The roadshow team go into action in South Africa Photo © ECC

"What inspires people? What causes people to dig deep when it counts? What results in success? PASSION!" This is the thinking behind the European `Imagination Roadshow, a new EDP initiative for 2002 incorporating coach education and youth development.

Led by Cricketec's highly-motivated Bruce Smuts (quoted above) and Mike Flockhart, the roadshow will be launched at the EDP's annual youth training camp (Bradfield College, 28 March to 1 April) and will subsequently travel through a number of European countries over the course of the next month, before finishing its run on European `Spirit of Cricket' Weekend (4-5 May) in a grand finale at a destination to be selected.

The roadshow is being part-sponsored by Flicx International, who will be distributing a number of their revolutionary pitches along the way, and providing the trailer for all the equipment and other resources to be transported in. At each of the locations visited the team will run entertaining sessions for youngsters at a local school or cricket club, combined with coach education sessions for local coaches, showing them how to get the most from the equipment and facilities at their disposal, and how to generate the same level of enthusiasm for the game amongst children.

Bruce and Mike are confident that "Öby using [their] unique way of coaching and by providing an alternative method to the traditional Ö by providing an outlet for children to channel their energy towards something positive and inspirational, [they can] impart passion for a sport that is enthralling millions in different parts of the globe." Judging by the enthusiastic reaction of the youngsters whose imagination certainly seemed to be fired by their participation in the roadshow-style sessions witnessed by the EDM on his recent visit to South Africa, their confidence may be well founded.

This year's roadshow will pave the way for an extended programme in 2003, which, we hope, will take in an increased number of countries in Europe, gradually working its way south before boarding a ferry on the southern coast of Spain to take it to Morocco.

From there, the roadshow will come under the auspices of Hoosain Ayob and the ICC's development programme in Africa, before arriving in Cape Town for the start of the 2003 World Cup. The support given to the 2002 initiative and its resultant success will go a long way to realizing this goal.