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UN International Day of Families 2012
Day of Families Observed at a Sport Stadium in Mauritius
Written by UPF - Mauritius
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Reduit, Mauritius - A Family Fun Sports Day took place on May 19 for the 160 s[pmspred children and their guardians sponsored by the Women's Federation for World Peace (WFWP) in Mauritius. There were track and field events as well as value-based games at the Maryse Justin Stadium in Reduit in which whole families could participate.
The Sports Day opened at 9:30 am with all athletes marching around the stadium (with the "Radetzky March" by Johann Strauss as background music) holding the three colored flags representing the three "houses" according to which the athletes were grouped into. Geetasha Bhuttoo, a former sponsored child and now a teacher and tutor to other children, was the emcee.
The Mauritian National Anthem was then solemnly sung, followed by:
- WFWP tutors and sponsored children performing a "Pom-pom girls show"
- WFWP anthem* sung by Chris Mackey and Nancy Rosa
- "One Family under God" sung by Nancy Rosa
- WFWP members and tutors singing the Hindi version of "We Shall Overcome"
The athletes competed in the following events, with girls and boys grouped by ages:
- Races
- Shot put
- Long jump
- Javelin
- Value games
Medals to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners were awarded by WFWP executive members and announced by the emcee. The best athlete was Gilvesh Oodith, who won five medals. The Yellow House won the first place, followed by the Red House and last the Blue House.
Breakfast and lunch were offered to all people present, and the Sports Day finished at 1:30 p.m.
One of the parents, Mrs. Amrita Sookun, said: "My children enjoyed themselves very much; they participated in different types of games and sports. This has also helped me to spend more time with them."
Everyone seemed to enjoy this family day together. The parents were proud of the talents and capabalities of their children. Parents enjoyed meeting other parents, and it was an atmosphere of one family under God.
A special thank you to all those who helped make this Family Fun Sports Day possible:
- The Ministry of Youth and Sports, including the Hon. Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Devanand Rittoo, the Director of the Sports Department, Mr. Novin Gaya, and officers from the Ministry of Youth and Sports for the medals and water bottles
- Coaches
- SBM Bank Reduit Branch for donating the medals and Bank One for donating the banner
- The Mauritius Athletics Association for lending Maryse Justin Stadium
- Mr. Rakesh Jooljary for providing T-shirts
- Dominique Li for making the banner
*The lyrics of the WFWP anthem were written by Mrs. Shakuntala Hawoldar, president of WFWP-Mauritius, and the music was composed by Chris Mackey, music teacher. The lyrics are as follows:
Welcome one and all, Welcome one and all, Welcome to our family stretching far and wide!
Welcome one and all, Welcome one and all, Welcome to the one world we have open for you,
Come all friends and family, brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, whoever you are
You are welcome one and all, welcome one and all, welcome to the one world we have open for you,
You are welcome to our hearts and our homes
Where we learn to share, learn how to care, learn how to love
So welcome one and all, welcome one and all, welcome to the one world we have open for you.
To read more about UPF observances of the International Day of Families 2012, click here.
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