It is time for battle once again- in fact for the eighteenth time.
With increasing numbers of participating schools each year, the arena of the Blue and Gold Quiz not only makes for an intense competition. Considered to be the most eagerly anticipated quiz in the country, the event has also created history.
Inaugurated in 1991, it is the first ever Inter-School Quiz organized by a Sri Lankan school. It is also the longest running quiz.
Organized by the Royal College General Knowledge Club, this year’s quiz will take place on November 3 at 2 pm at the College Main Hall. The club was established in 1976 as the General Knowledge Society, and became Royal College General Knowledge Club( RCGKC) in 1981.
“One of the main objectives of the competition,” explains Charitha Lokuge - Secretary of the RCGKC - “is to further promote the concept of quizzing among the outstation schools, and in this we have been successful for in the last few years, 50% of the participants were from these schools.” Some of these schools which are on occasion considered to be the underdogs, have succeeded in emerging champions of the competition. “In fact,” continues Charitha, “during the last decade, the outstation schools- particularly those from the Southern Province- have been dominating this competition. Mahinda College won it thrice (1999, 2005, 2007), while Richmond College (2000) and St. Aloysious’ College, Galle (2001) bagged the trophy once each.
The organizers note however, that despite this the quiz is unpredictable. Although some schools have won the trophy a number of times, no school has been able to do so for even two consecutive years. Naturally then, the atmosphere is tinged with nervousness which always gets the adrenalin pumping. It seems however, that for quiz enthusiasts, this is half the fun.
With the good times, there have also been challenges, but the Royalists- now dab hands at organizing competitions of this scope, put in a great deal of hard work and commitment- right down to compiling a series of balanced questions formulated by an experienced panel of quizzers, some of whom are past quiz team members.
The quiz is approximately three hours in duration, and follows a simple structure. The competition will consist of five rounds with ten questions in each round. The questions will cover knowledge of Current Affairs, Sports, History, Geography, Arts, Literature, Science and Technology. At the end of five rounds, the team with the highest number of points will emerge champions. The winners will be awarded four scholarships from the Synergy School of Marketing, the main sponsor of the event.
The Blue and Gold Quiz is Co Sponsored by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). The Sunday Times is the Print Media Sponsor while Max Television will be the Electronic Media Partner. Entrance is free. |
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