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The World Games 2009 Kaohsiung: Tchoukball, korfball coming to Kaohsiung

Lifesaving instructors Lin Yu-an, front, and Chien Chun-che, representing Keelung, run onto the beach to take first place in the men’s surf lifesaving event at the Citizens’ Games in Kaohsiung on Oct. 27 last year. PHOTO: SUN CHUAN-HSIEN, TAIPEI TIMES

Here is part two of our guide to some of the more obscure sports at the World Games that start in Kaohsiung tomorrow.

KORFBALL

Korfball is a mixed team sport similar to netball devised by Dutch schoolteacher Nico Broekhuysen in 1902. It is played in more than 50 countries (including Taiwan) and is extremely popular in the Netherlands and Belgium. It was a demonstration sport at the Antwerp (1920) and Amsterdam (1928) Olympics. Not surprisingly, the Low Countries dominate the sport, having shared every world championship since the tournament began in 1978.

Korfball promotes gender equality, a team consists of four male and four female members and players can only mark a player of the same sex. It is played on a 40m by 20m court divided into two halves called zones with a 3.5m high “korf,” the Dutch word for basket, at each end. Points are scored by shooting the ball into the korf defended by the opposing team. Running with or dribbling with the ball is not allowed. The key to scoring is to lose defenders and create a scoring chance as attackers cannot shoot if a defender is within arms’ length and nearer to the post. Attackers and defenders change zones after every two points. A game consists of two 30 minute halves.

Events: Eight team tournament

Venue: Kaoshiung Normal University Gym (高師大體育館) Date: Fri 17–Tue 21.

LIFESAVING

Lifesaving consists of different races designed to demonstrate lifesaving skills. The events are held either in still water or the ocean. The ocean events tend to be more exciting as there are no lanes and because of the unpredictable nature of waves and ocean currents.

Most indoor races involve swimming a set distance (sometimes with fins) before rescuing a mannequin and towing it back to safety. The ocean events are more varied and include swimming, board and surf ski races. Other events such as running races are held on the beach, while the Ironman event combines four different life-saving elements.

There are more than 20 lifesaving events taking place including:

Beach rescue board (Male, Female); Beach surf race (M, F); Pool combined rescue 100m (M, F); Pool obstacle race 200m (M, F); Saving-a-mannequin 50m (M, F); Saving-a- mannequin 100m fins (M, F); Pool/Beach relay 10 (Mixed)

Venue: (Still water) Kaohsiung Swimming Pool (國際游泳池) Date: Thur 23, Fri 24.

(Ocean) Sizhiwan (西子海水浴場) Date: Sat 25.

TCHOUKBALL

Tchoukball was invented in the 1970s by Swiss doctor Herman Brandt during his search for “the perfect team game” that would avoid serious injuries. Tchoukball is non-contact and played by two teams of nine on a 40m by 20m court with a frame resembling a small trampoline at each end. A 3m semi-circular “forbidden zone” or D surrounds each frame.

To score, an attacking player must throw the ball at the frame so that it bounces outside the D without being caught by the defending team. The number three is key to Tchoukball as players can only take three steps with the ball, keeping the ball for a maximum three seconds, while teams can only pass the ball three times before taking a shot. Possession changes hands when a pass is either incomplete or dropped. Tchoukball is unusual in that teams can score at either end of the pitch.

Events: Six-team tournament (M/F)

Venue: Kaoshiung Normal University Gym (高師大體育館) Date: Fri 24-Sun 26

AIR SPORTS (SKYDIVING)

There are many disciplines in Air sports, but only five will feature in Kaoshiung.

In formation skydiving, teams score points for the number of formations they can perform in an allotted time while in freefall. A cameraman jumps with each team to film the formations. A competition usually consists of up to 10 rounds, and each round consists of up to six formations. Each completed formation scores a point.

In canopy formation, the same rules apply except that the formations are performed after the parachutes are open.

Freeflying is formation skydiving but with more freedom. Formations can be performed while in head first and feet first positions.

Accuracy landing sees competitors aiming to hit a target as near to the center as possible. The dead center is 2cm in diameter and a competitor’s score is measured in meters from this. Hitting dead center scores zero meters.

In canopy piloting, athletes accelerate using their parachutes on a final approach above water, negotiating a set course while attempting to achieve the greatest distance or speed.

Events: four-way formation skydiving (mixed); canopy formation (mixed); freeflying (mixed); accuracy landing (mixed); canopy piloting (mixed)

Venue: Metropolitan Park (高雄都會公園) Date: Fri 17 – Sun 19.
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