International Students Sports Day

Prize winners from last year's inaugural International Students Day.

​For the second year, Southland Secondary Schools Sport have organised a sports day for International students, which will be happening this Friday.
 
This is in response to the number of exchange students and International students studying in Southland schools and industry such as dairying that bring in overseas families to the region. In many cases these students being in an unfamiliar environment are shy and reserved.
 
Southland Secondary Schools sports director Fiona Ward believes sport is a great vehicle for trying to integrate these students and help them to form associations.
 
“Last year’s inaugural event was a huge hit for the students and schools were very positive about the day, requesting we hold in annually,” says Ward.
 
“We currently have 130 students registered to take part in six sports at the ILT Stadium .Last year we only offered four sports which were chosen because they are viewed as global sports .They were badminton, basketball, volleyball and futsal. We have added two more sports this year which are track cycling and squash. Students will get to participate in two sports options as opposed to one from last year.”
 
Students will be put into teams so they will be mixed in with students from other schools.
 
The sport development officers will provide some coaching initially then students will get to play the games in a short tournament format.
 
In holding the event in term one the aim is it will help with the integration of students in their schools and give them the opportunity to participate in a sport on a weekly basis as the year develops and with the winter sport season just around the corner.

​International Students Sports Day schedule:
 
10.30am -10.45am: Greeting Introduction of Development Officers and organising students to sports
10.45am- 12.00pm: First sports option
12.00pm-12.30pm: Lunch break (chance for students to mingle)       
12.30pm-1.45pm: Second sports option
1.45pm -2.15pm: Prize giving 

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