International Schools meet :

Top athletes vie for honours

Angu Rajendran

One thousand five hundred and forty six athletes from nineteen International Schools are ready to take part in 130 athletic events from running to jumping to throwing and hurdles at the International Schools athletics meet from February 18 to 20.

Lyceum International School who have taken on the mammoth task of organizing this meet have been preparing for this meet for the last three months says energetic and friendly Sports Coordinator Ms Champa Cumaranatunga.

“A booklet has been prepared last year itself for the 300 staff on duty at this meet, so that the meet will run smoothly,” said Ms Champa who was totally unflustered and all ready to help staff and students from the different International Schools.

“I have a team that has been working like a family to carry out this grand athletics meet successfully. Dedication is the key word,” said Champa. Behind her was the team led by Deputy Co-ordinator Rohana Ekanayake and deputy Principal Buddhika Pathiraja, getting ready to host one of the biggest events on the International Schools calendar when Sugathadasa Stadium will be abuzz with boys and girls ranging from five to nineteen years.

Minister for Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa will be the Chief Guest while former Olympic hurdler Sriyani Kulawansa will be the Guest of Honour.

Lyceum International School, Wattala are the defending champions of the over-all champion title. Last year’s Champion triple jumper Lakshan Polkottuwa and 400m record holder and best female athlete Hansi Ekanayake also of Lyceum Wattala will be taking part this year too.

Last year’s runner-up Gateway College will also be at the meet with a strong contingent. Girls’ champions Nadeeshani Henderson and Chamatka Seneviratne from Gateway College will be doing their best for their school this year too. Lyceum captain Dulan Chameera says “We look forward to meeting our friends from other schools. Athletics meets are times when we unite through competition. We look forward to a great time.”

“We want children to learn how to handle victory graciously and also to handle the disappointment of losing sportingly, hence we have taken over the responsibility of hosting this meet,” said Mrs Kumari Grero, Director of Lyceum Schools.

The subjects that children study in the classroom may or may not have relevance in their later lives, but when they take part in a sports meet, the moments of maximum effort, the ability to give of their best, to get along with peers, to be united in effort, are the qualities that will stand children in good stead.