To promote the 22nd Asian Athletics Championship (AAC) 2017 to be held in Bhubaneswar from July 5 to 9, 2017, SAI International School enthusiastically took part and organised various promotional activities in and around the Capital City. The School is privileged to be given an opportunity by the State Government to conduct road shows in a bid to promote the highly prestigious event.
On Sunday, June 25, 2017, the students of SAI International School took part in the 31st Patha Utsav organised with the central theme “Promoting the forthcoming AAC”. On this occasion, Hon’ble Chief Minister, Shri Naveen Patnaik officially announced and inaugurated hoisting of the event in the august presence of Ministers, MLAs, and Senior Bureaucrats of the State as well as eminent sports personalities from across the Nation. The Student Band Group escorted Hon’ble Chief Minister to the podium amidst cheering beats of drums and trumpets. A replica of the mascot ‘Olly’, the Olive Ridley Sea Turtle, created by the students was also showcased. During the event, the talented SAIoneers demonstrated their yoga skills by doing various formations like pyramidical and asanas based on stretching and flexibility with athletics as the central theme. This was followed by a dance performance where the students artistically rendered their support for the upcoming AAC through a unique fusion of Indian and western styles. The wonderfully crafted dance commenced with the song ‘Salaam India’ and ended with the theme song of AAC 2017. The graceful dancers mesmerized the huge audience gathering by showcasing various forms of sports activities through their dance performance.
To create awareness about the mega event and bring in a greater sense of involvement, a road show was organised at Pal Heights, Bhubaneswar, on Monday, June 26, 2017 where the students performed a musical show by combining various thematic music of sports across nations, yoga activities, a dance show depicting athletics, besides displaying some sporting actions like relay race, shot put, javeline throw etc.
The School renders its whole hearted support to the Government of Odisha for organising such a magnanimous International event. The upcoming AAC, Asia’s premier track and field event, will bring together around 1,104 athletes including 20 World Champions from 45 countries, who will participate in 42 different disciplines. It will be held in the newly renovated Kalinga Stadium Complex, Bhubaneswar. The winners of mega Championship event will procure a direct berth in the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Championships London, 2017. For the third time the Asian Athletics Championships is being held in India, after New Delhi in 1989 and Pune in 2013. SAI International School always endorses events which help in enhancing the outlook and enriching the experience of the students as well as bringing pride to the state and nation.