cabin environment, seat comfort, the weightless experience, and the views of Earth that the spaceship delivers — all to ensure every moment of the astronaut’s journey maximizes the wonder and awe created by space travel
  • Demonstrating the conditions for conducting human-tended research experiments
  • Confirming the training program at Spaceport America supports the spaceflight experience

For the first time, Virgin Galactic will share a global livestream of the spaceflight. Audiences around the world were able to log in virtually to view the take off of the Unity 22 test flight and witness the experience Virgin Galactic is creating for future astronauts.

Following this flight, the team will complete inspections of the vehicles and an extensive data review, which will inform the next steps in the test flight program. Two additional test flights are planned before the Company expects to commence commercial service in 2022.

“Our next flight—the 22nd flight test for VSS Unity and our first fully crewed flight test—is a testament to the dedication and technical brilliance of our entire team, and I’d like to extend a special thank you to our pilots and mission specialists, each of whom will be performing important work. Tapping into Sir Richard’s expertise and long history of creating amazing customer experiences will be invaluable as we work to open the wonder of space travel and create awe-inspiring journeys for our customers.”

Michael Colglazier, Chief Executive Officer of Virgin Galactic,

“I truly believe that space belongs to all of us. After more than 16 years of research, engineering, and testing, Virgin Galactic stands at the vanguard of a new commercial space industry, which is set to open space to humankind and change the world for good. It’s one thing to have a dream of making space more accessible to all; it’s another for an incredible team to collectively turn that dream into reality. As part of a remarkable crew of mission specialists, I’m honoured to help validate the journey our future astronauts will undertake and ensure we deliver the unique customer experience people expect from Virgin.”

Sir Richard Branson

Team AFT will be following this closely. Is this truly the beginning of space travel tourism? What will Sir Richard be announcing when he returns from this test flight? Will this moment spark a generation of children with dreams to venture into space made real? Humanity has many things to think about… We wish the VSS Unity crew a safe and out of this world flight!

Announcement update: In partnership with Omaze and Space for Humanity, Virgin Galactic will be offering prospective astronauts a chance to make their dreams come true. AFT understands there’s two spots being given away as a ‘lottery’. Visit VirginGalactic.com to find out more.

Source of images and press release: AFTNN/PRNewsGIG/Virgin Galactic

All images and video content remain the copyright of Virgin Galactic. This post has been edited on 12th July 2021, 11:00am for clarity.

AFT Interviews, AFTNews, AFTNews, Features Australia/NZ, Men's Health

Introspection III by Kenneth WH Lee (Malaysia-Australia)

AFT speaks to Malaysian-Australian artist Kenneth W.H. Lee about his third solo art show, “Introspection III”.

AFT: Tell us about your environment while growing up.

Kenneth WH Lee: I come from a family of six with “por-por” my mother’s mom. I’m the eldest of three and have two other siblings. We grew up in a small sleepy town of Banting in Selangor (I was born in the famous Klang town, known for its culinary delights). My parents were both secondary teachers; Mom taught English and Art and Dad taught PE and Art, so the artistic lineage was unavoidable and pre-determined. Mom tells me she noticed my bold strokes at age two with an Artliner pen. I had a happy, care-free childhood playing in the dirt (catching fish in drains and climbing guava trees) after school till dusk and I remember being yelled at to get home for dinner!

AFT: What do you think influenced your artistic eye?

Kenneth WH Lee: My parents clearly gave me that early exposure in appreciating the finer points in art and understanding the basics of drawing and painting – with that early knowledge I loved experimenting in my own way, breaking the rules along the way as much as I dared, whilst paying homage to the greats. I soaked up (art) like a sponge going through drawing and sketching teaching books and journals, learning as much I could myself. My parents took to me art galleries, and we would walk through museums of art. I first experienced the body of work by professionals like the late (Malaysian artist), Ibrahim Hussein. His art show is stuck in my mind – I was probably 10 then. The great French artists in the Impressionist (and Fauvism) movement really caught my imagination and left an everlasting mark. We migrated to Sydney when I was 18, and I studied art in high school, learning European art literature and was really drawn to the late Brett Whiteley’s work.

