FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TORONTO, ONTARIO – The Taiwan Lacrosse Association (TWLA) has been granted full membership status in the Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL). Bob DeMarco, FIL’s new Director of Development, said that the board was unanimous in its decision.
“In a very short time the Taiwan Lacrosse Association has become a strong member of the Federation of International Lacrosse.”
—Bob DeMarco, FIL Director of Development
“The Taiwan Lacrosse Association is built on a solid foundation,” said DeMarco. “Every phase of their program is carefully planned with remarkable success. In a very short time, the Taiwan Lacrosse Association has become a strong member of the Federation of International Lacrosse.”
“TWLA hopes to offer what we have learned and achieved and pay it forward to the world lacrosse community.”
—Chris Wei, TWLA Executive Director
TWLA’s Executive Director Chris Wei was pleased with the FIL’s decision. “We are honored and thrilled to become a full member of the FIL family. With full member status and with Sarah [Sarah Lin – TWLA’s Chairwoman] serving on the FIL’s Development Committee, TWLA hopes to offer what we have learned and achieved and pay it forward to the world lacrosse community.”
Wei continued, “That includes any individual or organization that may find our experiences useful in helping to build a national lacrosse program.”
2016 FIL U19 Men’s Lacrosse World Championship
8-July-2016, Coquitlam, BC, Canada — Taiwan celebrates a goal in a pool play match against Germany at the 2016 FIL U19 Men’s World Lacrosse Championship. Check out this and other great photos on the TWLA website at https://www.taiwanlax.org/gallery-2016/ and promotional videos at https://www.taiwanlax.org/gallery-videos/. Photo: TWLA
Wei humbly and graciously gave thanks to others for Taiwan’s rise to full FIL membership. “To be honest, since our establishment, the FIL, APLU, and neighboring clubs have been offering more help and assistance that we had imagined or asked for.” Wei continued, “With all the kind helping hands and encouragement, it made our life much easier in focusing our energy and efforts on developing lacrosse in Taiwan.”
And what an effort it has been. The below video gives you a pretty good idea about how organized Taiwan’s lacrosse development program is.Wei continued to pass along thanks and praise to others beginning with his coaching staff.
He explained how lucky they are to have Travis Gillespie as Head Coach and his entire family as diehard fans and cheerleaders for Team Taiwan.
Wei also gave high praises to Development Officers Tim Kwan and Kinson Wan. Kwan for his developmental work in Taipei and Wan for being instrumental in pioneering the development of lacrosse at the junior high level in Taitung and for taking the lead in helping to develop TWLA’s first women’s team.
“We are grateful to our coaches and development team for building lacrosse at the grassroots level in Taiwan and for coming up with creative solutions to issues facing a new organization like the TWLA,” said Wei.
Wei also credits Joseph Tsai, Executive Vice Chairman of Alibaba Group Holding Limited, for his generous contributions of both moral and financial support to the Taiwan Lacrosse Association. His bio can be found here. As Wei describes him, Tsai, a former Yale lacrosse player, is passionate about the development of lacrosse in Taiwan. Apparently, that passion has spread to his family as well. Joseph’s sisters, Eva and Vivian Tsai, are both proactively involved in the TWLA, helping to secure new practice facilities and establishing medical resources for Team Taiwan.
Wei insists that it has been a group effort that has led to Taiwan’s full membership in FIL.
Taiwan’s Women’s Team to Compete in Greater China Cup
January-2017, Taipei, Taiwan — Taiwan’s first women’s team has been selected to compete in the 2017 Greater China Cup to be held February 17-19 in Hong Kong at Kowloon Bay Park and Club De Recreio. Photo: TWLA
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For more information contact Chris Wei chriswei@taiwanlax.org
Read Chris Wei’s 2016 TWLA Development Report: 2016 TWLA Development Report
Taiwan Lacrosse Association Media Outlets
Website: https://www.taiwanlax.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taiwanlacrosse
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taiwan_lacrosse_association
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel
About the TWLA
TWLA goals:
- Promote the sport of lacrosse in Taiwan and develop it into a popular activity amongst all grade levels.
- Organize national and international lacrosse events, exhibitions, clinics, and tournaments.
- Build, train, and qualify local lacrosse teams to participate in international events.
- Facilitate foreign lacrosse teams and associations to join our local events and exhibitions in Taiwan.
- Breed and train referees to meet international lacrosse standards.
- Provide education on the rules, regulations, and fundamentals of lacrosse.
- Archive lacrosse-related resources from articles to videos and other media.
- Help provide access to lacrosse equipment.
- Publish and translate lacrosse-related documentaries along with original training videos.
