The below article is a translation from YNet.
Hili Trooper: We will work to promote tennis in the periphery
The Minister of Culture and Sports was hosted at the Israel Tennis and Education Center and heard a review from Andy Ram and former Israel national team coach, Ronen Moralli, about the tennis programs promoted in Israel
The Israel Tennis and Education Centers hosted the Minister of Culture and Sports, Hili Trooper, this evening (Tuesday). At the meeting, held at the center in Ramat Hasharon, the Minister was presented the organization’s activities in the 17 tennis centers from Kiryat Shmona in the north to Arad and Ofakim in the south, including tennis programs for young people, social impact tennis, competitive tennis and adult tennis.
Special emphasis was given to the programs promoted by the centers in the periphery and in Arab society. Andy Ram presented to the Minister the “Head Start” program named after his father, the late Ami Ram, which takes place in collaboration with the Sports Values Association, and aims to provide children with enrichment activities beyond weekly tennis training and thus expand opportunities for sports and social empowerment. The program has started in Ofakim and Tiberias, and it will also be launched in Kiryat Shmona, Arad and Sajur in the Galilee.
In addition, former Israel national team coach Ronen Moralli introduced Trooper to the new tennis ventures in Arab society, which were launched in Rahat, Taibeh and Jadeida-Makr. As part of these projects, coaching teams from ITEC come to the schools in the Arab cities and teach the children the basics of the game, while training local physical education teachers as local tennis instructors. Minister Trooper stated at the meeting that his ministry is currently promoting a five-year program for sports in Arab society and that he will examine the integration of the ITEC as part of the program.
The Minister also met with the players of the Center’s Tennis Academy, Mika Buchnik, Karin Altori, May Baranes and coach Eyal Omid. The Minister was accompanied on the visit by Erez Vider, CEO of the Israel Tennis and Education Centers, Lilo Tzarfati, Director of Operations at the Centers, and Eyal Taoz, Director of Strategy and Projects.
Vider said: “I thank Minister Hili Trooper for the visit and I am happy for his efforts to promote sports for children in the geographical and social periphery of Israel, including Arab society, as a means of reducing social disparities in Israel and providing real opportunities to strengthen them. To continue to help promote the children of the periphery from all of Israeli society through the game of life – tennis”.