ISF boss Petrynka optimistic over World School Games

International School Sport Federation (ISF) president Laurent Petrynka has expressed optimism about China’s preparations towards hosting the World School Summer Games in October.

Petrynka has urged member countries not to overlook games as learning activities resume in most parts of the world following a prolonged break caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The world’s biggest inter-schools championship had been scheduled for last year but was pushed to October 16 to 23, this year.

“We suffered a lot in 2020 and we hope that 2021 will be the year that we will be able to organise our respective competitions and of course I’m thinking of the most important competition of this year, the 2020 Gymnasiade in Jinjiang. It’s my hope school sport will resume in all the countries around the world,” Petrynka said via ISF’s Twitter handle.

Kenyan schools were bound to participate for the first time ever at the prestigious biennial championship after China, the host, pledged to cater for accommodation charges as well as 80% of all flight costs for the African teams.

However, the recent presidential directive to ban school games and other co-curricular activities for the next 90 days has thrown the plans in limbo.

Should all go on as planned, Kenya will send only athletics and basketball teams to the championship where 20 other disciplines will be at stake including football. Kenya has never participated in the event since it started in 1974 in Germany owing to lack of sponsorship.

Tags:

School Games

Want to send us a story? Submit on Wananchi Reporting on the Citizen Digital App or Send an email to wananchi@royalmedia.co.ke or Send an SMS to 25170 or WhatsApp on 0743570000

Leave a Comment

Comments

No comments yet.

latest stories