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Dutch players participate in Right To Play-happening
 Nederlandse tekst
PAPENDAL (Neth.) - Four players of the Dutch National Softbal Team, including its three team-captains, on Wednesday joined representatives of Right To Play and Netherlands Olympic Commitee Chairman Erica Terpstra to participate in a happening at Papendal.
There, the winners were announced of a fundraising held by children, resulting in Right To Play receiving a donation of 25.000 Euro.
National Team-players Anne Blaauwgeers and team-captains Petra van Heijst, Saskia Kosterink and Rebecca Soumeru on Wednesday traveled to National Sports Center Papendal near Arnhem for the announcement of the winners of a children's fundraising that started in April.
The four players were accompanied to Papendal by Head Coach Craig Montvidas and Media Officer Marco Stoovelaar.
On Monday, June 15, the Dutch National Softball Team became an Ambassador of Right To Play, the charity organization that wants to offer children around the world a chance for a good future by letting them play and enjoy several aspects of sports.
More activities, for which members of the Dutch National Softball Team will be invited, are scheduled for the future.
In April of this year, the Dutch washing brand Omo launched a campaign to stimulate children to set up clubs to raise funds for Right To Play.
This fundraiser was called Omo Buitenspeelfront (Omo Outdoor Games Front) and replaced the already existing name Omo Buitenspeel Bond (Omo Outdoor Games Federation).
With their respective clubs, the children could play several sports or set up other actions in order to raise money for the chosen charity by asking on-lookers or passers by to donate money by sending an SMS to Right To Play.
Today, the three clubs that raised the most money were honoured at National Sports Center Papendal by Netherlands Olympic Committee (NOC*NSF) Chairman Erica Terpstra and received gifts donated by Omo's parent company Unilever.
Erica Terpstra stated that a lot of athletes in several sports accomplished great feats in the last few days during European and World Championships, but she also wanted to memorize and congratulate the Dutch National Softball Team for winning the European title some weeks ago and underscored the importance of athletes supporting these kind of activities and charities.
The four players, who represented the European Softball Champion, assisted in handing out the prizes to the three winning clubs.
The four players and Erica Terpstra then also handed Matthijs Huizing, the director of Right To Play, a cheque of 25.000 Euro, the result of the fundraising campaign.
After completion of the ceremony, Anne, Petra, Saskia and Rebecca took part in a game, one of several specially developed by Right To Play for the development of children and to strengthen their respective community, but also to understand prevention of diseases.
Anne Blaauwgeers, Petra van Heijst, Saskia Kosterink
and Rebecca Soumeru participated in today's Right To Play winner's announcement
The children of the three winning clubs are introduced to Champy,
the official mascot of the Netherlands Olympic Committee and Olympic Teams
Head Coach Craig Montvidas, Petra van Heijst, Anne Blaauwgeers,
Rebecca Soumeru and Saskia Kosterink await the start of the activities
Olympic Mascot Champy with some of the children
Rebecca, Anne, Saskia and Petra look on
NOC*NSF Chairman Erica Terpstra addresses the children...
...then introduces the four players and congratulates the Dutch Softball Team
with its European title
Erica Terpstra asks Petra to the connection of softball with Right To Play...
...and then starts the prize ceremony with Champy and the four players
Rebecca and Saskia assist by handing out some of the prizes
Head Coach Craig Montvidas looks on
Rebecca, Anne, Petra, Saskia and Erica Terpstra then hand a cheque
of 25.000 Euro to Matthijs Huizing, the director of Right To Play
Rebecca Soumeru, Anne Blaauwgeers, Petra van Heijst and Saskia Kosterink
with NOC*NSF Chairman Erica Terpstra, who (as always) took time for everyone
Head Coach Craig Montvidas joins Saskia, Anne, Petra and Rebecca
to pose with Olympic Mascot Champy
NOC*NSF Chairman Erica Terpstra congratulates Head Coach Craig Montvidas with the European title
The four players then participate with the children in a game
Here, Rebecca is seen on her back
And here, Petra plays with some of the children
Saskia and Anne join a second group of children on another field
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