THROUGH ongoing collaboration between the Solomon Islands Government and the People’s Republic of China, a group of 23 is currently in Qingdao, Shandong Province to learn more about facility management. The training is coordinated and delivered by the Shandong Foreign Trade Vocational College and funded by China Aid under the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China.
The group, led by NSC Chair, Mr Joe Sika Manuopangai, is in China for 20 days to learn how to manage sporting facilities similar to our facilities in Solomon Islands.
Says Manuopangai: “The group is learning how they are used, managed, maintained. It is a very important training especially when we have new sporting facilities after hosting the 2023 Pacific Games. It is important to look after our new sporting facilities well so our people can continue to enjoy them for a very long time. We are very thankful to our friends in China for taking this important initiative.”
In welcoming the Solomon Islands team, president of Shandong Foreign Trade Vocational College, Ms Liu Min, said: “I hope that this training will enable the participants to gain a deeper understanding and learn about China’s cutting-edge knowledge and development experience in sports facility construction, maintenance, operation, and management. It will provide useful inspiration for the participants’ work and use this training course as an opportunity to promote deep cooperation in education, economy, and trade between the two countries”.
The training course on Sports Facility Management adopts a multifaceted approach to learning, encompassing classroom lectures, on-site teaching, case studies, and field trips. Participants will also visit Beijing’s renowned Olympic facilities in addition to those in Qindao and Rizhao City as part of the program. The training is being led by coordinator, Mr Liu Xiangfei; experts including the former deputy general director of Shandong Sports Bureau, Mr Li Weicheng, and expert and planner of the training course, Associate Professor Qu Zhenlin.
As part of the NSC’s inclusive approach to sport, it has invited participants from other organisations involved in managing facilities to be part of this valuable opportunity. The group is from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development, Honiara City Council, Western and Malaita Provinces, Solomon Islands National University, Solomon Islands Football Federation, Solomon Islands Rugby Union Federation and National Hosting Authority in addition to NSC facilities staff.
Facilities in Qingdao: Olympic Sailing Base, Qingdao Sports Center, Shandong Provincial Sports Center Qingdao Base, Qingdao Zhonglian Lohas Park.
Facilities in Rizhao City: National Water Sports Training Base, Shandong Rowing-Canoeing Training Base, Rizhao Campus of Shandong Sport University (Shandong Institute of physical education).
