Embassy of Japan in Malawi

On Thursday, February 4, 2016, the Japan Overseas Cooperative Association (JOCA) and the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology held a Sports Day event called UNDOKAI in Bowa Primary School in Lilongwe Rural West. As part of the Japan's Sport for Tomorrow initiative toward the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, the event was conducted to teach students values such as sportsmanship, team work, and challenging oneself through sports.

Approximately 600 students from Bowa, Mteza, and M'bang'ombe Primary Schools in Lilongwe Rural West took part in the event, competing in the running race, relay race, tug of war, and the eye of the cyclone race.

The event was also a training program for 9 teachers from the 3 regions of Malawi, North, Central, and South. They were trained since November 2015 to conduct these sports day event. With the help of these teachers as well as the Malawi Government partners, Japan hopes to spread UNDOKAI to schools throughout Malawi.

The event was graced by Honourable Grace Obama Chiumia, Minister of Sports and Culture as Guest of Honour, and attended by officials from the Ministry of Sports and Cuture, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Lilongwe District Council, headteachers, teachers, and students from the three schools, chiefs and members of the community, and the Japanese community.

Speaking during the event, Ambassador Nishioka congratulated the students who took part in the event. He said he was very impressed with the joyful, good performance and participation of the children in UNDOKAI. He also thanked the teachers who took part in the training program as well as the community members for their support. In cllosing his remarks, Ambassador Nishioka expressed his gratitude to the Japan Overseas Cooperative Association (JOCA), and especially the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology for taking the initiative to organize this event. He hopes that the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology will continue its good work in promoting UNDOKAI to schools throughout Malawi. In addition, the Ambassador said he would appreciate the Ministry of Sports and Culture to take a leading role to encourage everyone to get involved in sporting activities at all levels. He then finished by reaffirming Japan’s commitment to support various sporting activities in Malawi in line with the Sport for Tomorrow initiative and towards the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games and beyond.

Tug of War