This golden October, SHSID Hongkou Campus celebrated its annual sports festival—Sports Week. Throughout the week, the campus was filled with vibrant energy and creativity thanks to unique dress themes for each day. On the first of these days, everything from stylish baseball caps to sleek fencing helmets, and all of the various sports hats in between made their appearances. While the next day saw colorful sports socks decorated the campus like rainbows, catching everyone’s attention. Things concluded on Friday, as students eagerly dressed up to show their love for their favorite sports or athletes.

During the week’s PE classes, students participated in the exciting Young Olympic Bingo Games. These games featured five thrilling sports activities: Hurdle Relay, Balloon Volleyball, Tug of War, Balancing Gymnastics, and Speed Skating. Each time a student completed a game, they earned a unique stamp symbolizing one of the Olympic rings. Once they collected all five stamps, they could complete the Olympic rings, which signified not just the completion of the challenges but also the deep and valuable experience and understanding of the Olympic spirit. Every participant felt the excitement of sports and competition as well as the power of teamwork.

On the morning of October 10th, under clear skies and with a refreshing autumn breeze blowing across the basketball courts, the much-anticipated Sports Meet officially commenced. Accompanied by inspiring background music, students, representing eight Olympic teams, marched into the venue in perfect formation. Wearing colorful headbands emblazoned with their team flags and names, they smiled brightly, waving enthusiastically to parents and guests.

Following this, each team loudly chanted their team chants, showcasing unparalleled team spirit and enthusiasm for competition, impressing the audience with their energy and vigor.

Next, Cynthia from Class 1-2, delivered a remarkable speech. She shared her experiences with rhythmic gymnastics, encouraging everyone to never give up and to work together to do their best during the Sports Meet. Alexander from Class 2-1, emphasized that the Olympic spirit is about courage and perseverance, not just medals. He shared the inspiring story of swimmer Pan Zhanle at the Paris Olympics and related his own experiences in swimming, motivating everyone to overcome fear and push beyond their limits. He then led the athletes in the Athlete’s Oath, their powerful voices echoing across the field, full of excitement and determination.

Ms. Zhu Dan, Director of SHSID Hongkou Campus, took the stage following the student speeches, to encourage the teams to embody the Olympic spirit: strive for excellence, show respect, and work together as a team. She expressed her sincere gratitude to the students who prepared eagerly, the teachers who worked hard to organize the event, and the parents who offered their full support. Ms. Zhu encouraged the children to give their best, enjoy the happiness and challenges of sports, and create beautiful memories together.

Afterwards, all students performed a meticulously choreographed dance for the audience. Every step was filled with youthful energy and joy, leaving a strong impression on everyone watching.

Eight students then became proud Olympic torchbearers, participating in a meaningful Torch Relay across the field, passing the symbolic “Olympic Torch” one by one. Finally, the flame of passion and faith was solemnly handed to Mr. Liu Lian, Principal of SHSID Middle and Primary School. With the eyes of the entire audience upon him, Principal Liu took the stage, raised the Olympic flame high, and officially declared the Sports Meet open. The grand opening ceremony concluded successfully, and the competitions began in earnest, filling the atmosphere with cheers and excitement.

As the whistle blew, the field came alive with joy and tension. In the Obstacle Course Relay, students sprinted through obstacles like arrows, while their classmates cheered them on, showcasing the power of teamwork. In Castle Ball, students skillfully combined offense and defense, their strategies and strength clashing brilliantly. During the Archery competition, students focused intently, sending arrows soaring through the air and hitting their targets with precision. At the Frisbee Throw, students aimed carefully with every throw, striving to score points for their teams.

The Sports Meet also featured a Parent and Children Event—Wheelbarrow Race. Parents and children teamed up, racing toward the finish line, strengthening both their physical abilities and their collaborative spirit.

The event reached its peak with the exciting and fun-filled Parents and Teachers Event—Tiger Tail. Participants wore tiger tails, darting and dodging within a designated area while guarding their tails from opponents. The competition between parents in the first three rounds was intense, with each successful grab and clever defense igniting cheers from the audience. The final round, a friendly match between parents and teachers, brought the atmosphere to a fever pitch, with laughter and applause filling the air, demonstrating the deep bonds between school and home and the priceless spirit of unity and collaboration.

As the Sports Meet drew to a close, the host praised the athletes for their outstanding performances during the closing ceremony. Ms. Zhu Dan awarded medals to every child, celebrating their success in the competitions. Students also received team stickers as rewards, and in the afternoon, they gathered on the field to exchange the stickers. Holding their medals and team stickers from various countries, their faces were filled with pride and joy. At that moment, they not only gained honors but also learned the true meaning of perseverance and hard work.

The success of the Sports Meet would not have been possible without the great contributions of parent volunteers. Some acted as Team Helpers, assisting teachers in managing students, while others served as Game Judges to ensure fair competition, and still more helped maintain order in the audience area. Their hard work provided strong support for the smooth running of the event.

In the afternoon, students reflected on their experiences during the Sports Meet, sharing their favorite events and most memorable moments. They completed the Young Olympic Games Reflection and Self-Evaluation, recording their feelings through drawings and words. Some felt proud of winning honors for their teams, others were touched by their classmates’ cheers and learned how to encourage others, and still others cherished the memory of their parents joining them for the parent-child events. Many deeply understood the importance of teamwork, realizing that victory is not the most important thing, but rather the encouragement and support between teammates.

The Hongkou Campus Sports Week lit a fire of sports enthusiasm across the school and deeply rooted the Olympic spirit in the hearts of every student and teacher. We look forward to seeing students continue to carry the torch of the Olympic spirit in their future studies and lives, boldly facing challenges, never backing down, and continually striving to push themselves, writing their own stories of greatness.

Written by Nina Kang

Pictures by Elaine Zhu and Parent Volunteers

Reviewed by Dan Zhu, Chenli Shen, Cong Luo, Judah Kuhn