Australia – Thailand Institute supports Australian Volleyball team’s cultural exchange program in Thailand
3 October 2013
Volleyball is increasingly gaining popularity within the region and especially following Thailand’s victory in the recent 17th Asian Women's Volleyball Championship. In recognition of the power of this global sport in promoting cultural exchange, the Australian Embassy and the Australia – Thailand Institute (ATI) are proud to support Australian Norwood Bears Volleyball Club women’s team’s visit to Thailand from 4 -11 October 2013.
A premier volleyball club in South Australia, the Norwood Bears has received a grant from the Australia – Thailand Institute to bring its ten women players, including two Australian national junior team players, and coaches to Bangkok (4-7 October) and Chiang Mai (8-11 October).
The team will play three friendly matches in Bangkok with Suan Sunandha, Supreme Nakhon Si Thammarat and Nonthaburi clubs. They will give a talk about South Australia and run a volleyball clinic for students at the Yothinburana School. In Chiang Mai, they will play an official match against Maejo University team and run coaching clinics at the Haven Project Orphanage, a local charity.
Norwood Bears Volleyball Club’s senior teams have won four championships, including three over the last five seasons. Norwood players have represented Australia at junior and senior level and the club includes four Olympians. The club also has a significant junior program of over 200 junior players.
The club is committed to using volleyball to drive intercultural exchange and players have travelled to Japan (2008) and India (2012) to develop links through sport. Their upcoming trip to Thailand is expected to set the foundation for future exchange programs and provide a unique experience for both Australian and Thai participants.
The Australia – Thailand Institute, under the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, aims to promote bilateral relations and expand institutional and people-to-people links between Australia and Thailand. The institute provides financial support annually to selected projects which respond to its aims, including projects in sports, education, science and technology. For more information about ATI, visit www.dfat.gov.au/ati