By STACEY BODGER
Corinthians and Spartans clashed and roared as the fields of Panmure Bridge School were transformed into an ancient Greek valley yesterday.
"Do we cheat? - Yes!" chanted the Spartan team at the school's Olympics opening ceremony.
The school harked back to the Olympics of old to link in with a senior school social studies project on ancient Greece.
Children, wearing "robes" made from coloured plastic rubbish bags, competed for the pride of five cities - Sparta, Corinth, Athens, Argos and Megara.
They had studied the traits of ancient Greeks - rough, cheating Spartans, fair-playing Athenians - and adopted the habits for the day under the rule of a king, principal Rod Bright.
The day's events included high jump, shotput, horseshoe throwing and poetry reading.
"Ancient Greeks were poetic people and we needed one quiet exercise," explained Mr Bright.
Shotput winner Alista Wiki, aged 10, got into the spirit at the wreath ceremony by throwing up his arms and yelling thanks to his fans.
"I saw Ian Thorpe and the other swimmers doing it because I've been watching lots on the telly," he said.
"It felt really good."
High jumper Michael Pao wanted to leave his winner's wreath on his head until it began to die, "but probably mum will make me take it off."
The 10-year-old said he had learned that not every Olympic athlete had to win gold to feel proud. "Just making it is very special."
Excitement reached fever pitch at the wreath ceremony and athletes' screams and jeers became deafening as Athens topped the medal tally.
Mairangi Bay and Chelsea Park schools also held mini-Olympics yesterday. Sandspit Road School will compete today, while Henderson Valley Primary students end their week-long Olympic celebrations with a floodlit ceremony tonight.
Freemans Bay Primary's junior students will take part tomorrow in a pentathlon and hockey, soccer and equestrian events.
Ancient Olympic rivalries live again
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.