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{{Short description|Sports event staged by a school or workplace}}

{{for|the 1945 short film|Sports Day (film)}}

{{for|the 1945 short film|Sports Day (film)}}

[[File:SWUSTStadium.jpg|thumb|[[Southwest University of Science and Technology]] sports day opening ceremony]]

[[File:SWUSTStadium.jpg|thumb|[[Southwest University of Science and Technology]] sports day opening ceremony]]

'''Sports days''' ([[British English]]), '''field days''' ([[American English]]), or '''play days''' ([[Canadian English]]) are events staged by many [[school]]s and [[office]]s in which people participate in competitive [[sport|sporting activities]], often with the aim of winning [[Trophy|trophies]] or [[prizes]]. Though they are often held at the beginning of summer, they are also staged in the autumn or spring seasons, especially in countries where the summer is very harsh. Schools stage many sports days in which children participate in the sporting events. It is usually held in elementary schools.

'''Sports days''' ([[British English]])or '''field days''' ([[American English]]) are events staged by many [[school]]s and [[office]]s in which people participate in competitive [[sport|sporting activities]], often with the aim of winning [[Trophy|trophies]] or [[prizes]]. Though they are often held at the beginning of summer, they are staged in the autumn or spring seasons, especially in countries where the summer is very harsh. Schools stage many sports days in which children participate in the sporting events. It is usually held in elementary schools.



In schools which use a [[house system]] a feature of the school is the competition between the houses; this is especially brought out during sporting events such as an inter-house sports day.

In schools which use a [[house system]] a feature of the school is the competition between the houses; this is especially brought out during sporting events such as an inter-house sports day.



Games that are played on school sports days can be wide and varied. They can include straightforward sprints and longer races for all age groups as well as [[egg and spoon race]]s. [[Three-legged race]]s are run as well as [[sack race]]s, [[wheelbarrow race]]s, and parent and child races. Long jumps and high jumps are also held. Additional games are traditionally run in Ireland, and the UK, such as [[Horseshoes (game)|horseshoes]].

Games that are played on school sports days can be wide and varied. They can include straightforward sprints and longer races for all age groups as well as [[egg and spoon race]]s. [[Three-legged race]]s are run as well as [[sack race]]s, [[wheelbarrow race]]s, and parent and child races.<ref>{{cite web|last=Gordon|first=Chris|title=Mr|url=http://www.trophiesawardsandgifts.com/blog/organising-a-school-sports-day/

|work=Trophies Awards and Gifts Store|publisher=Trophies Awards and Gifts Store|access-date=1 May 2011}}</ref>

Additional games are traditionally run in Ireland, and the UK, such as [[horseshoes]].


==Controversies==


There have been a number of controversies surrounding school sports days in recent years, many of which have been publicised by the media.


Some schools have abolished or heavily altered sports days on the grounds that they are too competitive and may damage pupils' [[self-esteem]], with some commentators calling for the event to be banned due to the [[public humiliation]] caused to those children who are not gifted athletically.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2004/jul/14/schoolsports.schools|title=Why I want to ban sports day|first=Clint|last=Witchalls|date=14 July 2004|via=The Guardian}}</ref> This view has been condemned as "[[political correctness]]" by many commentators, notably by journalist [[Melanie Phillips]] in her 1996 book ''All Must Have Prizes'', a book heavily criticised by reviewers for its alleged prejudiced, fact-less and distorted analyses.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/all-must-have-prizes-by-melanie-phillips-little-brown-pounds-1750-1363087.html|title=All Must Have Prizes By Melanie Phillips Little, Brown pounds 17.50|date=13 September 1996}}</ref>


In June 2005, ''[[Country Life (magazine)|Country Life]]'' magazine published a report claiming that school sports days have become excessively competitive due to overbearing and "over-zealous" parents, who place too much pressure on their children to succeed. The report also revealed that many schools have banned "mothers and fathers" races due to fighting and cheating.


Since the mid-1990s, a number of schools and education authorities have banned photography and filming with [[video camera]]s at sports days and other school events. Some authorities cite general privacy issues as justification for the ban. Others have raised concerns about [[pedophiles]], which in turn has sparked accusations of hysteria and [[moral panic]]. Many parents have expressed anger at being unable to take photographs or videos as souvenirs of these events, and the ban has been criticised by some as a [[Paranoia|paranoid]] over-reaction to public concerns about pedophilia and child safety issues.



==Global==

==Global==

===India===

===India===

In India, sports days are held for 2–3 days. These include games like [[association football|football]], [[cricket]], [[throw ball]], [[dodge ball]], [[volleyball]], [[track and field]], [[basketball]] etc. These sports days are held between the various houses in a particular school. In India, many [[Traditional games of India|traditional games]] such as [[kho-kho]], [[kabaddi]] and march-past are played.

