HEY JOE....ARE YOU BUSY?
The Warriors were nominated by learning disability Wales to attend a conference in Athens, Greece on inclusion through sport. A 3 man delegation team of Roger Thomas (last season’s Captain), Gwilym Lewis (Coach/Sec) and Mathew Jones (Last minute sneaky replacement for Lee Rowlands) flew out on November 2nd. Of course their sacrifice was much appreciated by the rest of the club.
A short account follows which I hope no one will take offence at:
From when Billo picked Gwilym up at about 1:15am, still sorting out photos and packing the whole venture seemed a rush. We certainly didn't know much about anything at set off with a take it as it comes attitude. Almost lost the tickets and a bag before we'd even got to the airport, it was that type of trip.
A short account follows which I hope no one will take offence at:
From when Billo picked Gwilym up at about 1:15am, still sorting out photos and packing the whole venture seemed a rush. We certainly didn't know much about anything at set off with a take it as it comes attitude. Almost lost the tickets and a bag before we'd even got to the airport, it was that type of trip.
Fly basic but roomy Olympic airlines to Athens. Wander around Athens wondering what we have got ourselves into, met by Tommy from host organisation Essepa and introduced to Lithuanian delegation(s) who on 1st impression all seem 7’ giant women, but eventually realise they are only 6’ something. Vasilis (also of Essepa) takes us to the hotel (avoiding the riot police who have been 'sorting out' a demonstration. where half the group are staying, thoughts of swimming pools and gyms are sadly disgarded but we have plenty of time to chuck bags in room. Roger shares with Imal from Sweden.
The trip was a real blur and the 1st meal that night: 15 courses with 20 odd (well not odd but you know) people from 7 different countries was er interesting.
The days were long with ealry starts and late finnishes. We completly missed the Wales v Australia game, though thanks to Rhian and Claire for updates. With the group we did the usual and unusual "getting to know you games". Had to work in groups to design our own games, gave presentations about our organisations. [The Warriors was based on the S4C Hacio programme made during the 10th anniversary, so looked really proffesional (thanks Sian!). In fact so impressed were people that we were asked to present it to a wider audience later in the week.] Listen to various peole talk about intergration through sport, usually in Greek with various people translating. There were traditional Greek meals most afternoons (we got lost after the 1st one) and every evening. (Lots of salad, goats cheese, bread, and meats with really really sweet stuff for pwd. Everyone was prepared to give everything a go and the days, though long were very enjoyable.
It wasn't all indoors either: we had a morning off to visit the Acroplois was fantastic (literally), we went to an adventure park with lots of tree top wire walks, went bowling (and got beaten by an Irish woman who had never been before) we caught a tiny bit of the Athens marathon, went shopping (all shops arranged in order so all the shoe/cd/computer/whatever) shops were on the same street. The traffic was mad and the pavements almost unusable, not only in crap conditions but full of parked cars. We held a meeting in the 'other' hotel which was bizzare as it's other occupants were all models. We met a really tidy guy from Canada who explained about Athens being a really good place to get a portfolio sorted but the money was crap. Sadam Hussain had just been sentenced and we stood and discussed politics with the beautiful people. (well, mainly tall and skinny people actually). Our Canadian friend and an Argentinian had both played rugby but I think we were a little lost to the others. we had a day of 'new' games which included touch rugby with an e**lish bloke called Bob. We didn't have a chance to visit any of the local rugby clubs Bob didn't know there were any!) which was a shame. Roger learnt that Expresso coffee comes in a cup Action Mantm would regard as small.
The nights started slowly. The 1st night it was Warriors only in the rock bar (plenty of them with real old skool denim & leather types), but slowly it grew, by the third night more came out than stayed in (and we slept late the next day) and the last night everyone made an apperance. The bars were all really smart 'cafe culture' big couches and background music but the bar we ended up frequenting kept asking us what we wnated to hear and plying us with free drinks. On the last night the Irish contigent were set to leave at 3 and we were going to slip off to bed before for a couple of hours before that as we had to go at 5:30am, well that never happened - straight through and brave the hangover!
Despite not being very well prepared and having to go with the flow the whole time we were there it was a great experience. We had a real taste of life in Athens, eating and drinking, travelling on buses, walking around the town center and outskirts and meeting plenty of locals. Even the unseasonal cold and getting ripped off by taxis was part of the fun. We had an insight into attitudes to people with learning difficulties accross Europe and were especially impressed by the Finish and Swedish projects and by almost all the people we met. Meeting people who have a learing difficulty who can speak better English than you is quite something (though to be fair we do live in Llanelli mun!). I'm afraid to say that perhaps the funniest thing though was Marios' phobia of dogs at the riding center. The Greek day center we visited was very impressive; clean, bright, airy, beautiful shop, impressive bakery etc and we picked up some ideas for the Warriors and day centers. Mostly though we met a load of cool friendly people and feel we now have small pockets of friends around Europe. The Swedish group expressed an interest in visiting the Warriors whilst plans have now been laid for an Irish tour in 2008.
The absolute best bit though was how impressed people really seemed to be with the Warriors. I think people forget just how few opportunities there are for people with learning difficulties to intergrate, not just through sport but at all. The Warriors (and other similar teams) are still as good an example of 'intergration through sport' as I've come accross, even after having visited Europe.
The Star carried this report (Cliciwch)
Billo lost his photos but Gwil took these:
Roger & Billo at Day center, lemon tree backdrop
traditional food (it was all Greek to me)
Sexton, Roger and Lars explaining thier game
Roger playing it
See we did work: Romanian presentation
Roger going up to Acroplois, tradiditonal Greek soliders with rifles and clogs on very slippery floor (thank god it wasn't wet as they kept slipping anyway!)
A fragile ruin (standing in front of the Pathanon)
Alexander the Great and Gwilym the..er..coach
Beautiful pillars
Roger with Athens as a backdrop
Good innit, looked sureal in the night when it was lit up. Like some mad giant game of chess
"Mynd a'r y ceffyl clipiti clop..."
The Warriors: eat, breathe and sleep rugby
One for the Ladiez: Billo reclines in our 5* room
The legendary Marios dancing on the last night
Roger needed a photo of Sexton's tie (??)
Thanks to Francis & Bernie (Ire) for sending these fotos:
Getting to know you games
Design your own games: Roger's group in full swing and Gwilym trying to explain 'Hula-Ball'
Visiting the Acropolis (awesome)
Horseriding, Roger saddles up whilst Gwilym and Marios watch
Out and about (think this was Monday)
Bowlio Dan Do
Back in the bar (teusady possibly??)
The conference: listenning attently and giving the Warriors presentation
Presentations (beware of Welsh baring gifts) Marios with his certificate
The legendary Marios dances the night away
and the other half.
and for those who think we just lazed about here is the time table:
twelthseason
