CNOOC – GTTA launches National Schools’ Table Tennis Championship

See press release from CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited (CPGL) below:

CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited (CPGL) has partnered with the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) to sponsor the first nationwide National Schools’ Table Tennis championship in Guyana.

The collaboration is the culmination of months of discussion and planning for the execution of a truly national sporting activity.

The Championship is set to roll out in all ten Administrative Regions of Guyana. This initiative is expected to significantly enhance the sport of Table Tennis by:

• Providing opportunities for new talent to have an active platform to showcase their skills.
• Representing their schools, while re-establishing the Schools Championships as a basis for the GTTA’s development thrust by having players actively participate in table tennis activities on a recreational and competitive basis.
• Developing an active framework for school competitions through School Leagues, and linkage of players to clubs in regional hubs.
• Serving as a catalyst for creating a talent identification, development and incubation systems for the recruitment, training orientation, development and teaching of life-long skills which will positively enhance the profile and marketability of the sport, impact higher performances and sustainability of the sport at the national and international level.

CPGL has been actively driving human and social development projects in Guyana through its Corporate Social Responsibility programs. The company strongly believes that education is a critical component for the realization of sustained human development; while sports can be an avenue for improved financial wellbeing when persons become professional athletes. Sports also inculcates the discipline that is needed for persons to succeed and contribute to national development. In this regard, CPGL is elated to bring Education and Sports together in this National Schools’ Table Tennis Championship.

It is envisioned that the month-long tournament will inspire more students and recreational table tennis players to actively pursue the sport with the aim of becoming champions and representing their schools, communities and eventually their country.

Table Tennis, which is a major competitive sport on the world stage, is very popular in both China and Guyana. In the last few decades, Table Tennis has exploded in the Asian world with many world Champions coming from China, Japan, Singapore and Korea. China has the most accolades in the sport and has actively supported many countries in the development of table tennis.

Over the past decade, the People’s Republic of China has provided much-needed support to Guyana, via the donation of table tennis tables and training. CPGL proposes to take this support even further with the successful execution of a school-level National Championship.

The Championship has received the full support of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports. These Ministries continue to work with key stakeholders for the development of the citizenry and the nation of Guyana. Having this development start at an early stage, such as in the schools will serve to accelerate human capacity and build a sustainable program with superlative results.

Guyana is on a development trajectory that is similar in nature to that experienced by China for the last few decades and sports will play a key role in unifying and bringing people together in support of national values.

CPGL’s CSR motto is “to build a bridge of friendship between Guyana and China”, and invites all Guyanese to come out and support their schools, communities and the new and upcoming players who will be vying for top honours in the first Nationwide National Schools’ Table Tennis championship.