In India, sports days are held for 2–3 days. These include games like [[association football|football]], [[cricket]], [[throw ball]], [[dodge ball]], [[volleyball]], [[track and field]], [[basketball]] etc. These sports days are held between the various houses in a particular school. In India, many traditional games such as Kho-Kho and Kabaddi, March-past are played.



===Japan===

===Japan===

{{See also|Sports Day (Japan)}}

{{main|Health and Sports Day}}

[[File:Undoukai.jpg|thumb|Undokai (2005)]]

Sports day, called ''undōkai'' (運動会) in Japanese, is usually held on a Saturday or Sunday in [[Education in Japan|Japanese schools]]. During weeks preceding the sports day, students practice their events which they would like to show their parents and friends, within their class of physical education, which often includes ''[[tamaire]]'', performances by the school band and presentations by various school clubs as well as individual and group competitive events. These practices, and the sports days themselves, normally take place on the schools' fields, which provide little relief from the heat and sun.{{citation needed|date=February 2013}}

Sports day, called ''undōkai'' (運動会) in Japanese, is usually held on a Saturday or Sunday in [[Education in Japan|Japanese schools]]. During weeks preceding the sports day, students practice their events which they would like to show their parents and friends, within their class of physical education, which often includes ''[[tamaire]]'', performances by the school band and presentations by various school clubs as well as individual and group competitive events. These practices, and the sports days themselves, normally take place on the schools' fields, which provide little relief from the heat and sun.{{citation needed|date=February 2013}}



Some schools have responded by scheduling their sports days during cooler months and by encouraging their students to drink water regularly. Currently, the event occurs most often in the autumn (September/October), or in the spring (May/June). In [[Primary education|elementary school]]s in [[Hokkaidō]], the event is usually held between the later part of May and the earlier part of June.<ref>Fukue, Natsuko, "[https://web.archive.org/web/20160411210322/http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2010/10/19/news/no-escaping-annual-sports-days/#.VwwRJ33LeUk No escaping annual sports days]", ''[[Japan Times]]'', 19 October 2010, p. 3. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160411210322/http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2010/10/19/news/no-escaping-annual-sports-days/#.VwwRJ33LeUk}}</ref>

Some schools have responded by scheduling their sports days during cooler months and by encouraging their students to drink water regularly. Currently, the event occurs most often in the autumn (September/October), or in the spring (May/June). In [[Primary education|primary school]]s in [[Hokkaidō]], the event is usually held between the later part of May and the earlier part of June.<ref>Fukue, Natsuko, "[http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20101019i1.html No escaping annual sports days]", ''[[Japan Times]]'', 19 October 2010, p. 3.</ref>


===Pakistan===

===Pakistan===

Sport is a significant part of [[Pakistani culture]]. [[Cricket]] is the most popular sport, while [[field hockey]], [[polo]], and [[Squash (sport)|squash]] are also popular.<ref>{{cite book |last=Abbott |first=David |editor-last=McCann |editor-first=Jacqueline |title=Changing World – Pakistan |publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica |date=January 1, 2015 |orig-year=1st pub. 2010 |pages=100–110 |chapter=Chapter 3: Social Changes |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0FZzCQAAQBAJ&q=cricket&pg=PT39 |isbn=978-1-62513-365-6 }}</ref> Many well funded private and government schools hold a Sports Day, when track and field events like running, relay races, high jump, long jump, discus and shot-put are held. These sports are generally playedinfrontofan audienceofparents who witness the Sports day events. If the children are divided by house in the school's system, then the various houses also compete against each other for enough points and medals to win that Sports day's events.

Sport is a significant part of [[Pakistani culture]]. [[Cricket]] is the most popular sport, while [[field hockey]], [[polo]], and [[Squash (sport)|squash]] are also popular.<ref>{{cite book |last=Abbott |first=David |editor-last=McCann |editor-first=Jacqueline |title=Changing World – Pakistan |publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica |date=January 1, 2015 |orig-year=1st pub. 2010 |pages=100–110 |chapter=Chapter 3: Social Changes |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0FZzCQAAQBAJ&q=cricket&pg=PT39 |isbn=978-1-62513-365-6 }}</ref> Traditional sports like [[kabaddi]] and other well-known games are also played. The [[Pakistan Sports Board]] was created in 1962 by the [[Ministry of Education (Pakistan)|Ministry of Education]] as a corporate body for the purposes of promoting and developing uniform standards of competition in sports in Pakistan comparable to the standards prevailing internationally, and regulating and controlling sportsinPakistan on a national basis. The [[MinistryofCulture, Sports and Tourism (Pakistan)|MinistryofCulture, Sports and Tourism]], now has control over the [[Pakistan Sports Board]]. The PSB controls all 39 sporting federations. The Pakistan Sports Board is supported by the Pakistan Sports Trust, which assists hard up players and associations so they can continue participating in sports.


