For some, preparation would’ve taken all year, while for some, primary school sports day in late February decides who would have qualified for NAPSAC — the National Primary Schools’ Athletic Championships.
Five days in early March each year, most of the primary schools move to the national stadium in Waterford in groups of about 15 teams as they strive for a place in the semifinals held later in the month.
The teams are paraded in front of a lively full mass of both parents and teammates didn’t qualify for this competition, but pleased to cheer for their school for over six hours.
Following the national anthem, the prayer and then the welcome, sponsors get to say their part for their contribution is essential towards the high standards maintained to preserve this occasion.
A child from one of the participating schools gets to present the athlete’s oath which is followed by the official’s oath. After the formal presentations the competition begins.
Around 50 different events are tightly managed across the heat of the day with many events having three sets of starting athletes due to the high number of qualifying competitors from the 15 schools present.
Many races bring genuine cheering for opposition sportspeople where real effort is rewarded by a friendly audience; just as dedicated athletes at the Olympics are cheered not only by their fellow countrymen, but often by their deepest rivals.
The starting team, the finishing team, the athletes marshals and the recorders of the results ensure a first class event, where results are available on computers seconds after a race has been run.
To watch 15 relay events from under nines to under 13s and not once witnessing a baton being dropped confirms the quality of the competitors and their dedication to gain the best results for their team, not just for themselves.
At just $10 entrance fee to sit in the main stand, this is as entertaining as the Olympics through traditional events such as the high jump, long jump, sprinting, one lap races and many 4 x 100 m relays.
Teams are notified of their placing compared to their competitors as the day progresses and every athlete is able to know to the 100th of a second or the nearest millimeter, their individual result recording their success or failure.
Individuals and teams are rewarded with trophies at the end of the day. I do hope the marshals get their opportunity to be visibly rewarded for their hard efforts to ensure smooth running of the entire competition.
For those that did well, well done. For those that didn’t perform as well as they had hoped, there’s always another day, for the greatest achievement today was the quality of the teamwork and team support.
