INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC ACADEMY 7th JOINT - IOA

performance of the bands, soloists and gymnastic groups of the
school. The Opening ceremony was also attended the Mayor of the
town (Volver, Viru, 1996).
Sports competitions began with a relay race. Each form was
represented by a team that consisted of 5 girls and 5 boys. The sports
program included the Olympics for All, competitions in track and
field, and sports games. The Olympics for All provided possibilities
for all children from forms 5 to 9 to test their physical fitness in
standing long jump, 12-minutes running (Cooper test) and target
throw. The participants constituted 78,6 % of the total number of
students in form 5 to 9 in standing long jump and 12-minutes running,
and 82,8 % in target throw. The Olympics for All was aimed for
children of the first four forms walking/running on the previously
prepared health track. The track and field competition consisted of
running events (60 m for 11 to 12 years old and 100 m for 13 to 16
year old girls and boys, 500 m for girls and 1000 m for boys for all
age groups), long jump, high jump and softball throw. The total
number of participants was 37 % of the students in forms 5 to 9.
Teams of form 5 to 6 competed in the so called „National ball“ (an
Estonian national game), and teams of 7 to 9 in basketball and
football. The winners of the first three places were awarded with
medals specially prepared for the School Olympics. The Closing
ceremony included a cultural program and copied the closing
ceremony of real Olympic Games (Volver, Viru, 1996).
Since 1999 Ancient Olympic Games at the Science Gymnasium of
Nõo have already been held every two years. Sports competitions
have been preceded by the Olympic week: essay content, quiz,
drawing and mascot contests, building of the Olympic village. The
School Olympics that began with the Opening ceremony held in the
style of the ancient times, included the dress worn by the judges.
According to the tradition, the Olympic peace was proclaimed, the
Olympic flag hoisted, the Olympic fire lighted, and the participants
and the judges swore the Olympic oath. The classes were named after
ancient states - Elis, Sparta, Crete, Macedonia, Alexandria.
Competitions have been held in the stadium race, cart race (carts
driven by 2 boys instead of horses), shield race, weight throw and tug
of war. The Olympics have culminated in sumo wrestling, with both
boys and girls participating, and the judges of which have been some
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