The International Federation of Teqball (FITEQ) is delighted at the progress being made in Oceania this year, with the social distancing sport proving to be a great way to keep people active during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It might not have been the year FITEQ anticipated back in January, but 2020 will still be a memorable one for teqball for reasons other than COVID-19. The sport is making great strides from both an organisational and promotional perspective, having recently been approved as an official World Anti-Doping Code Signatory and having signed a partnership with the Olympic Channel. The latter will complement the federation’s rapid rise on social media, which has resulted in an audience of over three million tuning in for daily teqball content across the sport’s digital channels.
There are currently six National Federations in Oceania – American Samoa, the Cook Islands, New Caledonia, Guam, Tuvalu and Vanuatu – and the world’s fastest growing sport is looking to build on this strong foundation in the coming months and years.
Reflecting on the progress so far and looking ahead to the future, FITEQ General Secretary Marius Vizer Jr, said, “Becoming an official member of OSFO has been a great help to FITEQ in our efforts to develop teqball in Oceania and connect with the sport-loving people in the region. It’s been a joy to welcome such passionate people to the teqball family and we are very grateful to OSFO for all the support they have given us to make this possible. Through our National Federation and Club Development Programmes, we hope to continue on this positive path in the region and provide opportunities for more people to learn about and play the sport.”
National Federations are able to apply for FITEQ’s development programmes, which help fast-track the growth of the sport to get as many people as possible playing teqball, as quickly as possible. FITEQ’s programmes are intended to support the teqball family during the current challenging times, as well as being the basis for long-term development. They provide financial and infrastructural support, including significant discounts on the unique Teq tables, as well as online and in-person education courses.
Vanuatu and New Caledonia, the two Oceanian countries to have competed in past Teqball World Championships, are currently benefitting from the programmes, alongside Tuvalu and American Samoa. The passion these countries have shown for teqball has been an inspiration for the FITEQ team, driving the governing body forward on its mission to take the sport to every country in the world.
Teqball is a sport that aims to inspire people of all ages, abilities, gender and cultures and FITEQ will continue to support National Federations help players reach their full potential, whatever level that might be. As 2021 approached, FITEQ is looking forward to the Oceanian region continuing to be at the heart of the sport’s exciting journey.
Words from FITEQ