Pauline Li Gaudefroy
Emma Narvaez
Danna Yoon
Ever since he was a little toddler, Mr. Patmore could remember holding a bat and playing cricket outside with his father. Perhaps the memories of his past shaped him into the superstar he is today. Cricket even led him to his lifelong career as a history teacher! At the age of 16, he was coaching a cricket team and teaching people, some older than he was. His coach had encouraged him to gain a coaching qualification, which helped him learn how to speak in front of a group of people. This was a lot for such a young boy, but it was what brought him to fulfill his current job as a history teacher at Saint Maur International School.
In the latest assembly, Mr Patmore shared his own experience of representing the Japanese cricket team at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. For further information, we interviewed him about the details of his eventful time there.
1. What were you feeling as you were going to the Asian Games?
Mr. Patmore’s experience was initially quite nerve-racking, considering his recent injury during his previous tournament, where he tore his calf. He explained: “Basically, August and September was just going to physio, getting fit, and just being really nervous and anxious that I would re-injure it and not be able to go. So once I was on that plane and I got there, it was this massive weight off my shoulders and I was just like, ‘Let’s enjoy it and give it my best shot.’”
2. What was the most memorable moment for you during the Games?
Having been involved in such a noteworthy event across all of Asia, Mr. Patmore had quite a few memorable moments throughout. Firstly, “the most shallow one,” as Mr. Patmore put it, was all the free merchandise he received. He explained: “I got so much free stuff, like free gear, free rucksacks and suitcases, and sports drinks and all these things. Lots of goodies. It was pretty cool, I’m not gonna lie.”
Mr. Patmore was also amazed at the esteemed nature of the event, and how wherever he went, the Asian Games were being advertised. “In the past, I’ve been to the Olympics to watch, like in London 2012, and all the adverts are emblazoned everywhere. But this time it was like, ‘Oh, I’m actually involved in this, not just a spectator.’”
One specific moment that Mr. Patmore mentioned was his interaction with Chinese volunteers at the event, who were playing a game of cricket during their break. Interested in making a memorable experience for these volunteers, Mr. Patmore brought some of his teammates over to join their game. He explained that his action was also in hopes that it would leave a “good impression of Japan as well.” Considering the Japan-China relations, Mr. Patmore stated that taking “any opportunity to improve them [would be] a good thing.” In fact, the interaction was even reposted by the official Japan Olympic Instagram, recognizing the high-spirits presented at the Games. Mr. Patmore expressed gratitude in being somewhat of an ambassador for international diplomacy during the event.
Finally, Mr. Patmore found it interesting that the presumed serious athletes were actually more serious about swapping pin badges “like they were Pokémon cards.”
3. What challenges did you and your team face during the tournament, and how did you overcome them?
One potential challenge that Mr. Patmore discussed was his team’s limited training opportunities as a whole team, since half of his players lived in Australia or overseas. However, he explained that the thrill of the event brought out the strongest team bonding he had ever been a part of. He stated: “I can’t wait for the next [tournament], and I really look forward to not just playing with them, but hanging out with them again.” Overall, the camaraderie Mr. Patmore was able to experience at the Asian Games not only strengthened their performance as a team, but also enriched their lives on a personal level.
4. What teams did you play against?
During the Games, Mr. Patmore and his team played a total of two games. The first one was against Cambodia, which they gallantly won. However, they later lost to Hong Kong in their second game. From Mr Patmore’s point of view, he felt proud that they moved ranks to begin with and even got to play against a team ranked 20 globally. Furthermore, he expressed that his team “really gave [Hong Kong] quite a fright” and showed that they had the capabilities to beat them, if not for a few mistakes and allowing Hong Kong back into the game.
5. Can you tell us about any interactions or experiences you had with players or teams from other countries during the Asian Games?
As a history teacher, Mr. Patmore’s personal interactions with dependents from other countries was definitely a confounding experience, considering the complex history within East Asia. In particular, Mr. Patmore shared some insights regarding the North Korean athletes. His first interaction with the team was during an individual recovery cycle in the gym. “I was minding my own business watching Netflix on a cycle machine, and then I just saw in the reflection, 20 guys walking in all wearing red, and then just looking at the badge [I realized] it was the North Korean football team.’ And I never really, as far as I’m aware, met anyone from North Korea before, and it was just me and their whole delegation in the gym.”
When describing the athletes’ general behavior, Mr. Patmore explained: “I believe that anytime North Korean athletes go abroad, the government is worried that some of them might defect and try not to to come back, so it seemed like they were under instructions to not acknowledge anyone else’s presence, particularly Japanese athletes, given the history. So anytime we tried to make eye contact, or something like that, they would look away.”
Another interaction Mr. Patmore described was when everyone in the food court was singing Happy Birthday to an athlete on the water polo team. “Whether it was Iranian weightlifters or Mongolian shot putters, everyone was just in that together spirit,” he explained. “And then you look over at the table with North Korean athletes and they’re just keeping their head down.”
Despite this rather blunt etiquette, Mr. Patmore also mentioned that “there were a couple of moments where [he] realized they [were] just humans and regular people.” He explained a time where he noticed some athletes tap each other on the shoulder and pat each other on the back, and stated that “you could tell that they had this warmth and affection for each other.” Mr. Patmore acknowledged how at times people tend to treat North Korea with a sense of hilarity, “but on the other side, it’s also tragic that they have so many issues with the outside world and with their country,” he stated.
6. What was the most significant lesson or skill you personally gained from this experience?
Two lessons Mr. Patmore learned from this sensational experience was the transformative power of teamwork, and that there’s always an opportunity to leave someone with a good impression or a good memory. In regards to the former lesson, he stated: “For one of the few times in my career, [I felt that I was] part of a team where the sum is greater than the part.” As for the latter sentiment, Mr. Patmore explained that whether it was joining in with the volunteers’ game or simply waving and smiling at strangers while wearing their team kit, he realized that even small acts of kindness had the ability to brighten someone’s day.
Overall, Mr. Patmore’s experience playing at the Asian Games not only allowed him to grow as a cricket player, but also provided him with insights into the complexities of international relations and the shared humanity that transcends borders.
Congratulations to Mr. Patmore on this wonderful experience! The Maurdian wishes him continued success and hopes he cherishes these memories for years to come.
Pauline Li Gaudefroy, Emma Narvaez, Danna Yoon