Promoting tourism through sports my aim, says Dietmar

Age is not a barrier to continue sport and promoting sports gives me great pleasure said Dr Dietmar Doering the keen sports promoter in an exclusive interview with the Daily News yesterday.

I have done sports promotion programmes in Sri Lanka and I am very keen to play Table Tennis despite my age . Dietmar has his own Aquaries Residencies (earlier Aquaries Beach Hotel) at Marawila .The Businessman from Germany now based in Sri Lanka said his aim is to promote tourism through sports

I came from Germany and settled down here and started my new life after I married a Sri Lankan. and launched the Sri Lanka – German Sports Exchange Programme which was later named as Asian – German Sports Exchange Programme . Table Tennis, Volleyball,Handballl ,Football , , Badminton,Netball teams from Germany came to Sri Lanka and also I sent sports teams from Sri Lanka to Germany. However it couldn’t continue as Sri Lankan Handball team went missing in Germany which resulted in Sri Lanka Teams not being issued Visas for Germany . Discipline is the key factor in sports and players must realize their responsibility and they have to always abide by rules and regulations said Dietmar the German businessman turned Sri Lanka Tourism promoter through sports . . Sports helps to build a healthy Society and we have a responsibility to do these sports promotions said Doering.

I have a Sports Stadium at my Hotel and we wanted to hold Table Tennis and Badminton tournaments and ..hope to get new TT tables and do renovation work to fulfill all facilities. .I have completed very successful veteran Table Tennis tournament and I was the men’s champion as well as doubles champion with former National champion Lalith Priyantha

Sri Lanka Table Tennis Association has a new young President Dr Tharinda Weerakoon and Secretary Dr Chandana Srinath Wijethunga and both of them are very keen to promote Table Tennis and I have an idea to help the TT National Federation along with former TT Secretary and renowned coach Chandana Perera said Doering.

Those days several TT National players Thilina Piyadasa ,Indika Prasad , Christopher Arnolda and Umesh Alwis travelled with the National teams while players like Deepika Rodrigo ,Namal Gunasekera, Samantha Jayadewa were talented players from school level .My aim is to promote sports in Sri Lanka and give exposure for the Paddlers. We had successful tournaments and coaching camps in Northern and Eastern Provinces those days and we want to continue it once again with the support of the Sports Ministry and Touristm Ministry said Dietmar.