Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya clinches OVEP championship

Winners Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya

In an all-female final, Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya prevailed over Hillwood College Kandy in the final of the Olympic Values Education Program (OVEP) conducted by the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka via Zoom recently.

Speaking on the subject of ‘Engaging in Sport by Practicing Olympic Values Teaches Athletes to Overcome Barriers of Life’ put forward by Sirimavo Bandaranaike as against the point of view put forward by Hillwood School, ‘Engaging in Sport by Practicing Olympic Values Build a Foundation to a Future Life’ the two contestants had to prove their skills beyond any reasonable doubt to clinch the coveted title. However, Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya was more focused on their given topic. 

The winning team comprised Rosara Dayaratne, Detuni Perera, Ruvinya Weerakoon, Laseni Coralage while the teacher in charge of achievement was Indira Ratnayake.

Initially 20 top schools around the island showcased their speaking skills – Royal College Colombo 7, Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya Colombo 7, Dharmaraja College Kandy, Methodist College Colombo 3, Chundikuli Girl’s College Jaffna, Gateway College Dehiwala, Trinity College Kandy, Good Shepherd Convent Kandy, Musaeus College Colombo 7, Hillwood College Kandy, Devi Balika Vidyalaya Colombo 8, Vincent Girls High School Batticaloa, Girl’s High School Kandy, Gateway College Colombo, St. John’s College Jaffna, Anuradhapura Central College, Bishop’s College Colombo, Mahamaya Girl’s College Kandy, Kingswood College Kandy and Pinnawela Central College Rambukkana.    

The eight teams that entered the second round were Royal College Colombo, Sirimavo Bandaranaike College, Dharmaraja College, Chundikuli Girl’s College, Good Shepherd Convent Kandy, Hillwood College Kandy, Devi Balika Vidyalaya Colombo and Musaeus College Colombo.  

In the super eight round the debate line up read as Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya vs Musaeus College Colombo, Dharmaraja Kandy vs Devi Balika Colombo 8, Chundikuli Girls’ College vs Hillwood College and Royal College Colombo vs Good Shepherd Convent Kandy. The specialty of this round was that those who sailed to the next round were according to points obtained by each team.

As a result, Hillwood who collected most points in that round went straight to the final while the other sides were Good Shepherd Convent, Kandy, Chundikuli Girls’ College, Jaffna and Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya were left to fight it for honours to reach the final.  

In the first semi-final the debate was between Chundikuli Girls’ College speaking on the subject of ‘Value-Based Sport is Able to Provide a Bridge to Achieve Unity in Diversity’. Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya showcased their skills while speaking on the subject of ‘Value-Based Sport Offers a Unique Way to a Morally Developed Society’.

Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya won the first semi-final then took on Good Shepherd Convent on ‘Value-Based Sports Does Not Offer Material Goods but Excellent Individuals with Values’ and Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya spoke on the subject of ‘Value-Based Sport Breeds a Future Generation to Make Positive Changes’. The Colombo Seven team who obtained top marks in both semi-finals clinched the berth in the final against the team from Kandy.

Chundikuli Girls’ College Jaffna and Good Shepherd Convent also from Kandy featured in the consolation final in which Chundikuli Girls’ College Jaffna won to take the third place.

Among the dignitaries Prince Abdulaziz Bin Turki Al-Faisal Al Saud – President Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee (SAOC) and also OCA and Sports Minister of Saudi Arabia, said: “I have been closely following your event during the last few days and I have been thrilled to know about the 20 schools that have been involved with preparing a group of ambassadors of Olympic values and aiming to include these values to the schools’ system. We are very proud of your ambassadors; let this movement be one of inspiration with big dreams and clear ambitions to reach the message of Olympism – a message of peaceful coexistence and truthful communication no matter of all cultures, racial or religious differences. We all can be united. Before I joined the Olympic Committee as an official, I spent the majority of my life as an athlete, travelling between countries and meeting new people whom I competed against, learned from and laughed with. Sport is a very powerful learning curve. It teaches patience and patience is a virtue. Time is priceless. Discipline means success. Teamwork is essential and respect is the rule in how to win like hero and how to lose like a champion.”

The other dignitaries who logged in and aired their opinions on the project were SNOC Secretary-General Chris Chan; Brian Lewis, President of the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee and Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committee (CANOC) and IOC Gender Equality Review Project Working Group Member; former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe; and Dr. Mi Ryoung Chung of the Florida International University. 

The Judges team comprised Harshani Perera, Lakshika Madhushani, Sameera Wijeyagunaratne, Shrinath Wijetunga, Dr. Vipula Wanigasekara, Rear Admiral Dr. Shemal Fernando, Moditha Sendanayake, Jeewana Gamage, Kapila Jeewantha, Buddhi Pathiraja, Dr. Rohantha Athukorala, Ramya Sivakumar and Shiranaaz Kaney.