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Dutch Team becomes newest ambassador Right To Play
LEIDEN (Neth.) - On Monday, the players of the Dutch National Softball Team and its staff were present at Sportpark 'De Leidse Hout' in Leiden attending a presentation of Right To Play, then served as instructor later in the day during a sports activities day of ASICS.
In the morning, Matthijs Huizing, director of Right To Play, and Michel van Keulen, informed the players of the Dutch Team about the work that Right To Play does around the world.
Right To Play is already working for several years now to support the lives of children in development countries and uses the numerous possibilities of sports for the development of children and with that to strengthen communities.
At the moment, Right To Play works in 23 countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
Right To Play is using specially developed sports- and games programs in all its projects in four themes: Education and development of children, Development of the community, Conflictprevention and peace education, Health and prevention of diseases.
In 1992, prior to the Olympic Winter Games in Lillehammer (Norway), Olympic Aid was founded by the Lillehammer Olympic Organizing Committee and became the predecessor of Right To Play.
Led by Norwegian speedskater Johann Olav Koss, Olympic athletes were chosen to become ambassador prior and during the Olympic Games.
In 2001, Right To Play (then-called SportWorks) became an executive organisation with own sports- and games programs.
The name change into Right To Play followed in 2003.
Nowadays, Right To Play is an important player regarding development through sports and wants to offer children around the world a chance for a good future by letting them play.
A lot of Dutch and international athletes are currently ambassador of Right To Play, including Canadian softball-players Cherene Hiesl and Sommer West and American Major League baseball-player Gregg Zaun.
After the introduction, there was a photo-session with the Dutch National Team, while Matthijs Huizing and Craig Montvidas signed a ball to confirm the ambassadorship of the Dutch National Softball Team.
In the afternoon, former Dutch National Team-players Marloes Fellinger and Daisy de Peinder coordinated the softball-part of the sportsday held by ASICS for its employees.
Marloes and Daisy, who last year participated in the Olympic Games in Beijing, led the group of Dutch players, who then went on to instruct the ASICS-employees in throwing, catching, hitting and fielding.
Hereafter, a mini-game was played.
ASICS produces sports shoes, whose qualities make it a worldwide trendsetter in the field of sports articles.
ASICS supports several national and international sports events, but also individual top-athletes.
Currently, ASICS is the official product supplier of the NOC*NSF (the Dutch Olympic Committee).
Besides the Dutch National Softball Team, other athletes also were invited to instruct the ASICS-employees, including
Melissa Boekelman (specialized in shot put, but also active in discus and javelin, won 2006 world junior title shot put in Beijing),
Marije Smits (paralympic 100 m sprinter and jumper, participated in 2004 and 2008 Olympics),
Yvonne Wisse (heptathlon, seven times Dutch champion) and Jolanda Keizer (heptathlon, participated in 2008 Olympics).
After completion of the sports activities day, the ASICS-employees handed Dutch Head Coach Craig Montvidas a cheque of 555 Euro to donate to Right To Play.
A barbeque concluded the day in Leiden.
Petra van Heijst and Judith Diepeveen choose their kind of tea to start the day
Right To Play Director Matthijs Huizing (left) and Michel van Keulen inform the players
The Dutch players listen to Matthijs Huizing
Michel van Keulen of Right To Play tells how the foundation works
Coach Nancy Evans, Head Coach Craig Montvidas and Matthijs Huizing listen
Petra van Heijst, Rebecca Soumeru, Saskia Kosterink,
Anne Blaauwgeers, Virginie Anneveld and Areke Spel listen
Nathalie Timmermans, Chantal Versluis, Karin Tuk,
Nathalie Gosewehr, Rebecca Soumeru and Solange Starrenburg
also listen with interest
Areke Spel, Ginger de Weert, Virginie Anneveld,
Judith Diepeveen, Meike Witteveen, Nadine Marinus
and Britt Vonk listen to the explanations about Right To Play
The new ambassador of Right To Play poses
Matthijs Huizing and Michel van Keulen of Right To Play and Head Coach Craig Montvidas
pose with team captains Rebecca Soumeru, Petra van Heijst and Saskia Kosterink
Head Coach Craig Montvidas signs the ball to confirm the ambassadorship
Right To Play Director Matthijs Huizing and Head Coach Craig Montvidas pose with the ball
Director Matthijs Huizing signs on behalf of Right To Play
Head Coach Craig Montvidas with softball-coordinators Daisy de Peinder and Marloes Fellinger
The two coordinators instruct the group of players
The Dutch National Softball Team is introduced to the employees of ASICS
A video was shown of all invited athletes
Here, everyone looks to the video of heptathlon-athlete Jolanda Keizer
Dutch players instruct the employees in throwing...
...and in hitting
Marloes Fellinger shows the proper batting stance
Virginie Anneveld greets the photographer
More instructions
Petra van Heijst gives an explanation
Daisy de Peinder looks on during a throwing instruction
Melissa Boekelman gives her instructions
...And so does Jolanda Keizer
Team Manager Paul Boonstra and Coach Nancy Evans
Yvonne Wisse and Marije Smits prepare for a jump-instruction
Kirsten Scheele tells someone what to do
Meike Witteveen coaching at third base
Kirsten Scheele and Areke Spel react when two runners slide home
Head Coach Craig Montvidas gets a cheque for Right To Play from ASICS
Softball-Coordinators Marloes Fellinger and Daisy de Peinder look on
A smiling Head Coach Craig Montvidas with the cheque
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