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Australian Ollie Percovich says the skateboards he introduced to Kabul’s children are the ‘carrots’ to connect with them and build trust. His ‘Skateistan’ nonprofit club awaits a big new facility.
Reporting from Kabul, Afghanistan — A white van pulled up to a concrete fountain on a leafy side street in downtown Kabul, trailed by shrieking Afghan children. “Ollie! Ollie!” they shouted, pounding on the vehicle.
Oliver Percovich, a lanky Australian in a black T-shirt, emerged from the van with a load of banged-up skateboards. The children grabbed the boards and raced off to skate in the cracked bowl of the dried-up fountain.Â
Skateboarding was unknown to Afghans until Percovich, who followed his social scientist girlfriend to Kabul, starting teaching local children to skate in early 2007. Two years later…Â Details
The City of Kaohsiung, with a population of 1.5 million, is located on the south west coast of Taiwan and facing Hong Kong over the horizon. The flags of 33 nations fluttered in the light breeze during the Opening Ceremony of the Waterski, Wakeboard and Barefoot World Games competitions. This was a far cry from the conditions of the previous weekend when a typhoon hit the Kaohsiung area. This caused major disruption to the many outdoor World Games sports and in particular canoe polo, which ultimately was switched indoors to a swimming pool.
Because of the weather last week, some minor delays followed in the set up of the picturesque site here at the ornamental Lotus Pond. This is surrounded by a number of very popular tourist attractions including the giant Dragon and Tiger Pagodas, the Spring and Autumn Pavilions and the Confucius Temple. All overlook the competition site. The City of Kaohsiung has made a huge …Â Details
Australian Ollie Percovich says the skateboards he introduced to Kabul’s children are the ‘carrots’ to connect with them and build trust. His ‘Skateistan’ nonprofit club awaits a big new facility.