Honorable guest of honors, ministers, parents, friends, and students, l would like

to

welcome

you

to

Borrowdale

Brooke

Academy

Sports

day.

School sports day is a red letter day on the calendar. It is a day when students
are freed from their classrooms to jump and run around, freed from the fetters of
learning. It is a day for mothers to wear their summary best and fathers to cheer
on their sons. Its a day when children who may struggle with academic subjects
show that they can race faster or jump further than anyone else. Its a day for red
faces and perspiration where t-shirts and shorts are the order of the day. Its a
day for starter guns or teachers with whistles. School sports day is a day for
cameras and videos and smiling faces. Its a day for triumph and disasters, for
successes and failures. Speeches are given and medals are presented and,
overall, its a day for sportsmanship and making memories.
This year, I am pleased to see, many are competing encompassing over 50 staf
and family members in a wide variety of events. Not least of which is the tug-ofwar

which

am

told

will

be

vigorously

contested.

As I look around here today I am reminded once again of just how passionate
teachers are about sport and what great competitors you all are. One of the
consistencies I see when I watch students play at school is the love BBA
Students have for sport. And what a great thing sport is on so many levels.
Beyond the obvious health and activity benefits, sport can teach us much about
life. It teaches us about teamwork, it teaches us how to get along with others, and
it teaches us to work together to achieve a common goal. Its also about trust and
responsibility and about dealing with success and failure.

Sport also helps us learn about coping with pressure and the need to stick with

training in order to improve. As well as the benefits to individuals, sports and

physical activity also bring great benefits to communities through such things as
improved health and education, rehabilitation, crime prevention, and gender
equality.
Another important aspect of sports is its ability to make people feel they are part
of something. In a survey done on our last sports day, everybody interviewed said
that the event made them feel a part of Borrowdale Brooke Academy.
Borrowdale Brooke Academy recognizes the value of using sport as vehicle for
development

But while the challenges are great, so is the commitment to find solutions. I want
to acknowledge all the good work done by Teachers and also parents. Everybody
has a responsibility to work towards making communities safer. To achieve that
goal parents and teachers need to work closely together. This sports day is an
excellent way to bring people together in a relaxed environment that will build
lasting

networks

and

friendships

across

the

sector.

I congratulate the organizers and particularly the director of studies Mrs. Henney,
the principal Mrs. Rutsito and his deputy Mr. Muridzi, the technical coordinators
Mr. Maviki, and other members of the organizing team who have done a great job
in putting together todays program.

And now it only leaves me to wish all competitors good luck and to declare the
First

annual

Thank you

Borrowdale

Brooke

Academy

Sports

Day

open.