Teachers and pupils enjoying the competition at NAPSAC at the National Stadium.
Primary school athletes were today told to be “persistent” and “never give up”.
This advice came from Barbados’ first Olympic medalist, James “Jim” Wedderburn, as he addressed those attending the Pine Hill Dairy’s National Primary Schools’ Athletics Championship (NAPSAC), at the National Stadium.
Mr. Wedderburn reminded the gathering, which also included the school community and parents, that Barbados’ best athletes “did not suddenly become stars”, but that they had to listen to their coaches, become more disciplined and work hard. He stressed that there were times when one had to struggle, but the rewards at the end were satisfying.
Brand Manager at Pine Hill Dairy, Alicia Lynch, announced that the company had already agreed on to sponsor NAPSAC in 2010. Ms. Lynch said: “This athletic championship plays a role, not only in the development of athletics at the primary level, but also in personal development in areas such as self confidence, peer interaction, teamwork, discipline, determination and perseverance, to name a few. These championships enable valuable learning experiences to grow from and build upon for the future.”
President of the Barbados Union of Teachers, Karen Best, praised the parents for their involvement, stating that it clearly showed that they understood the value of physical education in their children’s lives. “Keep supporting your children because that is the only way you will succeed,” Ms. Best stressed.