FOBISIA U15 GAMES BLUE GROUP REVIEW

9TH-13TH NOVEMBER 2022

Matthew Hammonds Head of PE & Sports, The International School @ ParkCity

The International School @ ParkCity, Malaysia (ISP), attended the U15 FOBISIA Games after a 2 year hiatus due to the COVID-19 restrictions, The games were held by Sports Management Worldwide (SMW) in the new Pattana Sports Resort venue just outside Bangkok. This sprawling new venue has the space and facilities to be able to host large sporting events with all facilities located onsite. With the newly renovated basketball courts, an Olympic-sized pool, great football pitches, and with the development and investment in athletics facilities ongoing, the venue looks sure to be able to host excellent sports competitions for years to come. There were 4 schools attending the full events for the blue group including Sri KDU, Kuala Lumpur (SKIS), Uplands School, Penang (ISPU), The International School @ Parkcity, Kuala Lumpur (ISP) and Denla International School, Bangkok (DBS) with 2 schools attending for the basketball and football competitions including St Andrew’s Green Valley, Rayong (StAGV) and Wellington College, Bangkok (WCIB).

Although the attending schools were smaller than usual, the games were a great re-introduction to the spirit of FOBISIA by providing a fantastic opportunity for students to broaden their sporting experiences. Competing against and making friends with other students from across the Asia region allowed the chance to experience learning in new and unfamiliar contexts whilst raising awareness of cultural diversity. Since returning to school life back in Malaysia, it has been very clear to see the positive impact the tour had on the students involved, setting an alluring target that has boosted motivation for life and for future sporting events.

The opening ceremony of the games was energetic with student expectations and excitement adding to the positive atmosphere. The first day of competition saw students take part in the swimming pool in the morning for a full programme of races. After such a long absence from FOBISIA events it was great to see the sparkle in students' eyes as they tried their hardest to succeed whilst supporting others in their endeavours. It was also great to see students cheering for other schools and congratulating them on their achievements, a shared value which was evident amongst the schools involved in the friendly competition.

After a hard morning in the pool, athletics was to follow in the afternoon. The energy spent in the pool did not deter students as it was obvious to see that all competitors were trying their best to run faster, jump higher and throw further than their opponents. The day was full of great performances, even in the hot sun, with some very impressive times and distances recorded. The events produce some very spirited performances with some very close finishes. A special mention to the schools who also entered full B teams into the athletics and swimming competitions, depleting their A teams in the process to allow for more competition and participation for all students.

The following days saw the basketball and football competitions take place on a gender rotation basis. The venues for the competitions were once again of a good standard and provided the setting for some high quality matches. The football competitions in particular were very challenging for students involved with the hot sun and temperatures meaning that player rotations were needed to keep all students in a good physical condition. The addition of the day competing teams added to the high level of competition and provided additional opportunities for involvement in the groups.

After 3 long and challenging days of competition, the gala dinner, presentation and the traditional disco was a good way to end the tour and allowed students from all schools to mix, making new and hopefully long-lasting friendships. Particular thanks must go to the team at SMW, FOBISIA HQ and all of the schools involved for a great event and for making ISP feel welcome. After speaking with our students involved, I can say with confidence that their experience was fantastic and they will take their longlasting memories with them forever. With such a great event for all students involved, we now look forward to the U13 FOBISIA Games.