Netball around the world - Weekly Round Up

NETBALL AROUND THE WORLD: 9 APRIL 2010

Despite concerns about other sporting venues to be used, the arena for the 2010 Commonwealth Games netball competition has undergone a glittering inauguration by Delhi’s Chief Minister Ms Sheila Dikshit, in front of a select audience of invited dignitaries. And despite the fact that there are still some finishing touches to be made to the Thyagaraj Sports Complex(pictured above), organisers of Delhi 2010 are confident that these will be completed in a matter of weeks. Visitors to the stand-alone venue, which has a capacity of more than 5,800, were able to assess the position of the court, which was marked in temporary pale blue lines for the occasion, as well as visiting the marbled public and backstage areas for athletes, where no expense has been spared. The Commonwealth Games netball competition takes place in Delhi from 4-14 October 2010 and tickets are now available: find out more about the Games at www.cwgdelhi2010.org.

Congratulations to Sri Lanka’s Academy of Netball in Kotte, which celebrates its five year anniversary this week. Established in 2005 to extend awareness of the game across the region, the Academy has already provided coaching and playing opportunities for more than 500 players, thanks to the vision of its founders Miss Thilaka Jinadasa and Mrs. Shyama Cooray.

In Pakistan, the opening ceremony of the Australian Sports Commission Netball Coaching, Development and Tournament Programme 2010 for Under-19 Girls was held in Rawalpindi, in the presence of Australia’s High Commissioner in Pakistan, Mr Tim George. More than 250 players, plus 60 coaches and teachers will attend this year’s programme which aims to increase participation and build knowledge which can then be disseminated across the region.

Representatives of Jamaica Netball this week completed a Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) –sponsored sports administration course, which aims to share expertise and knowledge among sporting organisations and assist in the preparation of teams and individuals for international competition. The topics covered included event planning and management, sources of revenue, sports medicine, doping and the anti-doping policy framework, mass media and sports, budget and money management, working with volunteers and the use of technology in sports.

The Solomon Islands has its first male netball coach, thanks to the support of Netball New Zealand. Jamie Kerry undertook an intensive training programme in New Zealand before being assessed by Silver Ferns assistant coach Wai Taumaunu and will now return to the Solomon Islands to help in developing additional new coaches. Well done Jamie!

This weekend sees the Rivalry Round in the 2010 ANZ Championships, when the five Australian teams in the competition each take on a side from New Zealand. Current league leaders and reigning champions the Melbourne Vixens travel to Christchurch to take on the Mercury Energy Tactix, while last season’s defeated Grand Finallists the Adelaide Thunderbirds host the Southern Steel. In the other matches in the round, the Waikato BOP Magic face the West Coast Fever, the NSW Swifts take on the Haier Pulse and the Queensland Firebirds welcome the LG Mystics to Brisbane. Meanwhile, in the UK, Northern Thunder moved into third place in the Co-operative Superleague table with two weeks of the regular competition remaining, after a 58-37 win over Loughborough Lightning. Surrey Storm still top the table ahead of reigning champions TeamBath, with former champions Mavericks in fourth place. These four teams have already confirmed their places in the end of season play offs