2014 KDI School Sports Day Report

Adrenaline was high under the blazing sun during the KDI School Sports Day last September 26. An annual tradition, the KDI School Sports Day 2014 was an event that enabled spring and fall students, existing and new professors, as well as the KDI School staff to interact with each other. Ilhomjon Abdurahimov (2013 MDP, Uzbekistan) reflects that the sports day was an opportunity to break the ice among the old and the new, and brings the team as one. With its success, he even suggests the event should be held twice a year, one in spring and in fall.

Different teams, White, Yellow, Red and Blue, were formed from a mix of students, faculty and staff members. Notably, all of the five events (Catch the Tail, Dodge Ball, Football, Tug-of-War, and Relay Race) all required the teams to have line-up that will consist of a specific number of students, faculty and staff members, observing as well a proper gender proportion. Jude Wetangula (2014 MPP, Kenya), adds, “The sports day enabled students to show their emotions outside of the academic environment—it was a chance for us to know each other one level deeper than what we usually see in the classroom.”

The whole day spent for the sports day had another purpose: a chance to introduce the new campus of KDI School in Sejong City. Students were able to see firsthand the new facilities of KDI School and take a glance at the new classrooms, auditorium, lounges, cafeteria, and other facilities and amenities of the new campus, providing a glimpse of what student life will by the time the KDI School finally moves to its new home.

After the opening speech from the Dean Sang-woo Nam, who announced as well the generous participation of the KDI through its president Kim Joon-kyung, the event was officially started. After the warm-up exercises, the games began with the event Catch the Tail. As a starting event, everyone was given equal scores after it. It was in the next event, Dodge Ball, which fired the competitive spirit among participants, where Team Yellow won.

The next event, Football, while dominated by male students, has let newfound talents shine. Female students and faculty members joined the line-up. It was during Football as well that the cheering squads of each team roared to support their players, closely observing the game. After a fierce fight and missed free throws, Team Yellow wins this event as well.

For Tug-of-War and Relay Race, however, the ability of the winning teams of these events to strategize and cooperate with each other was shown. Team Blue won the Tug-of-War, and Team Red won the Relay Race. In both of the events, coordination and cooperation was the deciding factor. Especially in for the Relay Race, exceptionally gifted runners in KDI School were seen in action, both students and professors alike!

In the end, it was Team Yellow that became the overall champion of the 2014 KDI School Sports Day. However, everyone was given something to take home as well. Taejun Cha (2013 MDP, Korea), reflecting on the games, says that on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest, he will probably give the event an 11, because this year’s event was able to reach different goals all at once. Shernett Roberts (2014 MDP, Jamaica), sees the importance of group dynamics as the key of the sports day. “In the future, group activities should be given more focus, engaging and strengthening the KDI School community through sports.”

By Rigoberto Banta Jr. (2014 MPP, Philippines)