The St Stithians Easter Sports Festival of 2023 was a resounding success, with thousands of athletes from various schools around South Africa competing in a range of sports. This annual event is widely regarded as one of the premier school sports festivals in the country.
The Saints SportsFest of 2023 was a grand affair, spanning two consecutive weekends. It kicked off with the Prep Festival from 30 March to 1 April, followed by the College Festival held over the Easter weekend on 5, 6, 8 and 10 April. The festival was a bustling extravaganza, catering to a diverse range of interests.
As the oldest school’s sports festival of its kind, it has come a long way since its inception in 1984 as a rugby festival, now including all the schools on the campus and spanning multiple sporting codes, 39 years later. This year marked the 10th anniversary of tennis being a part of the festival, and the tennis courts were the center of some enjoyable festivities in recognition of a decade of tennis at Saints SportsFest.
According to Jacqui Matlala, Chair of the St Stithians Sports Festival, the festival has seen an increase in sponsorships, with Standard Bank returning as the main sponsor for the eleventh consecutive year. Matlala expressed her excitement about the lack of restrictions due to COVID-19, which allowed everyone to attend the festival.
The weather was also a plus, making the event even more enjoyable for all involved. Matlala went on to state that the 2023 festival was even better than the previous year’s event and even exceeded the standards set by the 2019 festival.
“The good thing is we were able to bring schools from a disadvantaged background to become part of the sports festival and that has been excellent that’s something that we’ve been wanting to do and we are very excited that we managed to bring a few schools over to join us,” added Matlala.
Listen to full Sports corner conversation with Jacqui Matlala below:
The festival provides an opportunity for schools to showcase their sporting prowess, and also serves as a platform for talent identification by scouts and recruiters from professional sports teams. For many young athletes, the St Stithians Easter Sports Festival represents an important stepping stone in their sporting careers, providing exposure to top-level competition and potential pathways to higher levels of participation.
But the benefits of school sports go far beyond individual talent identification and development. Participation in sports at school has been shown to have a range of positive impacts on both physical and mental health, academic performance, and social and emotional well-being.
Research has shown that regular physical activity, such as that provided by sports participation, can lead to improved cardiovascular health, reduced obesity, and improved mental health outcomes such as reduced stress and anxiety. Furthermore, studies have shown that students who participate in sports at school tend to have better academic outcomes, including improved grades and higher rates of high school completion.
Participation in school sports also provides opportunities for students to develop important social and emotional skills, such as teamwork, leadership, communication, and resilience. These skills are not only important for success in sport but are also essential for success in later life.
The St Stithians Easter Sports Festival of 2023 was a testament to the importance of school sports in promoting physical and mental health, academic success, and social and emotional well-being. By providing a platform for young athletes to showcase their talents and develop important life skills, events like this play a crucial role in shaping the future leaders of our society.
Looking ahead, we are eagerly anticipating the festival’s 40th Anniversary in 2024.
