THE SPORTS DAY IN MY SCHOOL

The sports day is the most eagerly awaited day in the school. It provides an opportunity to all students to display their talents.

Preparations for our sports day start a month in advance. All the students are agog with excitement in weeks preceding the sports day and the events of that great day continue to be discussed and debated for weeks after wards.

Our school has a spacious playground at the back of the school building. On the day before the sports day the playground is prepared and decorated with coloured paper ribbons, flags and festoons, so that it wears a festive look.

I still remember the last year's sports day in my school, when I was in tenth Standard. It was held on 24th December. Sports were to start at 7 a.m. But all the students and teachers had assembled on the playground by 6 a.m. Parents, guardians and special invitees began to come after 6.30 a.m. They were seated in a specially erected pandal.

The events of the day started exactly at 7 a.m. They included various athletic items like 100 meters race, cycling race, hurdle race, three legged race, discus throw, shot put, high jump and long jump as well as games like kabaddi, kho-kho, langadi and dodge ball. There were special races for girls like lemon and spoon race, sack races, potato gathering and threading the needle. There was also the game of the musical chairs specially for the guests. A very lively and interesting running commentary of the events was given by our English teacher. Participants were cheered and applauded by the remaining students. Great fun was provided by the item of Musical Chairs in which our Principal, a few teachers, guardians and parents participated.

By 6 p.m. the last final event was over and it was time for the prize distribution. Sir Sunil Gavaskar, the famous cricketer, was the chief guest. He congratulated the participants for taking part in the sports and praised the students of the school for their discipline and good behaviour. He then gave away the prizes. Each prize winner was cheered and applauded by the spectators.

At the end of the prize distribution there was rhythmic clapping to the chant of "we want holiday". Thunderous cheers greeted our Principal as he graciously obliged and announced over the mike that the next day would be a school holiday.