Good organizing but standards low

By Namal Pathirage

Twenty six records were established on the second day of the Seventh International Schools Athletic Championships continued at the Sugathadasa Stadium yesterday.

Up and coming high jumper Shiran Rodrigo in action in the under 13 boys final on the second day of the International Schools Athletic Championships at the Sugathadasa Sports Complex. – Pic by Saman Kariyawasam.

Seventeen of these records tumbled yesterday while the rest were lowered on Friday - the first day of the meet.

Boys were responsible for most of the records. Lyceum International Wattala was responsible for lowering the oldest record at the meet when Osura Perera set up a new meet record in the Under 13 boy’s 200 metres event with a time of 27:81 secs. The previous record was held by Shiran Abeydeera of Wycherly International School with a time of 29:10 secs.

Compared with other athletic meets in the island the standard was very poor. Twenty international schools are participating in the meet.

According to R.I.T. Alles, Chairman of Gateway International Group of Schools and Chairman of the Tournament Committee of the International Schools Athletics Organizing Committee, other schools are not participating in the three day event because their standards are not up to the mark.

When the meet ended yesterday there was a close tussle for the championship between Lyceum International School Wattala and Gateway International School. Gateway had collected 486 points while Lyceum Wattala had 479 points.

Except for Colombo International School winning the title in 2004, the meet had been dominated by Lyceum Wattala and Gateway International. When the meet ended yesterday only seven points separated these two institutions.

Colombo International was way behind in second place with 290 points.It is sad to note that Overseas International School had not secured a single point at the meet up to yesterday where 85 final events had been completed.

The meet will draw to a close today starting at 9 a.m, with over 50 final events to be completed.Aravinda de Silva,the former Sri Lanka cricket captain will be as the chief guest.

The behaviour of some of the participants left much to be desired but the parents’ participation at the meet was heartening. The Police too were summoned for a particular incident and it is understood that some students were taken in for questioning.

Sunil Jayaweera, former Sports Director of the Education Ministry, now Director of Sports at Gateway International, is the chief organizer of the meet.

The organizational success is due mainly due to him.