AFT: Which piece of work have you recently submitted for a competition or auction and why?

Kenneth WH Lee: I submitted artworks for both for the Archibald (a prestigious Australian portrait art prize administered by the Art Gallery of NSW) and a landscape piece for the Wynne prize (one of Australia’s longest-running art prizes for landscape painting or figure sculpture).

For the Archibald, I submitted a portrait in oils of an amazing gentleman and aboriginal leader, Uncle Charles “Chicka” Madden of Alexandria, NSW and a large abstract piece for the Wynne prize titled “Sydney Spring – Gratitude Series II” measuring 1200 x 1200 x 35 mm in oils/acrylics/charcoal/pastels/ on canvas. They unfortunately didn’t make the finals. It’s the second consecutive year of submissions in both the above Prizes after 25 years of shying away from any art competition.

For one, I gave up painting for those number of years to focus on my finance/asset/funds management career in Australia and South East Asia and I didn’t find the need to receive external validation for my art. Now, staying relevant and visible by putting out content is part of being a professional artist. 

I recently donated a portrait piece of St. Charbel, the patron saint of Lebanon for a fundraising event held in conjunction with Steps of Hope and Madison Marcus law firm. I’m pleased that raised A$26,000 in a blacktie function to help with relief work for the victims of the Lebanon port blast in August 2020.

AFT: Did you paint during COVID19? What did you do to pass time?

Kenneth WH Lee: Yes, I painted during Covid-19 lockdowns. I completed art works for the Archibald and Wynne Prizes submissions in 2020. I continued to work at frenzied pace to build a new body of work as I planned towards my third solo exhibition titled “Introspection III” – an aptly named show in current times of needing to be more reflective taking stock of where we are as a human race and more importantly individually in our own personal journeys and awakening – our passions, dreams and who we stand for, next to our loved ones. During this time I was also actively creating works for charity fundraising for the likes of the CMRI Children’s Medical Research Institute for research into cures for all sorts of serious illnesses children suffer early in their lives. I also supported the Jeans4Genes cause by painting a portrait of singer Guy Sebastian utilising his donated signed jeans as part of the collage-portraiture. That item went on an online auction. A painting of St Charbel, patron Saint of Lebanon, was also donated toward fundraising for the good people recovering from the unfortunate disaster and with the onset of winter then. I’m about to start on portraits of the three Abdallah children and their cousin to be gifted to the family to help ease the pain and to remember their young lives taken away at such young age in that freak Oatlands accident by a drunken driver with his passenger both intoxicated while the kids were walking for ice creams around corner from their home. I don’t get to spend time with my kids during their school holidays but at least I get to do something for someone else.

AFT: What is the one thing you strive to do with your art? Have you been successful?

Kenneth WH Lee: I love combining impressionist style with abstract designs – whether it be a large landscape or a portrait. I love both forms of art on its own but combining them is challenging and satisfying – and I think I have been successful with the outcomes. I love to constantly challenge myself to paint something new, something I hadn’t done before. I’m excited that my art designs are now being sold and licensed as lifestyle products in Australia. Also American and New Zealand online wall art companies are selling and promoting my images/copies reprinted on canvas and shipped around the world.

AFT: Is there any work that you have not finished or can’t complete? What happens then?

Kenneth WH Lee: I have had pieces of work that had taken years (up to five years) to complete as the initial stages did not show potential and I lost interest in it and moved on to other newer pieces. Whilst the earlier pieces sat unloved, I hadn’t forgotten about it – still constantly pondering its future and design input. Or a complete design change and direction to revamp the entire piece. Sometimes midway I find no inspiration to sit or stand in front of a piece and continue painting. I would walk past it without a thought lacking the need to touch it. Then an idea would pop in my head (or sometimes a memory from a relationship whether in a happy mood or post-breakup in complete despair) and I will dive into that piece non-stop for hours to complete it. It’s all about the flow and feel at that point in time – sometimes it comes to me and sometimes its empty. So I have to be patient and tune in to what I am really creating. At times when I paint, its akin to having a conversation with a person or persons. The deeper the feeling and intensity of the conversation in my head the more interesting the piece becomes. I somehow can translate raw emotion at a particular time and pour it onto the canvas – its like a life diary of emotions coloured by paint.

