Pepsi ICC EAP Annual Awards announced for 2010
The International Cricket Council (ICC) East - Asia Pacific (EAP) Region has today announced the winners of the 2010 Pepsi ICC EAP Development Programme Annual Awards.
The Vanuatu Cricket Association has won the award for "Best Overall Cricket Development Programme", due to their outstanding development work in the areas of youth, women and people with a disability. Vanuatu Cricket is leading the way over other sports in their country in providing opportunities for youth, women and people with a disability to participate in sport in an affordable and accessible environment. This participation work has also seen rapid improvement from both age-group and senior Vanuatu teams.
An honorable mention in this category goes to Cricket PNG for their Grassroots to Grandstands program.
Cricket PNG has claimed the award for "Best Junior Cricket Participation Initiative" for their incredible success and response to their BSP School Kriket program. Since June 2010 the 5 phase program has reached 52,279 Papua New Guinean School Children and educated 615 teachers at 146 schools in 10 provinces across the country.
An honourable mention in this category goes to Cricket Indonesia for the junior participation opportunities provided by the Jakarta Globe Indonesian Tigers Cricket Club.
Cricket PNG has also taken out the award for the "Best Cricket Promotion & Marketing Programme" for their Pacific MMI & Motor Vehicles Insurance Ltd 'Don?t Drink and Drive' Legends T20 Bash. Building on the success of the event in 2009 Cricket PNG took it to another level in 2010 in what was quite possibly the biggest regional event ever held in the EAP region. Cricket PNG were able to attract World Record Taker Muttiah Muraliduran, as well as Craig McDermott, Greg Rowell, Brad Hogg, Greg Campbell, Adam Holioke and PNG National Coach Andy Bichel to Port Moresby for a Twenty 20 carnival involving 6 sponsored teams, each with one legend listed above. The teams were then filled with some of the most promising talent from around PNG. To top it off Greg Ritchie and Steve Rixin were also in attendance to provide commentary on match days. The "legends" then travelled to different areas around the country to run 'Supa Clinics' for developing boys and girls.
An honourable mention in this category goes to the Japan Cricket Association for their partnership with Pop Group "Lovers Soul" to promote their women's national team.
The Japan Cricket Association has continued their dominance in the category of "Best Women?s Cricket Initiative" as they again demonstrated a strong commitment to developing the game for women via their Women's Ambassador Program. This culminated in Japan winning a bronze medal at the 2010 Asian Games giving an added boost to the already terrific marketing associated with women's cricket in Japan.
An honourable mention in this category goes to the Vanuatu Cricket Association for their women's cricket development squad two-day camp.
The "Best Spirit of Cricket Initiative" was the third award won by Cricket PNG in 2010 and was won because of a combination of their HIV/Aids awareness Supa Clinics and Don't Drink and Drive Cricket Legends T20 Bash. Attracting huge names in the game of cricket such as Muttiah Muralitharan, Andy Bichel, Craig Mcdermott, Greg Rowell, Brad Hogg, Greg Campbell, Adam Holioke, Greg Ritchie and Steve Rixin to promote positive messages across the country will leave a long lasting and sustainable legacy for many people in PNG.
An honourable mention in this category goes to the Vanuatu Cricket Association for UNAIDS Poster Competition and Alcohol Education Seminars.
Cricket Indonesia's board member and secretary I Made Erawan has been awarded the "Volunteer of the Year" Award for his continued commitment to junior development in the Bali area. He has been instrumental in getting cricket into all schools in the Bali province, making Bali the first province in Indonesia where cricket is present in the formal structure.
An honourable mention in this category goes to Glenda Vira from the Vanuatu Cricket Association for her work as an umpire and scorer in Vanuatu and for her encouragement to other women in Vanuatu to follow her path into cricket.
The Vanuatu Cricket Association has won the award for "Photo of the Year" for their UNAIDS Commemorative Ribbon Shot on Independence Park (Attached). The photo has been used in a competition to design a poster that promotes the UNAIDS message.
An honourable mention in this category goes to Cricket Indonesia for their photo of opposing team captains showing victory signs.
The prestigious "Lifetime Service Award" has been won by Randy Reckerman from Cricket Indonesia. ICC EAP RDM, Andrew Faichney stated that "Randy has been a wonderful servant of cricket in Indonesia, serving the game selflessly for over 20 years. He has been a passionate and tireless volunteer for cricket in Indonesia for so very long, and this award will go some way to recognising what an amazing contribution he has made."
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.
Awards Summary
Best Overall Cricket Development Program - Vanuatu
Best Junior Cricket Initiative - PNG
Best Cricket Promotion and Marketing Program - PNG
Photo of the Year - Vanuatu
Best Women?s Cricket Initiative - Japan
Best Spirit of Cricket Initiative (UNAIDS, UNICEF) - PNG
Volunteer of the Year - I Made Erawan (Indonesia)
Lifetime Service Award - Randy Reckerman (Indonesia)