MLGCA hosts successful sports day, promoting unity and fitness |05 October 2023
Burial services in a souvenir photo with Minister Hoareau (Photo: Contributed by MLGCA)
In a vibrant display of unity, fitness, and community spirit, the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs hosted its highly anticipated annual sports day on Friday September 29, 2023.
This event, building upon the success of last year's inaugural sports day, served as a day of camaraderie, celebration, and friendly competition, firmly establishing its place on the Ministry's calendar.
It brought together dedicated staff from the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs (MLGCA) secretariat, burial services, and the north, central 1, central 2, east, south-west, and inner islands regions.
This year's sports day held special significance as it was held just ahead of the launch of the National Obesity Prevention Campaign, which the ministry has placed its full support behind.
The sports day featured a diverse range of engaging activities, from the innovative Kilo Game activities to traditional favourites such as football, volleyball, domino, and tug-of-war.
In an impressive display of talent and teamwork, the ministry's secretariat emerged as the overall champion for the second consecutive year, clinching gold in volleyball, football, and domino.
The volleyball final was a repeat of last year’s, with the secretariat and inner islands going head-to-head once again. The end result was a two-set win of 15-8, 15-8 in favour of the secretariat.
The football final in the afternoon saw the secretariat successfully going up against a strong opponent – the burial services – where the match ended with 3-0 penalty shootout win after an unwavering 1-1 draw.
However, the burial services team came back strong and showcased their strength as they retained their title as tug-of-war champions.
Additionally, this year introduced a fresh addition to the sports ay – Kilo Game – where the central 1 region emerged as the inaugural champion.
One notable feature of the sports day was the inclusion of a health check station, where nurses were on hand to provide health screenings.
MLGCA staff had the opportunity to monitor their blood pressure, sugar levels, and body mass index. This provision of immediate health services proved to be crucial, as some staff members who were not feeling well could seek assistance before receiving further medical attention.
As the sun set on the Victoria mini-stadium, Minister for Local Government and Community Affairs, Rose-Marie Hoareau, thanked everyone for coming together in the spirit of fun and sportsmanship.
She added that events such as the sports day “removes us from our offices and our respective sections, ensuring that we interact with each other, which is very important for a ministry as big and as diverse as ours.”
Furthermore, the minister extended a warm welcome to the new security officers, acknowledging their participation in the sports day. This year marked their inaugural experience in this lively event as the ministry now proudly boasts a new security unit.
Article contributed by MLGCA
