Aichi International School (AIS) has had a busy, exciting, sporty autumn. On October 8, the annual Sports Day competition took place in Nijigaoka Park, in glorious sunshine, with the Edinburgh (blue) team winning the kindergarten event, and the Cardiff (red) team taking the honours in the elementary competition. This was only a day after grades 2, 3, and 4 visited Suzuka Circuit in Mie prefecture to watch the Formula One practice races.
Earlier in the autumn, 30 students were lucky enough to visit the Taiyo Yakuhin Arena, home of the current Asian futsal champions, Nagoya Oceans. AIS students watched Oceans win their game 9–2 against Stella Amigo Iwate, and were then treated to time spent with the Oceans’ players and a stadium tour. Students had their photographs taken with team members, and two favourites of AIS students were Brazilian Marquinho and Pedro Costa of Portugal.
Throughout the rest of the academic year further sports-connected projects are planned, such as a visit and tour of Toyota Stadium, home of current J-League football champions Nagoya Grampus, and, at the time of writing, AIS students are awaiting Mandeville, one of the two London Olympic mascots arriving from Argentina, as part of an exchange project that is connected with a variety of schools from around the globe. — MARK REED
