PNG and Japan Win Global Development Awards
Countries within the East Asia-Pacific Region have won three out of the nine 2010 Pepsi ICC Development Programme Awards on offer thanks to some outstanding work from both Cricket PNG and the Japan Cricket Association.
Cricket PNG cemented its place as a world leader in developing cricket for youth taking out the prestigious award of Best Junior 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.
"PNG continue to raise the bar in terms of cricket development in our region and they thoroughly deserve these awards. I?m sure the whole of the East Asia-Pacific region would join me in congratulating them on this fantastic achievement," said ICC East Asia-Pacific Regional Development Manager Andrew Faichney.
PNG were also joint winners with Ireland in the category of 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.
The Japan Cricket Association was rewarded for their fantastic work in the area of women's cricket development taking out the award for Best Women's Cricket Initiative by demonstrating a strong commitment to developing the game for females 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.
"We are delighted to receive global recognition for the exciting developments in Women's Cricket in Japan in 2010," said Japan Cricket General Manager Naoki Miyaji.
The Women's Ambassador Programme, Player Placements to Australia and New Zealand, and promotion of the team through the pop group "LOVERS SOUL", all contributed to a immensely successful year for Women's Cricket in which Japan won the ICC EAP Women's Cricket Trophy and also the Bronze Medal in the Asian Games," he said.
"Winning a bronze medal in women's cricket at the 2010 Asian Games was just reward for the importance Japan have placed on developing the game for women," said Faichney. "It's fantastic that this hard work has been recognised on a global scale as well."
"For East Asia-Pacific to win three of the eight categories on offer is a credit to the work going on in our countries."
"I would also like to congratulate all of our other countries that won our regional awards and I?m sure were considered closely for global recognition as well. I am confident they will continue to work hard and achieve many more wonderful things in 2011."