CAIRO: The youth of Cairo often resort to either playing in busy streets or frequenting the City Stars mall in Nasr City for recreation. It is not uncommon for youth around the world to hang out in malls, however one main difference between Cairo and other global urban centers is the lack of choice young people have to be involved in activities with peers. Sure, you can join an elite club with membership fees or even take a stroll in Al Azhar Park, which you still pay to enter. Try to enter one of the few and far between “public†parks throughout Cairo, and you will likely be met with locked gates and/or a stubborn guard refusing entrance. For the vast majority of the hundreds of thousands of kids in Cairo, there are no options for extracurricular activities besides the streets. The recent sports tournament hosted by he Canadian International College (CIC) in New Cairo was a blessing for all who attended. More than a dozen high schools were invited to join the tournament, and from March 7th to 9th, most of them attended. Competitions in football (soccer), volleyball, basketball, tennis, and table tennis for both boys and girls teams gave high school students a rare chance to compete for trophies and bragging rights. The look on the students’ faces as they stepped off the bus to be greeted by CIC staff were of pure joy. They could interact with kids from other schools, strengthen bonds with their own classmates, and gain self-confidence. Additionally, there were free lunches provided for all in attendance, exciting music, referees, and properly maintained facilities to host the games. The tournament, which lasted for three days, was a great success. Students from Dr. Nermien Ismail Language School Egypt 2000 American School even had a bus provided by CIC designated for transporting students to cheer for their classmates. College students enrolled at CIC frequently viewed the games and pleasantly interacted with the high school kids, which added to the community atmosphere. Emotions ran high at times during the games, with verbal disputes and adolescent aggression, but in the end everyone maintained respect. Typical of Cairo, the timing of the games was often chaotic, not starting on time and some teams not fielding enough players for each sport. But this added to the relaxed yet competitive atmosphere of the whole tournament. Blending fun with competition, amid a hint of promotion complete with the fruit drink “Tingo†showing up with a mascot, is exactly what the young people of Cairo yearn for. The final awards ceremony brought closure and honored all participants with certificates and winners with trophies. Students and coaches left the tournament satisfied, with the hope that more opportunities will be available to them in weeks and years to come. Participating schools: Egypt 2000 American School Tagammoe al Awwal Campus Egypt 2000 National School Nasr City Campus Narmer American College Sheraton Heliopolis School Victoria College Futures al Rehab School Rajac School New Generation School Futures Language School al Maadai Campus British School of Rehab El Nasr School BM
