Blairgowrie Primary School launches its Olympic fan park
BLAIRGOWRIE – School shows its support for the nation's Olympians with fan park.
Vuvuzelas blasted, children and teachers danced to pumping music and a patriotic spirit reigned when Blairgowrie Primary School launched its Olympic fan park.
Learners thought they were merely being called for a safety drill when they assembled on the field on July 30.
But a large hand-crafted Olympic fire and Olympic rings awaited them, and teachers all dressed in South African colours alerted them that something was different.
Principal Pat Oosthuizen and teacher Genevieve Cotton took up the microphone and announced the opening of the fan park with much enthusiasm, and then coach Tshepiso Sehlakoran ran onto the field with an Olympic torch for Oosthuizen to light the fire.
The school mascot, Dougle McBlowrie, was carried onto the field on a stretcher with much ceremony by four boys and seated next to the fire to oversee the day’s activities.
Class leaders then engaged in a fun game of beanbag throw, in order to assign each class a competing country.
Points would be awarded to each class according to medals won by the country.
But this is in reverse order from what might be expected, with three points for a bronze medal, two for silver and one point for gold.
- Coach Tshepiso Sehlako runs onto the field with the Olympic torch. Photo: Nicholas Zaal
Come the end of the Olympic Games, the class with the most point will earn themselves an extended break period.
Representative from the Gauteng Department of Education, Lizl Tanton, herself a former teacher at the school, visited and spoke at the end of proceedings. She told everyone how pleasant it was to see the school show support for the nation’s Olympians and encouraged them to maintain this spirit.
