Six MAGS students took part in the Olympic Refugee Day held yesterday at West Auckland’s Trusts Stadium.
Ayalew Negash, Hamad Ullah, Hayelom Gebremichal, Aberash Gebremichal, Desta Debele and Marta Debele took part in sports such as hockey, football, badminton, judo, cheerleading, basketball, fencing, golf, karate and volleyball.
The day was organised by the New Zealand Olympic Committee and New Zealand refugee and resettlement agencies who wanted to celebrate World Refugee Day and Olympic Day with a “Have A Go” day for refugee students and students from refugee backgrounds at school in the Auckland and Hamilton areas. The agencies figure that sport is a great way of helping refugees to assimilate into Kiwi society.
About 300 intermediate and high school students had the chance to try a number of Olympic sports, especially sports they may not be familiar with. They were also encouraged to participate further and join local sporting clubs.
Athletes and former Olympians such as Black Stick Pippa Hayward and boardsailor Barbara Kendall were involved in in the day’s events.
