Inauguration of school games. Encouraging Sports.

Sports should be promoted in every school. Sports help our students not only on a better growth and on physical development, but also creates a healthy lifestyle for them. In Venezuela, where students have Physical Education classes only three hours a week, it is very important, for almost every student the moment when the school games begin, where teams from each section compete with the others. The disciplines that we include in the games are volleyball, basketball, futsal and kickingball. To start the games an opening ceremony is organized, with a parade of teams and a different theme each year.

A general theme is chosen, which leaves students new knowledge; it is divided into different branches and each course participates with its part of the theme, presenting on the day of the inauguration a poster alluding to its theme and even allusive costumes as well; previously they have worked on projects about their subject. The best poster is awarded and the queen of the Games chosen. Each section presents its candidate. For example, when games were played with the theme of the universe, there were several subtopics such as planets, the sun, comets, black holes, space travelling, etc.

Inauguration begins with the entrance of the flags and symbols of our school; then the teams of each course parade, each with their poster and queen. When all the students have already entered, the anthems are sung and then the Principal offers the opening words and the jury that will choose the best posters and Queen of the Games is presented. Then a prominent athlete of the school performs the ignition of the cauldron. Another outstanding athlete then performs the swearing of the teams. All the teams leave and the election of the posters is made. Then the candidates make a parade and while the jury carries out the deliberation there is a special presentation, such as a dance, music performance or a sports exhibition.

After the Queen's coronation, the inauguration finishes with an opening game. This activity allows students to become familiar with the world of sports, develop their creativity and inventiveness, and share with the other students of the school and with their teachers. It is a way to create a sports culture among them, and students throughout the development of the games participate with their teams in the different meetings, thus achieving the participation of most of our students in some sporting activity and in healthy competition among them.