The United Nations Inter Agency Games (UNIAG) organized every year, this time was hosted by Hofstra University, Hempsted, New York and was opened by the UN Deputy Secretary-General, Jan Eliasson. It had for mission to enable colleagues from the Agencies and Organizations of the United Nations system to get to know each other through sports and thus improve mutual understanding and working relations. The Games also represent an excellent opportunity for athletes to compete and just have fun.
They started in the early 1970s, but this is the first time the athletes were competing in the United States; all previous games have been in Europe. The disciplines of the 41st UNIAG included: Athletics (men/women), Badminton, Basketball, Bridge, Chess, Cricket, Darts, Football (men/women), Golf, Pétanque, Squash, Swimming (men/women), Table Tennis (men/women), Tennis, and Volleyball (men/women). As well as the inclusion of three new disciplines: Flag Football, Netball and Softball (co-ed). There were nearly 1,000 staff members representing their organizations coming from over 100 countries who played against each other in a three-day Olympics way competition in the Suburban New York.
TABLE TENNIS (Women)
Barbara Strike from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO Montreal), and Frida Velarde, from the Multilateral Fund Secretariat for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol (UNMFS) formed the team of Table Tennis (Women). "We had no idea of the level of play among athletes from other agencies but we had the decision to do well at the Games as we had experienced this once in Europe"
Their best result was a 2nd Place and an honourable Silver medal and a beautiful Trophy. "We were eager to play and determined to do our best and we got the sub-championship after defeating such quality teams from UNICEF/UNMIL (ZIMBABWE/MONROVIA), UNON(NAIROBI), UNOV/UNODC (VIENNA)and UNMIK/UNON (PRISTINA/NAIROBI)". The finals were disputed between Montreal Team and UNNY with over twenty years of experience who got the Gold medal. The Bronze medal went to the team of Qi Lai and Claudia Lassing from UNOV/UNODC respectively both from Vienna.
TABLE TENNIS (Men)
It was more competitive, participants even play for national teams back home or were ex-champions. There were 10 teams and the finals were disputed between UNIDO/UNODC Vienna and UNNY. After a very close score and when UNNY were winning, UNIDO/UNODC turned the match and brought the Gold medal and the first place trophy to Vienna, and UN NY got the Silver medal. The Bronze medal went to the International Atomic Energy Organization (IAEA).
Our Focal Point and Table Tennis Coordinator Mr. George Braithwaite, for example, has been playing for the United Nations NY team for many years. George was born in Guyana and immigrated to the United States back in 1971. "After participating in a UN cricket match by random life, the team captain suggested me to fill in an application form to work in the UN and I did. I began to work for the UN and discovered the table tennis practices at lunch time", he told us. Member of the United States Table Tennis Association (USTTA) and ex Vice-President, George is a certified national table tennis coach who is delighted to teach and develop young players and to impart his vast knowledge and expertise. George added: "My pride and ultimate dream is to succeed in helping the USATT to establish a USA International Table Tennis League which will elevate the category of this sport in the USA".
The other teams from Montreal conformed by UNESCO/UNWOMEN/UNFPA/UNNY obtained the bronze medal and a trophy for the third place in Athletics (women) overall. In football (men), the UNESCO/UNICEF/UNNY/CBD/UNAMA/UNDP (Afghanistan) got the silver medal and a trophy for the second place.
The entire experience was an unforgettable one. According to many, when the trophies were distributed at the Gala Dinner Dance Reception, that was by far the best IAG gala with over a thousand participants in attendance, which is the most that has ever been staged at these games.
Congratulations to the United Nations Inter-Agency Games Coordination Committee: Cristina Silva, Brian Seales, Mark Anthony, Karen Duncan and Rosemarie Pugh, on a most wonderful IAG . Special thanks goes to George Braithwaite, http://www.georgebraithwaite.com/, Table Tennis Focal Point for the great experience.
