Day 1 (Friday) at the Australian Gateball Championships is primarily a day for practice as teams often arrive during the course of the day.
Overseas teams are kept busy as they are scheduled to play Australian teams from the opposite pool. Games are also scheduled between teams in opposite pools but from different states. The games are played in a casual manner without referees.
In 2019 other activities were fitted in to the program. Gilon Smith, our latest international and tournament referee, conducted a session for all those not qualified as referees but who would be involved in duties as lines people and recorders. National Coordinator John Park held a meeting with State Coordinators and their nominees to look at future directions for gateball.
The opening ceremony started at around 4.30. Chaired by VCA’s Gateball Coordinator Philip Brown, the assembled players were addressed by the Vice Chair of the VCA, the Mayor of Brimbank and ACA Deputy Chair Jim Nicolls. The mayor opened the event by stroking a ball through gate 1 – after removing her heels out of respect for the Cairnlea lawns. The Melbourne singers entranced us with a great rendition of the national anthem, “We are one we are many” and an encore at the end as our opening ceremony finished early! Finger food followed before the crowd dispersed.
I Hope this will be a great tournament for all team and for Australia gateball organisers……best of luck for player’s…..keep it up
Brilliant facilitates, warm welcoming people and a lot of fun times so far
Friday was a wonderful way to start this tournament.
All games were played in a wonderful friendly spirit.
We got to meet up with old friends and make new one. Our visiting over seas teams all joined in the practice game, and all were made feel very welcome.
I feel Melbourne has done Our Gateball Community proud.
The courts are amazing and all facilitates are of a very high standard.
Sounds great. Eagerly looking forward to competition results. Good luck.
Best wishes for a successful event…