AFT: Is health and fitness important to you as an artist? Tell us about your daily routine…

Kenneth WH Lee: Yes, health and fitness is key to me as an artist. Though I love to work late at nights when it is really quiet and paint for hours till the wee hours of dawn sometimes….I know to catch up on my sleep and rest which is key to wellbeing. I am a diehard foodie too and love to cook my favourite foods – usually traditional Malaysian hawker dishes and spicy dishes. I then balance this with great bowls of greens making wonderful salads, blended fruit juices and hydrate well. I do some iron work in the backyard with some weights and a punching bag and then go for a walk around the neighbourhood. Though I’ve given up badminton for over 20 years, I’ve recently joined a badminton club to get my heart rate going and burn off some calories. Its been fun getting back to the game that I used to love and was great at, having been a state representative for the Federal Territory as a school boy in Malaysia and later as an All-Australian Universities rep.

 

AFT: What’s your ultimate favourite thing to do?

Kenneth WH Lee: It would be hard to go past having an Italian coffee in hand and having the morning free to start on a large empty wooden panel or canvas, in beginning a new piece of abstract or an impressionist landscape work. It could also be the excitement and anticipation of continuing on a large piece, progressing with developing textures, depth and tonal values – it’s always a mindful challenge in solving the piece’s balance in design and colour and its imbalance… the statement that one is trying to convey. Usually I work very fast when an idea is born, my hands move the brushes and palette knives at a frantic pace across the white spaces then I’d spend more hours pondering and analysing the piece midway, tweaking it as I go – I find at different natural lighting the look and feel changes and my mood flows with it and I paint accordingly. I get inspired again when that look and feel hits me, and I will be hitting the canvas hard and fast frantically until I am exhausted.

https://youtu.be/1F9THZScK8g

Video footage/edit by: Campbell Wilson, photographer and founder of yoga4.tv

“Immerse in Art”: Art Talk by Kenneth WH Lee

This event was held online on 10th July 2021 from 1:00-3:00pm (SYD/AEST/+10GMT).

RSVP

Only RSVP if you wish to attend the live event.

“Introspection III” solo art exhibition is on display at Sydney Haymarket’s Bendigo Community Bank’s branch at Darling Square 11 Little Pier St Shop NE12 until 30 August 2021.

Team AFT thanks the artist Kenneth WH Lee, his management at ArtSHINE and exhibition venue sponsor Bendigo Community Bank for this interview.

 

Who is Kenneth WH Lee?

Malaysian-born Kenneth has exhibited twice in his Sydney Solo Shows “Interiority Of My Introspection I & II” in late 2019. On the commercial front, he works on private client commissions, consults on client fine art needs pre- and post-renovation, paints for charity art auctions and family portraits like the St Charbel portrait painted for Lebanon’s Blast victims/families and Guy Sebastian portrait utilising his custom signed jeans in fundraising for the CMRI Children’s Medical Research Institute – Westmead Children’s Hospital / Jeans4Genes. KWHLEE art designs are also available via its e-commerce shop for consumer retail and B2B wholesale.

Kenneth W H Lee is a represented artist managed by ArtSHINE.

Follow his Instagram account to view current artworks: @kennethwhlee.

More: https://linktr.ee/kennethwhlee.

AFT Features, AFTNews, AFTNews, Events, Features Australia/NZ

Celebrating NAIDOC Week 4-11 July 2021 in Australia

AsiaFitnessToday.com acknowledges and pays respect to the past, present and future Traditional Custodians and Elders of this nation and the continuation of cultural, spiritual and educational practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should be aware that this website contains images or names of people who have passed away.

Team AFT (Australia Fitness Today) has compiled this article from published news releases, articles from websites and also music videos from across Australia in celebration of NAIDOC Week and to pay tribute to close to 30 years of Reconciliation Australia.

It’s NAIDOC Week in Australia and what does that mean?

NAIDOC Week 2021 is celebrated from 4-11 July 2021 around Australia. This year, NAIDOC Week will be celebrated differently to ensure those most vulnerable in the community such as Elders and those with pre-existing health conditions are protected from COVID-19.

