2012 Pepsi ICC East Asia-Pacific Annual Awards Announced

The International Cricket Council (ICC) East Asia-Pacific (EAP) Region has today announced the winners of the 2012 Pepsi ICC EAP Development Programme Annual Awards.

Cricket PNG has won the award for "Best Overall Cricket Development Programme" due to the continued success and growth of their BSP School Kriket Programme. The programme reached 124,283 participants from nearly 300 schools in 2012, increasing a further 8,000 participants from 2011. This programme is a fantastic stepping stone into junior hardball cricket blooding the next generation of Lewas and Barrumundi's. This continued growth is a result of the hard work, commitment and stability of the Cricket PNG administration.

The Cook Islands took out the category of "Best Junior Participation Initiative" for their innovative modified cricket games introduced in 2012. Games included Court Cricket (similar to Indoor Cricket) that could be played during lunch breaks as well as 'one hand one bounce' competitions at High Schools. A 'National cricket day' also took place where nine islands all played junior cricket at the same time on the same day. This has seen a 20% increase in U19 players (male/female) in Rarotonga, as well as new teams on the island of Aitutaki.

The Cook Islands have also has taken out "Best Women's Cricket Initiative" for their fantastic improvement in Women's Cricket. 2012 saw their National Women's team compete in the ICC EAP Women's Championships for the first time. Then using their partnership with Northern District (ND) they were able to send 3 national players to attend ND Cricket's Women's First class week-long camp.

The "Best Spirit of Cricket Initiative" has been won by the Vanuatu Cricket Association for their Women's Island Cricket Program. Using traditional Island Cricket a 15 week program was designed in partnership with government departments and NGO's for the women on Ifira Island. Evaluation of the program has shown a significant increase in the awareness and changes to behavioral habits of the participants in areas such as nutrition, physical activity and prevention of obesity and Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs). Many participants lost weight and significantly lowered their blood pressure during the program. Throughout the 15 weeks the program attracted a lot of media coverage including a story in ICC 360o, coverage in major Australian newspapers and websites as well as Australia Network.

An honourable mention must go to a joint application made by Japan and Samoa. After devastating tsunamis in Japan (2011) and Samoa (2009) both nations got together at the World Cricket League Division 8 tournament in Samoa in September and run a clinic at Lepa Lotofage Secondary School which was badly affected by the Samoan tsunami.

Japan took out the award for the "Best Cricket Promotion and Marketing Programme" for their Sano 'City of Cricket' initiative. This was the first step in creating a cricketing "Hub" in each region. The key to the success was the JCA seeking not what the "City" could do for the sport, but what Cricket could do for the "City". They promoted cricket as a Global Sport that can provide a direct gateway to the world with economic, international exchange and PR benefits. So successful was this initiative that it is now fully funded locally, raising over USD$65,000 from 100 local businesses and individuals from the Sano region. This has allowed a new hard wicket to be installed as well as a full time Development Officer to raise the profile of cricket even further through school and community programs. Further proving its success was cricket being officially recognized as a 'Sano Brand' by Sano City in 2012.

"Photo of the Year" has been won by Philippines for a photo taken at Sta. Ana Elementary school where over 200 school children took part in clinics run by Philippines and Northern Territory Cricket Associations. Please see photo attached.

Chris Thurgate from Japan has won the award for "Volunteer of the Year." Chris has played a major part in the development of cricket in Japan through a number of roles in the last 10 years. He set up the Chiba Sharks Cricket Club in 2002 and has been Secretary, Treasurer, Manager and Captain at various stages as well as forming crucial links with Junior Clubs and universities creating a sustainable pathway. Adding to this Chis has been a Japan Cricket League committee member since its formation in 2006 and has balanced this role with his umpiring duties both domestically, including mentoring young umpires and running umpiring seminars; and internationally where he has represented Japan with pride, being an ICC East Asia-Pacific supplementary panel member since 2008.

The EAP award winners will now join winners from the four other Pepsi International Cricket Council (ICC) Development Programme Regions at the ICC Global Awards.

The ICC Development Program Awards were established to recognize exceptional performance and service to the game of cricket in all Associate and Affiliate member countries, and aims to recognize these contributions among all levels of cricket development.

The ICC EAP office would like to congratulate all winners and those who submitted nominations for the 2012 awards. We wish you the best of luck for the Global Awards and for another great year in 2013.

2012 Pepsi ICC East Asia - Pacific Development Programme Awards: