Interview with Sergi Bruguera on volunteering with the Acell Federation

Since when have you been collaborating with the players of the Acell Federation?

I have been actively collaborating since the day I retired. While I was on the tour, I had the opportunity to collaborate occasionally with them. I was asked to do the Special Olympics announcement in 1992 and that was the starting point, since then whenever there was an opportunity, I volunteered to help. This included helping in the organization of a championship or attending the award ceremonies or sharing a clinic with them. As soon as I retired, I offered to get involved with them on a day-to-day basis. They mentioned to me that there was no tennis special academy, so I gathered efforts to get the first one in place. Almost every sport had its own training centre, but they had an unmet need. We established the first training centre and this has grown throughout the years. Acell was the supporting federation for the special players and the pioneer in organizing Special Olympics Catalonia. They received the support of the national organization for the international competition.

What does collaborate with them mean to you?

It has meant a lot to me. The experiences I have had with them are magical and it is unlikely to get them through anything else in life. I love them because they are authentic with no ulterior motives. Everything is about enjoyment, and the impact you have on their personality development is very enriching. They gain confidence, self-assurance, and it is very fulfilling.

How often do these special players practice?

They practice once a week on Thursdays, and occasionally there are championships in Catalonia, Spain, and every four years, the Special Olympics Games are organized for them.

During these training sessions, do you focus uniquely on sport, or do you also try to impart other values?

We focus on making it the best hour of the week for them. If something comes up in a conversation, we take advantage of it, but we focus on them enjoying the training. We start with gymnastics to warm up, joke around, then of course train and improve technically, but we concentrate on making the game fun. Our goal is to make it the best hour of the week for them.

For them, participating in a clinic like the one offered by the Potter Cup, what do you think it means?

It means a lot to them. Generally, they have few social opportunities, and the chance to feel like just another person at an event is greatly appreciated. At that moment, they feel like a part of society, which is incredibly valuable to them. Sharing the court with well-known players makes them feel important. They love it, always keep it on their memory and helps them personally.

Sergi, you know that the philanthropic area of the IC Council supports different projects worldwide. If a meeting of philanthropic project leaders were to be held, would you be willing to dedicate some time to share experiences?

Yes, of course, I love collaborating with these kinds of projects. In the past, I spent time visiting prison to train there and have done other types of collaborations. I am willing to help. I feel very privileged for the opportunities I have had in life, and I believe it's my duty to give something back to the sport that has given me so much.

Thank you Sergi, keep it up….

IC of Italy qualify for Worldwide IC Junior Challenge Finals

The final day "play-offs" once again produced some very close matches including yet another mixed doubles decider. In the top match Italy were successful in a well fought match with Israel eventually winning 4-2 to take The European IC Rod Laver Junior Challenge with Israel in second place. But for a few points different it could have gone to a mixed doubles decider. In the match for third and fourth place Ireland won over Slovenia 4-2 but had to win two 10 point third set deciders to do that. In the match up for fifth and sixth places Great Britain won over Spain 5-1 and again with some close matches. Meanwhile the match up between hosts Germany and Austria for seventh and eighth place proved to be the closest of the day with Austria coming through in a mixed doubles decider after the overall match was tied at three individual matches each. So final placings are:

1. Italy
2. Israel
3. Ireland
4. Slovenia
5. Great Britain
6. Spain
7. Austria
8. Germany

Italy as the winning team were presented with their trophies by IC Germany President Alex Kurucz and they will be going to the Worldwide Finals in La Jolla, San Diego, California in November next year. This has probably been the most closely contested regional challenge ever. But for a few points, including some lost "match points" a different result could easily have happened. Indeed the organisers felt that if the event was repeated three times it could well be a different winner each time. So it has been a great experience for all the juniors with the round robin format giving them both a singles and doubles each day ..... and quite often a mixed doubles too this year! The unique format including both boys and girls as one team seems to be very successful and an enjoyable one both on and off court in the IC tradition of "Hands across the net, friendship across the ocean".

An enjoyable time was experienced at the final night dinner at a venue of German sponsor Rossbacher ( a manufacturer of water and soft drinks) who were thanked for their great support and were present for the evening. The event is not possible without the help of many volunteers and there were many from IC of Germany who were thanked by IC Council representative Kit Spencer for their hosting of a successful European Challenge. As well as the presentation to winning teams an important award of the IC is the Sportsmanship Awards given for exhibiting both a good attitude and friendship on and off court. These deservedly went to Johanna Halper of Austria and Mat Rutter of Great Britain. By the applause from their fellow juniors it seems they too felt they were worthy recipients. A highlight of the Final Night dinner was a Karaoke Event in which all teams performed at least one song to the amusement of both themselves and the audience. This finished up with a great finale of all teams getting together to sing "We are the world" which showed wonderful friendship between the juniors.

It is a week that the juniors will remember all their life. Many of them and their coaches expressed that it was one of their best ever tennis experiences and quite probably the best.

IC Luxembourg have already offered to host the next European Challenge in 2021 which teams will look forward too and their support is appreciated.