History NAIDOC stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee. Its origins can be traced to the emergence of Aboriginal groups in the 1920′s which sought to increase awareness in the wider community of the status and treatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. Before the 1920s, Aboriginal rights groups boycotted Australia Day (26 January) in protest against the status and treatment of Indigenous Australians. By the 1920s, they were increasingly aware that the broader Australian public were largely ignorant of the boycotts. If the movement were to make progress, it would need to be active. Read more about the history of NAIDOC in the official website.

Celebrating NAIDOC Week There are many ways to honour the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples during NAIDOC Week. The NAIDOC committee has come up with these 20 ideas to help celebrate NAIDOC Week 2021 in a COVIDSafe way.

This year’s National NAIDOC Poster, ‘Care for Country’ was designed by 21-year old Gubbi Gubbi artist Maggie-Jean Douglas from South East Queensland. Her entry was chosen from 260 entries in a nationwide competition. The artwork includes communities, people, animals and bush medicines spread over different landscapes of red dirt, green grass, bush land and coastal areas to tell the story of the many ways Country can and has healed us throughout our lives and journeys. Find out more about the story behind the 2021 National NAIDOC Poster and download your copy of the poster today.

  1. Virtually attend one of the many of the online events available in the NAIDOC Week Official Calendar
  2. Download and display this year’s NAIDOC Week poster or look through the previous poster gallery.
  3. Call someone in your community to have a chat about this year’s theme ‘Heal Country!’ and what it means to you
  4. Watch special NAIDOC Week programming on SBS/NITV and ABC
  5. Learn more about the Country on which you live and work using the AIATSIS Map of Indigenous Australia
  6. Find a book to read, written and published by Indigenous authors and illustrators through Magabala Books or suggest one for your next book club
  7. Check out some music and podcasts from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander creators on Indigitube.
  8. Take a look at how you can support Indigenous businesses through the Supply Nation Indigenous Business Direct.
  9. Learn more about how deliver an Acknowledgement of Country
  10. Find out more about the history of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags and how you can fly them.
  11. Get creative in the kitchen using Australian bushfood and native ingredients such as kangaroo, macadamia or lemon myrtle.
  12. Use this year’s theme to connect to Country by going for a walk (if restrictions permit), exercising outside, visiting a local park or gardening.
  13. Research Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history or start some family history research.
  14. Host an online quiz and test the knowledge of your friends and family on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures or histories.
  15. Be inspired by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art and crafts or get creative at home.
  16. Try colouring in the NAIDOC Week poster.
  17. Consider nominating someone for a National NAIDOC Award. While submissions for the National NAIDOC Awards are currently closed, you can begin preparing nominations for the 2022 awards for when they open later this year.
  18. Visit the Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander exhibitions of museums and galleries in-person or online.
  19. Plan your Australian travel bucket list including Indigenous sites of significance or interest. 
  20. Join the conversation online using the NAIDOC Week hashtags #NAIDOC2021, #NAIDOCWeek and #HealCountry

For the latest advice on COVID-19 in Australia, visit www.australia.gov.au.

What is Reconciliation Australia 2021?

Reconciliation Australia celebrates close to three decades of Australia’s formal reconciliation process. It was observed from 27 May to 3 June and Australians are invited to acknowledge the traditional owners of the Country on which we live, work, learn.

WHY IS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY IMPORTANT?

Download PDF

This practice raises awareness of the histories and cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.

Acknowledging Country shows you accept and understand that no matter where you are across this nation, you are on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lands, and you acknowledge ongoing connection to Country.

WHO CAN GIVE AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY?
Everyone. It can be given by both non-Indigenous people and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

WHAT DO I SAY?
This suggested wording will help you capture your Acknowledgement of Country.

“This National Reconciliation Week, I acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the Land on which I stand.  I acknowledge the (people) of the (nation) and pay my respects to Elders past and present.”

Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander people may wish to also acknowledge their own families and Nations.

HOW CAN I DO IT VIRTUALLY?

Here are some ideas for how to Acknowledge the Land you are on and join in via social media.

