Olympic Solidarity Coaching Seminar Held in Myanmar

With support from Olympic Solidarity and FISA, the Myanmar Rowing Federation successfully organized it’s first Level 1 Coaching Seminar, which concluded last week in Yangon. The course, which was held at the Federation’s Inya Lake training centre, was attended by 31 aspiring coaches under the supervision of FISA’s Asian Development Consultant, Chris Perry.

The course opening ceremony was attended by Brigadier General Thura Aye Myint, Minister for Sport and President of Myanmar Olympic Committee and also by Director General U Thaung Htaik of the Government Sports and Physical Education Department.

In his opening address, the Minister expressed the wish that the country’s rowing teams would build on the excellent results achieved at the South East Asian Games, held earlier in September, where Myanmar won it’s first-ever gold medal. Developing local coaches, he pointed out, was an excellent way to do this.

In addition to candidates from the Federation itself, coaches from various Government ministries attended the course, together with coaches from nine other States and Provinces located all over the country.

Whilst some of the regional coaches had very limited rowing experience, Myanmar has a long history of racing in traditional boats and it is hoped that this interest can be expanded to include modern competitive rowing. The Rowing Federation already produces its own fiberglass singles and doubles and a number of these boats will be distributed to the Provinces in order to develop rowing in other areas. Crews from Myanmar are also hoping to compete at the Asian Games which will be held next year in Busan, Korea as a further step in their competitive development.

Olympic Solidarity, which is a programme funded by the I.O.C., supports coaching education, training of Olympic administrators, training scholarships for young athletes and other development projects throughout the World and is a major supporter of FISA’s Development Programme.