The Barbados Olympic Association Inc. (BOA) has taken a step back in time today to celebrate Olympic Day
with local Primary Schools at the BOA Headquarters in Wildey. This year’s theme ‘Back in Time’ was designed to tie in with Barbados’ 50th Anniversary of Independence, encouraging students to try their hand at some traditional Bajan games and cuisine.
Students were able to participate in ‘old favourites’ like hopscotch, marbles, skipping, jacks, hula hooping, road tennis, chess, dominoes, volleyball, table tennis, orienteering, BOA museum tours, and even an Olympic Day roller race. They also enjoyed traditional Bajan treats like tamarind balls, fish cakes, pastries, and nut cakes.
Students from St. Judes Primary enjoying Olympic Day 2016.
Director of the National Olympic Academy Dave Farmer says the purpose of the event was to teach young children important life values through sport, as well as to showcase their Bajan heritage. “This year, we decided the Olympic Day theme should be ‘Back in Time’ to connect us with our 50th Anniversary of Independence celebrations. We wanted to take the students back into the days of old to sample some of our traditional games, activities and food from those times gone by. Today has once again been a great success, thanks to the teachers, students and our dedicated team of BOA staff,” he said.
When asked what his favourite Olympic Day activity was, Nicholai Belle from St. Cyprian’s Boys’ School said, “I really enjoyed the orienteering, and the volleyball. I went to the museum, and I liked that too! I would definitely like to come for Olympic Day again!”
The Olympic Day 2016 roller race gets underway with participating local Primary
And, the teachers agree. Andre Boyce, teacher at St. Paul’s Primary, said, “I think this year’s Olympic Day with the schools is a great opportunity for students to participate in old time games and learn how some of those games of the past were played. It’s also good for getting the children into exercise – it helps them to develop certain skills that they might not be accustomed to in their everyday life, especially with games they may not have played before”.
Participating schools in Olympic Day 2016 included:
Charles F. Broome Memorial Primary
George Lamming Primary
Grantley Prescod Primary
Hilda Skeene Primary
Luther Thorne Memorial Primary
St. Cyprian’s Boys’ School
St. George Primary
St. Giles’ Primary
St. Judes Primary
St. Lawrence Primary
St. Paul’s Primary
The Irving Wilson School
The event has capped off a week of celebrations seeking to promote the Olympic values of Excellence, Friendship and Respect. The celebrations continued into the evening when National Federations and guests were invited back to the BOA Headquarters for more traditional Bajan activities like karaoke, road tennis, draughts, authentic local cuisine, and music by a popular DJ.
Last Saturday, the BOA launched its weeklong series of activities to celebrate Olympic Day with a public walk, race and run that included over 300 participants from 16 National Federations.
