Throughout last summer
and into the autumn contractors and workers laboured mightily on the
other side of the valley to finish the stadium that would transform
the dusty gravel pitch where generations of Koukliots had played
football into a sports centre. They finished some time in the winter
and now the school, the local kids, and the village football team all
benefit from a properly built futsal pitch and a grass football field
complete with canteen, toilets, and changing rooms.
On Friday the Littles'
school hosted Trimithousa and Anarita primary schools for a combined
athletic event. We were blessed with sunshine and a pleasant breeze,
and the gathering began at just after nine a.m with some Greek
dancing that segued into track events which included the 4th
through 6th graders competing in high jump, long jump, 75
metres running, hurdles, shot put and javelin with light balls and
foam javelins. It was Leo's first chance to compete – usually the
younger grades have to sit and watch, which doesn't go down well.
Both finished the day
around the middle levels in terms of times and throws – my
children, with the exception of Alex who held his high school record
for javelin for a while, excell at sports other than track and field
– but but they enjoyed themselves and got to see old friends from
Trimithousa school.
The venue was a huge
improvement over the asphalt and gravel where competitors and
spectators baked alike in previous years, and which has been
responsible for many a scraped elbow and skinned knee in the past.
Of course it will have to be watered over the summer to maintain its
lush, verdant appearance, and is probably liberally dosed with
pesticide, fungicide, and all sorts of other goodies to keep it
'healthy'...
...But that's another rave for another time.
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