A Week to Remember: Olympic Stories from the Pilot Schools

A Week to Remember
Olympic Stories from the Pilot Schools

Across four pilot schools under the sports in school project the Olympic Day was celebrated. The spirit of the Olympics lit up school campuses between the month of May to June 2025 as students, teachers, and communities came together to celebrate Olympic Day in vibrant, creative, and energetic ways celebrating as a week long olympic day celebration. From Haa to Paro and to Thimphu, about 2000 number of students, teachers and local community participants from the respective pilot school added its unique twist to the celebration, making Olympic Week not just about sports, but about friendship, inclusion, and values that go far beyond the playing field.

At Chundu Armed Forces Public School, Olympic Day was transformed into an exciting week-long celebration from May 26 to 31, filled with sports, creativity, and value-based learning. Each day was themed around Olympic values like Respect, Fair Play, and Passion, offering a mix of activities that brought the school community together. The week featured high-energy competitions such as the basketball and football finals, chess, table-tennis, badminton matches, and a lively inter-house Cross Country Marathon during the final day of celebrating the olympic day for a week. Students also engaged in art competitions, speech contests, sports quizzes, and health awareness programs—including a campaign for World No Tobacco Day—blending sports with thoughtful reflection.

Sonam Choden, Chundu Armed Forces Public School principal shared, “We truly appreciate the support received. The week-long Olympic celebration fostered healthy habits and strengthened our school community through shared values.”

Adding to the vibrant atmosphere were the Home Science Club’s food stalls that kept the energy up with delicious snacks, while the school media team captured memorable moments throughout the week. One of the most joyful events was the Kids Athletics program, where young learners participated in fun races and games. More than just a sporting event, the Olympic Week at CAFPS provided a platform to build character, teamwork, and school spirit, leaving lasting memories that extended far beyond the finish line.

At Dechencholing Higher Secondary School in Thimphu, Olympic Day was celebrated as a dynamic week long program under the theme “Excellence, Respect & Friendship,” aligned with Project DHSS 2.0 and supported by the Bhutan Olympic Committee. The celebration featured a carefully curated mix of activities, from energetic aerobic dance sessions by Levels 4–6 to thrilling futsal finals that doubled as lively performances with halftime Olympic quizzes and Taekwondo showcases. Midweek brought fun races covering over 2.5 km, promoting joy and unity over competition, while winners from various categories were recognized with more than 287 certificates awarded to players, referees, volunteers, and MCs. Complemented by food stalls, mini-games, and active coverage from the school media team, the program successfully blended fitness, fun, and Olympic values into an engaging school-wide experience.

At Khangkhu Middle Secondary School in Paro, Olympic Week was celebrated from May 26 to June 1 with a vibrant series of activities designed to promote fun, fitness, and Olympic values among students from Classes IV to X. The week began with a spirited 4 km Fun Run and unfolded with a diverse line-up of events including an Aerobic Competition, Poem Recitation, and playful Kids Athletics for the younger students—all centered around the themes of unity, respect, and active living. Each day brought something unique, building momentum toward the grand finale on June 1, which featured another Fun Run, speeches on Olympic values, lively performances, and the much-anticipated Basketball Finals. With food stalls, a lucky draw, and cultural showcases adding flavor and festivity, the week-long celebration offered students a meaningful and memorable way to live out the Olympic spirit.

Karma Tenzin, Khangkhu Middle Secondary School shared, “This celebration went beyond sports—instilling values, unity, and joy among our students, teachers, and parents. We are greatful to the Bhutan Olympic Committee and MOESD for supporting us with this project.”

Woochu Lower Secondary School celebrated Olympic Week from June 1 to June 7 with a vibrant mix of fun, games, and learning that brought the entire school community together. Throughout the week, students engaged in playful yet purposeful activities like sack races, egg-and-spoon challenges, “Pick the Chocolate,” and “Ghost Breath,” all designed to encourage teamwork, concentration, and resilience. The week culminated in “SPA Season 2” on June 7, featuring a lively Fun Run, class-based mini-games such as treasure hunts and sponge water relays, and thrilling football finals. Cultural performances added flair, while the prize ceremony gave students a chance to reflect on the bonds they’d built and the Olympic values they had embraced through the week’s thoughtfully selected activities.

What made these celebrations truly unforgettable wasn’t just the games played or the prizes won—it was the quiet, powerful way each school brought the Olympic values to life. A food stall run by students became a lesson in teamwork. A halftime quiz turned into a moment of learning and laughter. A simple speech, delivered with trembling hands and a proud heart, reminded everyone what it means to believe in something bigger than yourself.

These weren’t just school events. They were stories being written—of children discovering confidence, of friendships forming across teams, of teachers watching their students grow not just in skill, but in spirit. They were memories made not in stadiums, but in the corners of classrooms and on fields soaked with joy.

And now, as the echoes of cheering fade and the banners are carefully folded away, one thing remains: a quiet promise. That next year, we will come together again—not just to play, but to celebrate who we are and who we’re becoming.

Because in the end, Olympic Week 2025 wasn’t about one moment, it was about many. And each one, in its own small way, made the world feel just a little more connected — one race, one game, one smile at a time.