Mr Washko, who recently helped set up an NAE regional Global Games football event for students under 14 years old, said that large sporting activities create a positive and constructive environment to teach the traits of sportsmanship such as learning to play fair, following directions, respecting both team members and opponents and encouraging team work.
“They’re basic cornerstones. All our schools try to teach these through a number of regional opportunities for STEAM learning and the performing arts. In fact, being a member of a large group of schools shows that we are part of a team.”
However, sport should also be prized purely for the joy it brings, according to Collège Champittet’s Managing Director Philippe De Korodi, as it allows for inward reflection.
“It allows our students to understand that real competition is with oneself,” Mr De Korodi said.
”By taking on a particular challenge, focussing, planning, learning from others, training and achieving by measuring ourselves against our own success and failures. But it also gives us that feeling of elation.”