2009 World Dwarf Games report
On 24th July 2009, 14 SSPA members departed for Belfast, Ireland to represent Australia at the fifth World Dwarf Games. The team was selected and represented Australia in: basketball, swimming, athletics, table tennis, football and bocce.
The
members of the Australian World Dwarf Games team were:
Meredith Tripp (Victoria) (Team
Captain),
Michael Blair (New South Wales),
Margherita Coppolino (Victoria), Ryan Cowlishaw (New South Wales), Steven Devine
(South Australia), Samantha Lilly (Victoria),
Brittany Mamula (New South Wales), Sam Millard (Victoria), Dalton Ong (New
South Wales),
Robert Paton (Victoria), Erica Peters (New South Wales), Michael Spain
(Victoria), Nathan Stewart (Victoria), Jonathon Tripp (Victoria)
Player profiles:
Australian WDG Player Profiles
A full training schedule was developed which included monthly national trainings and weekly state trainings - not to forget a fitness program which was kindly developed by Leon Lilly. The national training dates were:
· Saturday 24 January - Sunday 25 January in Albury
· Saturday 7 March - Sunday 8 March in Sydney
· Friday 10 April - Monday 13 April in Melbourne
· Saturday 16 May - Sunday 17 May in Sydney
· Saturday 6 June - Monday 8 June in Albury
·
Saturday
4 July - Sunday 5 July in Melbourne
All national trainings scheduled in Sydney and
Melbourne coincided with state fundraisers and social events.
Sponsorship proposal:
WDG Sponsorship Proposal
Support:
The team received some very generous support including::
· Jenny, Brett, Isabella and Lachlan - for designing, making and donating our national tracksuits
· Timbertop Wineries and the Australian Industry Group - for their generous monetary donations
· Marg Daly - our wonderful basketball coach
· Rob & Marie Millard, Megan & Leon Lilly - for all their assistance
· Leanne & Trevor Wegner for their assistance in funding national trainings
· Lindsay Gaze - for his continued support in helping the team create public awareness.
Report on the 2009 World Dwarf Games
Fifteen Australian athletes, 24 medals and one hell of a good time – the 2009 World Dwarf Games!
As my niece’s favourite, Dora the Explorer, would sing “We did it, we did it” – well, we certainly did! The Australian World Dwarf Games team did Australia so proud that everyone wants to know about it. From live radio interviews to the average Joe down the street who taps you on the shoulder just to say ‘well done’ – the experience and achievement of the World Dwarf Games team was well above all expectations.
On Friday 24 July, fifteen Australian athletes along with a huge support crew were farewelled by the Victorian Minister for Sport, sources of media and other friends and family for their journey to Belfast, Northern Ireland. Excited, nervous, anxious, scared, ecstatic were some of the emotions the team were feeling upon departure. But the long flight, followed by arriving at the athlete’s village into welcoming arms, helped calm most of these emotions to let the team focus on all things possible for the week.
The week of the Games itself was unbelievable and it couldn’t have begun any greater than how it did with Brittany Mamula winning gold in her 60m sprint – talk about setting a standard for the rest! The week continued from strength to strength and the team did Australia so very proud. You can see all the details in the medal tally.
There were so many highlights from the week – in fact the whole week was a highlight. But for me, personally, two particularly stand out. First was carrying the Australian flag and leading the team at the Opening Ceremony. Behind those tears was one very happy and very proud captain who realised at that moment – all dreams are possible. And the second personal highlight was being told time and time again throughout the week how much professionalism, sportsmanship, support and skill the Australian team demonstrated at all times – whether it was in the pool, on the track or in the stands – we were there as one team – we were united.
Our athletes gave 110% all week, they committed to their training schedule, as well as their curfew (much to Mikey’s dismay), and showed how to be true sports men and women. They will all have their own stories and highlights for the week so make sure when you get the chance, you ask them about theirs – just to relive it will bring the biggest smile to their face.
The extra twenty supporters the team had cheering them on throughout the week certainly made those nerves a little easier to handle. Wearing their bright green and gold tops, they weren’t hard to spot, nor hear – it’s hard to recall how many times they were asked by the officials to ‘keep it down’ – but in all honesty they were a huge help and the team would have found the week very difficult to get through if they hadn’t have been there. Personally, to have my mum at the Games truly topped the experience off. As much as it hurt her back pocket and as much as dad missed her - I'm so glad she came. So mum, thanks a mil - you added the heart needed to my week at the Games. Finally, on behalf of the team, I’d like to thank you all for taking the time and sparing the money to come along and support Australia at the World Dwarf Games - it was truly "magnificent".
Kind regards
Meredith
Media:
Related video link: World
Dwarf Games (from the Channel Nine morning programme 'Today' dated 15th
April 2009)
Australia's
World Dwarf Games Team members give their thoughts on emissions trading
(Broadband) (from the ABC-TV programme 'Insiders' dated 31st May 2009)
Australia's
World Dwarf Games Team members give their thoughts on emissions trading
(Dial-up) (from the ABC-TV programme 'Insiders' dated 31st May 2009)
Interview with Meredith Tripp and Sam Millard who discuss the World Dwarf Games
(from the Channel Ten programme '9am with David and Kim' dated 6th July
2009)
Related video link: 2001 World Dwarf Games highlights
Related articles:
'Australia's smallest basketballers to stand tall at Dwarf Games'
(from the Herald-Sun
(Melbourne) dated 2nd April 2009).
'Chelsea
duo shooting for glory at World Dwarf Games'
(from the Mordialloc Chelsea Leader (Melbourne) dated 7th
April 2009).
'Gold hopes drive our very own dream team'
(from
the Sydney Morning Herald (Sydney) dated 12th April 2009)
'Lack
of cash puts trip out of reach'
(from the Herald-Sun (Victoria) dated
23rd May 2009)
'Spain is heading for Ireland'
(from the
Moorabbin
Glen Eira Leader (Victoria) dated 27th May 2009)
'Devine's got game'
(from the
Southern
Times Messenger (South Australia) dated 2nd June 2009)
'Erica thrilled to represent her country' (from the St. George &
Sutherland Shire (New South Wales) Leader dated 16th June 2009)
'Big help for little people'
(from the Berwick and Pakenham Gazettes (Victoria)
dated 24th June 2009)
'Short stuff for world
games' (from the Star News
Group dated 2nd July 2009)
'Athletes face big
challenges'
(from the Berwick and
Pakenham Gazettes (Victoria) dated 8th July 2009)
'Power to the little people' (from the Berwick Star
(Victoria) dated 9th July 2009)
'Government supports more gold for athletes'
- Media release from
Kevin Greene MP, NSW Minister
for Gaming and Racing, Sport and Recreation dated 23rd July 2009
'Dwarfs
push acceptance through sport' (from the Herald-Sun (Victoria)
dated 24th July 2009)
'Big
hoop dreams for small heroes at World Dwarf Games'
(from Sydney Morning Herald (New South Wales) dated 24th July 2009)
'Dwarf Games bring prejudice down a notch' (from the West Australian (Western Australia) dated 24th July 2009)
'Aussie
team going for gold at World Dwarf Games'
- Media release from Hon. James Merlino, M.P. Victorian Minister
for Sport and Recreation dated 24th July 2009
'Success gauged in gold medals' (from the Knox Journal (Victoria) dated
19th August 2009)
Related website link: 2009
World Dwarf Games
Any comments or suggestions should be
forwarded to: francisjk@bigpond.com
Copyright: ©2000 Short Statured People of Australia Inc. All rights
reserved.
Last updated:
02 February, 2010