The first initiative under the relaunched Oceania Development Program is now complete, with an in-country visit to Samoa running from 8-20 March. One of our new Oceania Development Officers, Ocean Belrose, was the expert in charge, impressively completing his first mission.
Samoa is in the Polynesian region of Oceania, located in the South Pacific Ocean, approximately halfway between New Zealand and Hawaii. The two largest islands in the country are Upolu and Savai’i, with both islands playing host to proceedings.
Kicking off the 12-day visit was an ITTF Level 1 Coaching Course held on Upolu, with 14 participants taking part and running through the course syllabus.
Next on the agenda was a tournament, also in Upolu, with 24 players competing in the event. Upon completion of the event, Ata Asia Faasavalu Vea was crowned the champion, with Calvin Sinapati taking silver and Alfram Roy Nukuro winning bronze.
Rounding out the agenda were school visits, this time on Savai’i, with a ferry ride required to cross over from Upolu. Across all sessions 125 students (56 girls, 69 boys) took part, learning table tennis basics, with the motto ‘any table is a table tennis table’ firmly adhered to. The lessons have hopefully sparked an interest for ongoing involvement in the sport.
Upon completing his time in Samoa, Ocean Belrose commented “My visit to Samoa as part of the Oceania Development Program was a fantastic experience. The coaching course was well received, with coaches eager to learn and improve. The tournament brought excitement and competition, and the school visits were a highlight, as kids enthusiastically embraced table tennis. Seeing the positive impact at every level — coaches, players, and students — was truly rewarding. This initiative was a success, reinforcing the value of table tennis development in the region.”
ITTF-Oceania thanks ITTF for their support of the Oceania Development Program. This visit to Samoa was the first of many this year, with the 2025 calendar quickly filling up and ITTF-Oceania looks forward to servicing as many of the 24 Oceania Member Associations as possible.