Pattaya city councilman Rattanachai Suthidechanai,
chairman of Pattaya’s sports and tourism department, strikes the gong to
officially open this year’s sports day.
Warunya Thongrod
Blind students enjoyed a day of running, throwing and kicking as the
Redemptorist School for the Blind organized its annual sports day.
Pattaya City Councilman Rattanachai Sutidechanai opened the Feb. 14 event with
Phanom Rodiem of the Social Development and Human Stability Ministry and top
Father Ray Foundation executives attending. Events included solo and relay
races, walking on shells, petanque and goal ball. The day was intended primarily
as fun and exercise, but traditionally has helped the school perform well at
international disabled-sports competitions.
School Principal Aurora Sribuaphan said sports day was first organized in 1993
and, since then, many students have gone on to win awards in various
competitions.
The day began with students parading to a music performance and teams outfitted
in green and blue marching onto the field for a “Gangnam Style” show.
After the ceremony, Rattanachai joined in at a game of table tennis. Suphamit
Srikanthamakul, deputy director of the Chonburi Office of Primary Education
Region 3, blessed students during a closing ceremony.
Bunlai Vankhula (right), from the Thammasart
Association of California, presents a slate and stylus to Pattaya councilman
Rattanachai Suthidechanai to distribute to the children for learning how to
write Braille.
Kanyarat Ruangwicha lights the flame signifying the
beginning of this year’s sports day at the Pattaya Redemptorist School for the
Blind.
Aurora Sribuaphan, director of Pattaya Redemptorist
School for the Blind, welcomes one and all to the 2013 school sports day.
Father Patcharapol Srivorakul, acting president of
the Father Ray Foundation, presents medals to the blue team.
Suphamit Srikanthamakul, deputy director of the
Chonburi Office of Primary Education Region 3, presents the winning cup to the
blue team.
The blue team enters the sporting arena at the head
of the opening ceremony parade.
Blind children at the school get caught up in the
Gangnam style dance craze.
Blue team cheerleaders sing the team’s cheer song.
The green team defends their goal during the goal
ball competition, and go on to win with 24 points.
Young girls enjoy running the relay race.
The blue team makes a save during the goal ball
match vs the green team.
A referee marks the time as a green team coconut
shell runner crosses the finish line.
One of the green team’s cheerleaders flashes a
beautiful smile during her team’s dance.
City councilman Rattanachai Suthidechanai tries his
hand at table tennis with a blind student.
A green team runner crosses the finish line in the
male relay race.
Sponsors and volunteers take part in the opening
ceremony activities.
Blue team cheerleaders bang the conga drums to cheer
on their teammates.
