SABIS® 12th Regional Tournament-Bahrain
Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Nasser Bin Hamad, Representative of His Majesty the King for Charity Works and Youth Affairs, Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, and President of Bahrain Olympic Committee, the highly anticipated 12th SABIS® Regional Tournament was recently hosted at our school (ISC-Manama) in Bahrain from April 4 to 7, 2019. The tournament, which is held every other year, attracted around 1,000 participants from 24 SABIS® schools in 13 countries around the world including Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Egypt, Germany, Jordan, Kurdistan, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Kenya, and the U.A.E.
The SABIS® Regional Tournament is a sports tournament that allows students in SABIS® schools to showcase their athletic talent, team spirit, and true sportsmanship by competing in a series of sports challenges. Participating students enthusiastically competed in four sports: basketball, football, track & field, and swimming.
The tournament kicked off with a grand Opening Ceremony that welcomed H.H. Sheikh Nasser Bin Hamad’s Representative, Mr. Saleh Bin Hindi Al Mannai; H.M. the King’s Advisor for Youth and Sport Affairs, Mr. Ayman Tawfeeq Al Moayed; Minister of Youth and Sports Affairs, Mr. Salman Bin Hindi Al Mannai, Governor of Muharraq Directorate, Scouts and Guides, and a number of educators from the Ministry of Education.
The Opening Ceremony began with the national anthem of the Kingdom of Bahrain, performed by the Ministry of Interior’s Orchestra followed by horseback riders from the Ministry of Interior entering the stage carrying the Bahraini flag as well as the flags of the participating countries. The participating teams were introduced on the stage raising their country’s flag. Mr. Victor Saad, SABIS® Vice-President, gave a speech in which he welcomed the guests. He also expressed his joy at seeing the young student participants coming from different SABIS® schools from a large number of countries, wishing that they all enjoy this unique sports experience. Addressing the audience, Mr. Saad said: “It has always been our belief in SABIS® that sport is about far more than simply winning trophies and medals. It is a means to encourage a healthy lifestyle, form sound habits, and develop high levels of confidence and discipline. It shapes future leaders…unifies participants…instills timeless moral values…and teaches essential, positive life lessons.” Mr. Saad also pointed out that in addition to being a chance for the participants to compete in different sports, this tournament also helps them make new friends, learn about new cultures, and practice teamwork, respect, and fairness. These values, regardless of winning or losing, make them real heroes and ambassadors to their schools and countries.
Mr. Saleh Bin Hindi Al Mannai, HM the King’s Advisor on Youth and Sport Affairs, also gave a speech in which he welcomed the guests and wished them a wonderful time in Bahrain. He also expressed his admiration and pride in SABIS® schools, which invest in developing and giving students countless opportunities to show their abilities and capabilities in various fields. Finally, Mr. Al Mannai congratulated the school for organizing this remarkable sports festival and wished all participants the best of luck in the tournament.
Following the speeches, the audience enjoyed dance shows representing the four sports games (football, basketball, athletics, and swimming) followed by a show of students dancing to a song created especially for this event to express the school’s pride in His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa’s patronage of this special sports carnival. The Bahraini Ardah Group, along with a group of school students, then performed a Bahraini folkloric dance. At the end, Mr. Saleh Bin Hindi Al Mannai accepted a gift from the organizers on behalf of His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the patron of the ceremony as a token of appreciation.
The event was a huge success, with guests enjoying the great ambiance, music, food, and competitions. Students from SABIS® schools treated the audience to an awesome showcase of their strength, endurance, and athletic capabilities. Competitions were close and the judges were impressed by the high level of sportsmanship witnessed at the event. The event also included both entertaining and education exhibitions familiarizing the guests with Bahraini heritage and culture.
All participating schools had their share of victory and medals were awarded to winning teams for their hard work and success. ISC-Manama won a total of four medals constituting of both gold and bronze.
