This Saturday, April 13, 2024, all roads will lead to Kabojja International School for the much-anticipated Olympic Values Contests 2024. Hosted at the Buziga Campus in Buziga Kampala, twenty-one schools across the country have confirmed their participation in the contests.
Additionally, around 300 learners are expected to accompany these schools. By participating in this event, schools aim to acknowledge the power of sport in positively impacting communities in Uganda.
Leveraging the universality and influence of the Olympic Games, the event serves as a tool for social development, teaching life skills, appreciating human values, and promoting a lifelong enjoyment of sport.
History of Olympic Values Contests
The event originated in 2015 with approximately 20 schools, organized by the Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC). In its current edition, the event is organized by UOC, supported by Olympic Solidarity, and boasts key partnerships with Kabojja International School and Debate Society Uganda.
Kabojja International School’s debate club participated in the “Olympic Values Literacy Contest” organized by the Uganda Olympic Committee in 2019. The Debate Society of Uganda expressed gladness in partnering with the Uganda Olympic Committee for the 2019 edition. The contests were held at the esteemed Gems Cambridge International School.
In 2020, Kabojja International School was among the many schools impacted by the Uganda Olympic Committee under the Olympian 365 initiative. Their staff representative, Jundah Marie, attended the (Scientific) Award Ceremony of the Olympism 365 Initiative at the UOC Offices.
In the previous year, 2023, over 28 schools and 300 students engaged in Olympic values and norms. The venue was Kabojja International School.No registration fees were required, and meals were catered for by the UOC, with the overarching goal of promoting Olympism and its philosophy in schools and the community at large.
How the Olympic Values Contests are Carried Out
Partner schools across the country participate in the event, bringing in students to share and learn more about the Olympics and its application in daily life. The students are then grouped into five teams, each representing a theme of Olympism: blue for the joy of effort, black for fair play, red for respect, yellow for excellence, and green for balance.
In their respective groups, each team submits entries for their representatives to participate in the eight activities of the day, each themed around Olympic values. Activities include dance contests, debates, poetry, public speaking, quizzes, speed cubing, spelling, and writing.
Through competitive literary activities like debates, public speaking, and essay writing, the #Olympism365 literacy initiative challenges students to critically examine the Olympic values of Excellence, Respect, and Friendship. Adjudication is carried out by the Uganda Dance Sport Federation (UDSF) and Debate Society Uganda (DSU), with winners receiving gift hampers containing various items.
Conclusion
The event will feature surprise guests, with the President of the Uganda Olympic Committee, Dr. Donald Rukare, as the guest of honor. The Secretary General of UOC, Ms. Ayikoru Beatrice Patience, will also be in attendance. The overarching aim is to empower students to utilize the power of sport to effect positive change within their communities.16. Isima Iga from the Olympic Education Committee serves as the coordinator for the event, with contact information provided as +256711611546 and email: iiga@nocuganda.org.
