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The highly successful “Move, Debrecen!” Amateur Knockout Championships were held last school year. They will be held again this school year, with 72 teams from 45 educational institutions and colleges in Debrecen and 750 children—not certified athletes.
The first day of the competition for 3-4th graders was held on the 11th of November 2024 at the Kazinczy Ferenc Elementary School and Elementary Art School in Debrecen.
Candidates in four age groups — 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, and 9- 11— will compete against each other on four days between 11 and 20 November at the Kazinczy School and the Beregszász Pál Technical College. The six best-performing teams per age group will qualify for the competition’s finals, which will again be organised in the framework of the first-ever Carnival of Movement, which will be held this spring.
The competition for 3-4th graders was held with 18 teams – 193 children. At the opening ceremony, Deputy Mayor Diána Széles – one of the founders of the “Move, Debrecen!” initiative – said that the previous knock-out competition had been one of the movement’s most successful events, and the “mini-poll” held at the current venue had already been attended by many of the children present.
According to the Deputy Mayor, this competition is about keeping children happy, having fun, playing sports and, if they still feel good, getting regular exercise at school during recess and at home with their parents and siblings. Diána Széles thanked the school operators, the heads of the institutions, the teachers – and last but not least, the participating children – for being partners in the “Move, Debrecen!” initiative and its school programme, which can expand the opportunities for physical activity and thus provide new experiences in educational institutions.
According to László Türk, Director of the Debrecen School District Centre, everyone wins at the event just by participating in the competition. He said the tournament is a game of wits, as children have to play as a team, thinking together and working together to ensure their school wins. If they win, their school will be proud of them. The director said that the ultimate goal of the “Move, Debrecen!” programmes is to give experiences, and thanked the city government for making this possible.
Csaba Papp, Director of the Debrecen Institute of Primary Care and Health Promotion and Health Director of the “Move, Debrecen!” initiative, reminded the children that if they move—whether at home or school—they will be healthy. Computers and mobile phones are excellent, but they can’t give you health—only movement can. The initiative is an opportunity to move and play together for fun.
László Nádházi, Director of the Kazinczy Ferenc Primary School and Primary Art School in Debrecen, welcomed the children who took part in the competition on behalf of the host institution.
Source and photo credit: debrecen.hu