At home

  • Record your Acknowledgement of Country via a video.
  • Take a photo of you or members of your household holding up a sign.
  • Make chalk art or signs on your driveway and upload photos or video.

At work

  • Record a video message at your workplace.
  • Ask and encourage your colleagues to take part to create a collage or compilation.
  • If working remotely, host a zoom meeting with colleagues and ask everyone to hold a sign Acknowledging the Land they are working on.

At school

  • Create paintings, drawings or signs with your students and upload photos or video.
  • Create video messages and encourage teachers and administration staff to get involved.

Remember to use the hashtag #MoreThanAWord #NRW2021

WHEN CAN I DO IT?

We will come together on social media at 9am (AEST) Thursday 27 May to make an Acknowledgement of Country.

It doesn’t need to be live, you can pre-record, pre-write or pre-create your acknowledgement however you like and post it at 9am.

If you are at an in-person event,  encourage everyone to Acknowledge Country at this time.

HOW DO I FIND OUT THE TRADITIONAL OWNERS OF THE LAND I AM ON?

Know whose Country you are on – resources like the AIATSIS Map of Indigenous Australia are a useful starting point, but go further.

TAKE ACTION

The Reconciliation Week committee has compiled 20 recommended ways to take action: not just know about it, but to take action. Read more here: https://nrw.reconciliation.org.au/actions-for-reconciliation/

HOW SOME OTHERS ARE TAKING A STAND

OXFAM AUSTRALIA is a non-profit organisation that believes all lives are equal and no-one should live in poverty. Oxfam started as the Oxford Committee for Famine Relief in England in 1942, a group of campaigners asking for food supplies to be sent through an allied naval blockade to starving women and children in enemy-occupied Greece during the Second World War. Oxfam Australia setup in 1953 was a merger between two leading Australian international development agencies — Community Aid Abroad and the Australian Freedom from Hunger Campaign.

According to Oxfam Australia, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples are still not recognised in the Australian Constitution as Australia’s First Peoples. This needs to change. Ngarra Murray, Oxfam’s First Peoples’ Program National Manager and member of the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, says: “The establishment of the Yoo-rrook (Truth) Justice Commission by the Victorian Government is an opportunity for both the Aboriginal community and the broader Victorian community to begin to listen to each other and create a new relationship going forward.

“Our people will no longer have to carry the pain of our stories alone – our history and our truths become everyone’s history and truths. With this understanding, real change is urgent and inevitable. The burden is lessened and the healing can begin.

Ngarra Murray – Oxfam Australia

ZIGGY RAMO BURRMURUK FATNOWNA is an Indigenous Australian singer, songwriter and activist born in Bellingen NSW to an Aboriginal and Solomon Islander father and a mother of Scottist heritage. ZIGGY RAMO as he’s known, is a Hip-Hop artist and has become a catalyst in the music industry calling for, and inspiring change. Growing up in Perth, WA since the age of six, he started dabbling in music as a teenager and was inspired by the hip-hop genre from the US. After graduating from school, he embarked on a Pre-Medicine degree, determined to advocate for Indigenous health, before switching back to music, aiming to represent Indigenous Australian perspectives in rap.

ZIGGY RAMO: Black Thoughts ft. STAN GRANT (2016)

From ‘Black Thoughts Ep’ on Spotify: http://bit.ly/2b4kLJD
Director/Editor/ Co Producer: Jacqueline Pelczar
Cinematographer: Brandon Lee Weston
Producer: Elaine Smith
Follow Ziggy: https://www.facebook.com/ziggymusicaus https://soundcloud.com/ziggymusicaus https://www.instagram.com/ziggyfatnowna/
Black Thoughts Ep produced by JCAL & Palace JCAL: https://www.facebook.com/JCaLproductions
Palace: https://www.facebook.com/palacebeats

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that the film below contains voices and videos of deceased persons.

‘Making Little Things’ outlines the development of Ziggy Ramo’s “Little Things” featuring Paul Kelly. From the land-rights movement that inspired Paul Kelly and Kev Carmody’s 1993 original “From Little Things Big Things Grow” to top of the Sydney Opera House sails, the 10 minute film offers insight into the multi-generational collaborations that created this new work.