[[Traditional games of Pakistan|Traditional sports]] like [[kabaddi]] and other well-known games are also played. The [[Pakistan Sports Board]] was created in 1962 by the [[Ministry of Education (Pakistan)|Ministry of Education]] as a corporate body for the purposes of promoting and developing uniform standards of competition in sports in Pakistan comparable to the standards prevailing internationally, and regulating and controlling sports in Pakistan on a national basis. The [[Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Pakistan)|Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism]], now has control over the [[Pakistan Sports Board]]. The PSB controls all 39 sporting federations. The Pakistan Sports Board is supported by the Pakistan Sports Trust, which assists hard up players and associations so they can continue participating in sports.



Over recent years there has been an increase in sporting activity in Pakistan, with Pakistani sportsmen and women participating at many national and international events. Also, more international tournaments now take place in Pakistan. The size of the teams Pakistan sends, and the number of events they participate in, such as the [[Olympic Games]], [[Asian Games]], [[World Games]], and [[Commonwealth Games]] has increased since the turn of the century.

Over recent years there has been an increase in sporting activity in Pakistan, with Pakistani sportsmen and women participating at many national and international events. Also, more international tournaments now take place in Pakistan. The size of the teams Pakistan sends, and the number of events they participate in, such as the [[Olympic Games]], [[Asian Games]], [[World Games]], and [[Commonwealth Games]] has increased since the turn of the century.



===Russia===

===Russia===

Sports Day in [[Russia]] is held on the second Saturday in August.

Sports Day in [[Russia]] is held on the second Saturday in August.



===Qatar===

===Qatar===

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==In offices==

==In offices==

Many large organizations have sports days for their employees. One notable example is [[His Majesty's Civil Service]] in the UK, which holds a number of departmental sports days.

Many large organizations have sports days for their employees. One notable example is [[Her Majesty's Civil Service]] in the UK, which holds a number of departmental sports days.


==Controversies==

There have been a number of controversies surrounding school sports days in recent years, many of which have been publicised by the media.


Some schools have abolished or heavily altered sports days on the grounds that they are too competitive and may damage pupils' [[self-esteem]], with some commentators calling for the event to be banned due to the [[public humiliation]] caused to those children who are not gifted athletically.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2004/jul/14/schoolsports.schools|title=Why I want to ban sports day|first=Clint|last=Witchalls|date=14 July 2004|newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref> This view has been condemned as "[[political correctness]]" by many commentators, notably by journalist [[Melanie Phillips]] in her 1996 book ''All Must Have Prizes'', a book heavily criticised by reviewers for its alleged prejudiced, fact-less and distorted analyses.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/all-must-have-prizes-by-melanie-phillips-little-brown-pounds-1750-1363087.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220524/https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/all-must-have-prizes-by-melanie-phillips-little-brown-pounds-1750-1363087.html |archive-date=2022-05-24 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=All Must Have Prizes By Melanie Phillips Little, Brown pounds 17.50|website=[[Independent.co.uk]] |date=13 September 1996}}</ref>


In June 2005, ''[[Country Life (magazine)|Country Life]]'' magazine published a report claiming that school sports days have become excessively competitive due to overbearing and "over-zealous" parents, who place too much pressure on their children to succeed. The report also revealed that many schools have banned "mothers and fathers" races due to fighting and cheating.


Since the mid-1990s, a number of schools and education authorities have banned photography and filming with [[video camera]]s at sports days and other school events. Some authorities cite general privacy issues as justification for the ban. Others have raised concerns about [[pedophiles]], which in turn has sparked accusations of hysteria and [[moral panic]]. Many parents have expressed anger at being unable to take photographs or videos as souvenirs of these events, and the ban has been criticised by some as a [[Paranoia|paranoid]] over-reaction to public concerns about pedophilia and child safety issues.



==References==

==References==

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{{Authority control}}

{{Authority control}}


[[Category:Children's sport]]

[[Category:Children's sport]]

[[Category:Physical education]]

[[Category:Physical education]]

[[Category:Youth sport]]

[[Category:Youth sport]]

[[Category:February observances]]

[[Category:February observances]]

[[Category:August observances]]

[[Category:August observances]]

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