| 1a / A number of Countries felt embarrassed by the standard of their speedskaters compared to the Koreans at the Asian Championships.
Also there was very little ongoing development with speed skating, outside of Korea, Taiwan, & China, to bring other countries in the region, up to a good International standard.
1 b / For example in a one month period I coached Indonesia in 1995, we had a race meet with 800 skaters and 10,000 spectators, right in the middle of Jakarta, at the Junior Oceania champs, one of their skaters gained a 4th, but alas with no follow up & race series planned, they have not appeared in many International events since, due to lack of support.& follow up.
1 c / So its important also in countries where they are less inclined to support National teams, that good skaters have the right to enter a top competition, the like of the WIC, SIC, FIC. GIC, GBC & Dutch Inline cup etc,
all these events attract skaters from many different nations, then they can activate others for National Bodies to become more pro active, we strive for the same in all of Asia.
1 d / I have been involved in trying to lift the standard in parts of China, Hong Kong & Singapore for the past 4 years, but with flying visits, you can only keep their interest, but now there is a real opportunity to move ahead, with genuine support & backing.. |
