press release
23.08.2022
The Tallinn Open WTA 250 organisers taught tennis to the children of the Tallinn Orphanage and will bring them to the tournament.
Today, the first trial training took place on the tennis court of the Tallinn Orphanage Pähkli Youth Centre, where children and their carers were introduced to the sport under the guidance of some of the best coaches in Estonia. The children are encouraged to continue training if they wish.
The Estonian Tennis Association is also bringing the children to watch the WTA tournament and will include them in the Tallinn Open WTA 250 volunteer programme.
According to Allar Hint, the Tallinn Open WTA 250 tournament director, the inspiration and courage of the children is commendable. “Our goal is to teach and encourage young people to play tennis to find new tennis enthusiasts and thereby ensure the future of Estonian tennis,” said Hint. “We can demonstrate to both young people and adults that it is easy to start playing tennis and that it is suitable for players of all ages. Our ”cooperation with the Tallinn Orphanage will certainly not be a one-off event, together without supporters, we want to offer young tennis enthusiasts regular training opportunities.”
“Our children have fewer opportunities but thanks to the Estonian Tennis Association, they are able to try the game of tennis and we are very grateful for offering such an experience,” said Meelis Kukk, head of the Tallinn Orphanage. “We have a tennis court on our grounds but don’t have the ability to utilise it properly. Furthermore, there are unavoidable costs associated with the game of tennis, hence, the cooperation gives our children the opportunity to try a new sport that they otherwise never would have. Who knows, maybe one of them will be our next Anett or Kaia!”
“The overall goal is not only to generate interest in tennis but also to find palpable opportunities for it,” emphasised Hint. “Today, we conducted the training on the asphalt courts of the orphanage although usually tennis is not played on said surface. Hence, our appeal to other sponsors to help modernise such tennis courts.”
Allar Hint introduced the basic rules of tennis at the sample training. The training itself was conducted by the most titulated tennis coaches Ekke Tiidemann and Märten Tamla, who adjusted the tempo and content of the training session according to the age, strength and ability of the children who attended. The organisers and participants of the training day were also greeted by the deputy mayor of Tallinn, Betina Beškina.
Tallinn’s orphanage is an institution that is managed by the city of Tallinn with a total of nearly 200 children. Tallinn Orphanage offers a safe home for mothers and children, foster care and aftercare services. In addition, there is also appropriate help provided for disabled children, there is also a therapy centre and a special care service is being developed at the moment.
Additional information:
Allar Hint
Tallinn Open WTA 250 tournament director
Ph.: +372 511 3535
E-mail: allar@tennis.ee