Etobicoke Volleyball May Put The Town Center Stage In The World

By Ericka Marsh


Small communities often wish to stay small, but they also wish to gain the attention of a wider tourist group. One way small communities around the world have received recognition as a destination for vacation-goers is through sporting events at the Olympics. It is very possible that the Etobicoke Volleyball League may achieve just that goal for the little borough which carries that name.

A city within a city in Ontario Canada, this region practices their beach sport on the banks of Lake Ontario. Up until now they have received no real notoriety, and have not made much of a name so far. However, should their Leagues find themselves handed over as Olympic hopefuls from a suburb of Toronto, then the already modernized and state-of-the-art facilities they boast may get an even shinier new look.

This area boasts some of the finest shopping centers in Toronto. For anyone who does not fear the far north, it is an ideal vacation destination during the months of October and November. One can visit a small city with a friendly atmosphere, take in the sites, learn about their burgeoning sports and recreation centers, and get their Holiday shopping in all at once.

There are coaches who teach everyone from small three-to-five year-old kids on up to teens and young adults training for Olympic dreams. Elite programs exist for these athletes, preparing them to be on a winning team. Professional players from their national teams are in on it as well, helping to train and prepare many young Olympic hopefuls.

When a new place becomes headline news right before, during, or after an Olympic year, the whole world wins. Children learn better geography, and enjoy watching the Olympic hopefuls on television share their stories. This may even encourage some young people to do research on the history and culture of the area for homework assignments that year.

In this particular event, a great deal of attention has been paid to the female teams, and this has had a positive impact on the numbers of girls involved in sports. As a rule the media only covers sports played by all-male teams, but this is changing. Young women are seeing that college scholarships and Olympic rewards may be available to them.

Not only do the Olympics act as an equalizer to gender, but in past years it has been a great equalizer to members of minority races. We now see nearly as many women and minorities represented in the Olympic Hall of Fame. As the world recognizes the inherent equality among all people, many new faces can be seen stepping up.

Sports has always taught leadership, and now more than ever young people need the physical fitness. However, for many people it means so much more, and everyone knows how the Olympics themselves have always been a time-honored tradition bathed in beautiful ritual. The world needs more team spirit and sportsmanlike behavior, and it is always a welcome sight when a new town is added to the list.




About the Author: