“Sport has the power to change the world, the power to inspire, the power to unite people in a way that little else can.” Nelson Mandela
The schools competition is an important element of the One Game One Community weeks of action. The theme of the competition changes each year to reflect different issues and different areas of the curriculum.
For 2009, the competition will have a literacy focus, and is based upon a speech by Nelson Mandela, entitled ‘Sport has the power to change the world”. Pupils will be asked to write their own powerful speech setting out how sport can help bring about a change in society.
Speeches have always held an important place in history, especially when it comes to improving civil rights for a community and one of the main historical events that 2009 will be remembered for is the inauguration of Barack Obama as the first black American President of the USA. This came just half a century after Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus in Montgomery sparking civil unrest and Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” speech in 1963.
President Obama has received huge praise for the content of his speeches and his delivery style. This includes the Inaugural Address delivered in Washington DC in January 2009 and his election night victory speech, the preceding November, with the famous lines “Yes we can”.
Details of the competition
This year the competition is open to all pupils in Key Stage Two and Three, with separate prizes awarded in each age group.
Pupils are being asked to write a speech, which will begin with the line
“Sport has the power to change the world………..
The content of the speech is up to each individual. They may wish to focus on a specific example of how sport has made a difference, either to them, to their school or community or to discuss something that may have occurred at a national or international level. They may even choose to disagree with the first line.
Pupils should give their speech a title, one that is powerful and sums up the theme and content of what they have written.
Each speech should be a maximum of 500 words, and can be hand written or produced using a computer.
Whilst the entries will be judged as a writing competition, pupils should be encouraged to read out their speeches in the classroom.
Drawing on famous historical speeches
Pupils should be encouraged to research some famous speeches that have been given by well known human rights campaigners, including those from,
President Barack Obama Martin Luther King
Malcolm X Emmeline Pankhurst
Indira Ghandi Nelson Mandela
Prizes
Five regional winners will be chosen and one overall winner. Each regional winner will be invited to attend a game at their local football club and will have their entry printed in the match day programme. They will also receive a signed One Game One Community t-shirt. The overall winner will also receive a pitch side presentation of a special framed version of their speech, written by a
calligrapher, which will be read out to the fans by a special celebrity guest.
How to enter
The closing date for entries is Monday 9 November 2009.
Schools should ensure the following information is included on each entry:
The school name
Contact details of member of staff
Pupil Name
Pupil age
Number of words they have used
Entries should be returned to,
Schools Competition, Kick It Out, Unit 3, 1-4 Christina Street, London, EC2A 4PA.
Please contact the office on 0207 684 4884 if you have any queries about the competition or require any additional information.
