Wednesday 23rd January was the annual Inter Centre Sports meet, with all six centres sending children to participate. For some a long day as the journeys for some are a couple of hours and they cam from age three to about 17. It was held at St Michaels School ground just behind the compound here. When they all arrived they were given breakfast, a roll, banana and a little bit of a sweet cake.Then the proceedings started at 10.30 a.m.
I had gone across with those from the centre here about 9.00 a.m., we had done our violin class at 7.30 a.m.! I was chatting to the youngsters when I was given a t shirt - with the word Volunteer on the back - and cap and told them to put them on with the words "You work". I had an invitation as a guest but it was good to be doing something. So I helped hand out breakfasts and t-shirts and caps to every child and leaders who also all wore the T-shirts and caps.
Then I did get to sit under the canopy for guests.So the Sports Day opened like the one I went to at St Peters, with prayer, a march past of all the athletes, and Dr Mike Sabback took the salute, the flame coming to the him, the flag being unfurled and a student reading atheletes oath, then the games declared open.
This was the march past, each group had their own banner.
Dr Mike Sabback and the Bishop returning from putting the flame in the pot stand.
This is children from the hostel who did a cultural dance about India, and not giving up on your dreams in their opening positions, I shall put a video clip up of it tomorrow. They were still practising this at 11.00 p.m. the night before and the girls were up at 4.00 a.m. to wash there hair and be ready so that they had time to paint the faces as well as violin lesson. At the end of the day they were very tired.
Taekwondo is taught is many of the centres as a way to exercise the whole body but especially for the girls that they have a means of self defence and gradually learning about the backgrounds here for some it may be important.
The races went on, some with straight finals and some others with heats depending on how many athletes taking part, they were done on age and each first, second and third winners receiving a small useful prize. First had a multi compartment plate, second a water bottle and third a small bowl. Different people were called onto award the prizes so I was asked a couple of times and willingly did so.
After the girls and boys relay races which were keenly fought between Durgapur and Puralia as they were neck a neck on points it was time for the teachers and guests race - first the ladies and then the mens. Not running - the duck walk. You had to keep your knees together all the time and say quack quack up the course.
I entered, as the children had asked me to , so after two heats I came third in the final.
Anyway a day of great fun and sportsmanship and the winning team was Durgapur with Puralia just 3 points behind. Then everyone went back into the compound for lunch.
Then they were dancing together from all the centres.
So another day with doing different things but still ended with a violin class but they were very tired.
I had gone across with those from the centre here about 9.00 a.m., we had done our violin class at 7.30 a.m.! I was chatting to the youngsters when I was given a t shirt - with the word Volunteer on the back - and cap and told them to put them on with the words "You work". I had an invitation as a guest but it was good to be doing something. So I helped hand out breakfasts and t-shirts and caps to every child and leaders who also all wore the T-shirts and caps.
Then I did get to sit under the canopy for guests.So the Sports Day opened like the one I went to at St Peters, with prayer, a march past of all the athletes, and Dr Mike Sabback took the salute, the flame coming to the him, the flag being unfurled and a student reading atheletes oath, then the games declared open.
The races went on, some with straight finals and some others with heats depending on how many athletes taking part, they were done on age and each first, second and third winners receiving a small useful prize. First had a multi compartment plate, second a water bottle and third a small bowl. Different people were called onto award the prizes so I was asked a couple of times and willingly did so.
After the girls and boys relay races which were keenly fought between Durgapur and Puralia as they were neck a neck on points it was time for the teachers and guests race - first the ladies and then the mens. Not running - the duck walk. You had to keep your knees together all the time and say quack quack up the course.
I entered, as the children had asked me to , so after two heats I came third in the final.
Anyway a day of great fun and sportsmanship and the winning team was Durgapur with Puralia just 3 points behind. Then everyone went back into the compound for lunch.
Then they were dancing together from all the centres.
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