DOP: Tyron Seeto
Drone DOP: Bill Blair, Mat Chang
Editor: Miska Mandic Archival
News footage Courtesy of ABC Library Sales
Paul Kelly and Kev Carmody footage From Little Things Big Things Grow, 1993 directed by Trevor Graham.
Footage courtesy of Ned Lander and the National Film and Sound Archive
Sydney Opera House is an Australian icon and one of the busiest performing arts centres in the world. On this channel you will find performances, behind the scenes content and stories from beneath the sails. With over 40 shows a week at the Sydney Opera House there’s something for everyone. We’re not-for-profit and raise over 90% of costs from non-government sources. Learn more at https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/give

AsiaFitnessToday.com takes the affirmative action by sharing this article as our way to share appreciation of the history, culture and achievements of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, to spread awareness about NAIDOC and Reconciliation Australia objectives. We invite you to share this article far and wide. Thank you.

Source:

AFTNews, AFTNews, Features Australia/NZ, Sport

Volunteers: ‘most important job in sport’

AFTNN/PRNewsGIG

Sport Australia and Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) call out to volunteers this National Volunteer Week

  • Sporting legends call for more volunteers in sport
  • Volunteers are needed now more than ever to help rebuild sporting communities

Sport Australia Acting CEO Rob Dalton (pictured) is encouraging Australians to consider the many benefits volunteering in sport brings this National Volunteer Week. 

“The job that changed my life didn’t come with a salary, but it has helped me earn everything I have,” 

Rob Dalton – Sport Australia Acting CEO

Mr Dalton was 17 and upon arriving for his first day of training at Victoria’s largest hockey club, Camberwell, was told he’d be coaching a junior team. He chose the Under 10s describing it as his sliding doors moment and the day he discovered one of the most important jobs in Australian sport – volunteering. 

“Volunteering has given me stronger family connections, professional networks, lifelong friends and skills I didn’t know I wanted or needed. Sport is incredibly lucky to have the largest volunteer base of any industry in Australia with 3.1 million volunteers donating their time to sport and physical activity each year.”

Mr Dalton said volunteers are needed now more than ever to help rebuild sporting communities following COVID-19.

“Without volunteers, sport would look very different, they are crucial to the enjoyment and participation of sport at all levels. Whether you’re coaching a team, marking the lines, an official or administrator at a sporting club or organisation or running the canteen, thank you for your dedication and commitment to Australian sport.”

In the past 12 months, Sport Australia has developed a suite of resources to support volunteers in sport including the Return to Sport Toolkit, Participation Design Toolkit, Game Plan and Coaching and Officiating podcast series and has joined forces with Volunteering Australia.

Volunteering Australia CEO Mark Pearce said the partnership recognises the importance and ongoing contribution of volunteers to Australian sport.

“One of the most exciting parts of our partnership is investigating ways Australians of all ages and backgrounds can get involved in sport and sporting clubs.”

“They make possible those things which make communities and community activities great, and we certainly see this in the context of sport. It would be very hard to imagine how the vast majority of Australian sport could take place without the dedication of volunteers.”

AIS CEO Peter Conde added: “Australian volunteers make sport tick at every level. As Australians we love to celebrate sporting success, but behind every athlete and every sporting event is a huge assembly of volunteers. So, on behalf of the AIS and Australian high performance sport, we celebrate our millions of volunteers and thank you for the contribution you make to Australian sport every day.”

National Volunteer Week from May 17-23 celebrates the significant contribution of Australia’s almost six million volunteers who dedicate their time to help others. 

The theme for National Volunteer Week is Recognise. Reconnect. Reimagine with sporting legends including Olympic swimming champion Libby Trickett and NRL immortal Mal Meninga joining the call for more volunteers in sport.

“I’m so grateful for all of the volunteers around the country who are able to get involved in sport, whatever sport it might be. I encourage everyone to get involved and be a volunteer if you can,” Trickett says.

Meninga added: “We all know how important sport volunteers are for our community so please get involved.”

Volunteer today at sportaus.gov.au/find-a-club

Read Mr Dalton’s volunteering story here.