UOC turn focus to schools

Sports development. Alfred Onek (left) of the French Embassy and UOC President William Blick (second left) handing over sports equipment to Police Children School representatives in Ntinda in the presence of assistant AIGP Andrew Sorowen and KCCA representative Ambrose Atwoko (second right). PHOTO BY ISMAIL KEZAALA

KAMPALA.

In a bid to have more children take part in sports, the Uganda Olympics Committee (UOC) in partnership with the French Embassy yesterday launched the Olympic spirit club at Police Children Primary School in Ntinda.
The Olympics spirit club is the first of its kind and is aimed at encouraging school children and youth to embrace sports and olympism.
To get the club started, UOC donated sports equipment such as footballs, sportswear, football boots and metallic goal posts among others.

They also pledged to send different experts from various disciplines to train teachers at the school for six months.
William Blick the UOC president noted that, “since children in public schools are not well resourced like their counterparts in private, this equipment will go a long way in developing talent among the kids.”
He observed that sport is a powerful tool in transforming society and as such must be developed from grass root level. However, implementing the idea is impeded by inadequate sports equipment, facilities and skilled personnel in terms of coaches like one student noted during their presentation to the guests.
The idea of instilling Olympism among school children was hatched last year at the first edition of the France-Uganda friendship games, where it was agreed that all proceeds would go to supporting disadvantaged schools. Police children schools were the first beneficiaries of this project.
The next club will be launched at Kibuli Police Children Primary School on March 7.