Germany donates sports equipment to Palau

Palau National Olympic Committee President Frank Kyota, German Honorary Consul Thomas Schubert and members and volunteers of the Palau Volleyball Federation in front of the newly installed volleyball equipment at the Palau High School Gym. Enlarge image Palau National Olympic Committee President Frank Kyota, German Honorary Consul Thomas Schubert and members and volunteers of the Palau Volleyball Federation in front of the newly installed volleyball equipment at the Palau High School Gym. (© GHC Palau)

The German government recently provided around US$ 5000 for sports equipment in order to support the 7th Micronesian Games which took place in Palau from 01 – 10 August 2010.
The volleyball equipment was handed over by the Honorary German Consul Thomas Schubert to the Palau National Olympic Committee President Frank Kyota at the Micronesian Games’ volleyball venue within the scope of the German Foreign Office’s initiative of “Sport and Foreign Policy 2010”.
Taking into regard that the games attract about 2000 athletes from more than 15 countries within the Micronesian area who compete in 14 different kinds of sports, the sport event can be considered as regional Olympics.

Setting up the volleyball equipment donated by Germany to the Palau National Olympic Committee Enlarge image Setting up the volleyball equipment donated by Germany to the Palau National Olympic Committee (© HCG Palau)

As the organizers needed assistance with the provision of basic items, the Federal Foreign Office agreed on donating the volleyball equipment which, in the long run, will be managed by the Micronesian Games Committee, so as to be used for future competitions.
Within the greater context of international sports promotion, which has been part of the foreign cultural and educational policy of the Federal Foreign Office since 1961, various projects have been carried out with German support. 
In cooperation with the German Olympic Sports Association (DOSB) and the German Football Association (DFB), German sports experts are sent to developing countries to assist the national sport clubs to train their coaches and athletes. Further training for coaches and Physical Education teachers are provided by the Foreign Office in cooperation with the DFB, German Athletics Association (DLV) and the sports faculties of the Universities of Leipzig and Mainz. Other sport programs and equipment grants also form a part of the Foreign Office’s international sports promotion in order to create a foundation for sports clubs and organizations in the partner country.
All in all, the international sport promotion should be understood as a matter of building bridges rather than development aid. It contributes a considerable part for global cooperation while benefiting various foreign policy goals such as conflict prevention, human rights and development. Besides that, it leads to an improved international understanding through the creation of a forum for dialogue amongst cultures and the sharing of joint values, such as fairness, tolerance and peaceful competition, that find their expressions through sport.

August 2010

Volunteers help set up the volleyball equipment donated by Germany to the Palau National Olympic Committee Enlarge image Volunteers help set up the volleyball equipment donated by Germany to the Palau National Olympic Committee (© HGC Palau)