It is a special year today - the first in ages that we had a whole day devoted to field events. I was mesmerised and came to cheer on the scouts despite having endured a 28 hour election campaign the 2 days before.
The weather was excellent today - cool, sunny, all you want and need for a sports day. I arrived promptly at 9:00 just in time to start the music and catch the scouts marching in. The venue was the University of Hong Kong's Stanley Ho Sports Centre - in my opinion, one of the best sports centres around in Hong Kong. No pollution, no traffic, tranquil, peaceful and quiet.
Being part of the HKU alumni association, it must have been less of a hassle to book the track. I pressed the 'play' button on the CD player and adjusted the microphone so everyone present could hear the brass band and bagpipes. After the scouts marched to the command area, troop commander Suen reviewed them for a while before they transformed into sportsmen capable of jumping to the moon.
Someone pumped up helium balloons to help the atmosphere and it did help. After all, I doubt anyone would have the luxury of seeing balloons at any sports event. Having raised the flag, we realised that it would not fly in such tranquility. Innovative scouts tied the bunch of floating balloons to the end of the flag and it waved with much higher spirits.
The events had already begun before I noticed that balloons were tied to the flag. Grasshoppers and cubs were running the 50 metres and scouts had begun doing the shotput event. It was exciting to watch those little legs charge across the track. This is the first time I captured images of people doing athletics. It was a momentous part of my photography experience.
The shotput event seemed quite new to the scouts. It came as no surprise because I learnt it only at Form 4. Regardless, they exhibited colossal strength and threw the steel ball further than I ever could (or would in the future).
The high and long jumps were also featured today. I stalked the sandpits waiting for the perfect shot.
Hmm, 1.2 metres, What shall I say... Good for them? Well yes indeed, I couldn't do that when I was their age! I must try new photographic techniques the next year they host another mini-olympics. The long jump was closer to the stands and a little sunnier.
The events remaining included various relays. There was the scout vs scout relay, scout vs instructor relay and a family's relay. I will take some space below to display some of the better pictures of the athletes that I took that afternoon encompassing all events.
We congratulate those who have participated in the events and we sincerely thank those who have helped out in Stanley Ho Sports Centre.
229ers go forward!
- Cliff Lui, XTL -
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