DCB Highlights at Dulwich Olympiad 2024 in Singapore
A big welcome back to our students who participated in last week’s Dulwich Olympiad!
From 18 to 22 March, 53 Dulwich College Beijing students took part in the quadrennial Dulwich Olympiad 2024, a vibrant five-day celebration of Sport, Drama, Music and Art across our family of schools. This year’s Olympiad was hosted by Dulwich College Singapore and saw 13 schools, 891 students, 59 Artists, 79 Actors, 143 Musicians and 610 athletes across our Dulwich International community, including students from Dulwich College, the founding school in London, and James Allen’s Girls’ School, taking part in this unique opportunity to learn new skills, form lasting connections with their peers that transcends borders, gain a deeper appreciation for cultural diversity, and celebrate the values of teamwork, sportsmanship, and creativity that are central to the Dulwich ethos.
Megan L, one of our Year 10 students who took part in the Sports competition, shared how excited she was on the first day. “I remember how, on the first day of badminton competitions, I saw many people but didn't know anyone. However, I decided to take my chances and started talking to many people there since we all had a common interest. That was probably one of the best choices I made since I met a lot of new people from different countries and schools who were all nice and friendly. I can't wait for the next time we meet again!!”
Mrs Duan, a DCB parent who also joined this year’s Dulwich Olympiad 2024, shared how proud she was that her child could participate and to see firsthand our students’ strong fighting spirit. She also noted how the Dulwich Olympiad truly exemplified the beauty of being part of a family of schools – something truly missed because of the pandemic. “The Dulwich Olympiad is the biggest event within the Dulwich family since the three-year pandemic. I am very happy that my child could participate and that I, as a parent, could also participate and appreciate the sports spirit in person. The children in the sports programmes finished the mostly outdoor high-intensity games even through the heat and the humidity. It has been a week of excitement, friendship, and memories, and the children were reluctant to leave. This is a real Dulwich family gathering. I hope that more children who are passionate about sports, music, and art can join in the future. Let’s meet in Shanghai in another four years.”
Mrs Wufeng, another parent, whose daughter also appreciated the values students were able to apply while there. “The Dulwich Olympiad is designed to be interactive and collaborative. For example, students from different schools are randomly paired up in the badminton games. Students competed in a supportive setting. Everyone, including the substitutes, could fully participate and enjoy all aspects of the events. Sports spirit is celebrated in the form of a big party. The warm and positive atmosphere helped calm my daughter Cecilia’s nerves and concentrate on the games. My daughter was very lucky to score for her school for the first time in a football match and the team won the bronze medal in the football match. The girls threw themselves down on the grass together to celebrate. My daughter later reflected that if you really work hard at something, and if try your best, you will always get valuable experience and outcomes. It was more than excitement at the moment and memories to remember; it will also plant far-reaching seeds for future growth.
Shared Anthony Coles, Head of College of Dulwich College Beijing, “Our music and drama students put in extensive rehearsal time, culminating in a performance of an adapted scene from Homer’s The Odyssey, followed by our musicians' participation in the Olympiad Gala Concert. Both collaborative performances were outstanding and showcased our family of schools' commitment to the arts. Our athletes competed fiercely in swimming, badminton, basketball, football, and athletics, with many students earning medals. The dedicated staff, alongside Mrs Anderson Au and myself, couldn't be prouder of our students' enthusiasm and attitude. They represented DCB with pride and demonstrated outstanding character, under at times, trying hot conditions. A special thanks to our chaperones and coaches for their guidance and care of the team. Many thanks also to the parents who travelled to Singapore to support our students; their presence was truly appreciated and contributed to the standout performance of our team.”
To this Ms Anderson-Au, our Head of Senior School, wholeheartedly agrees. “This was a fantastic experience for both staff and students to build connections, work collaboratively, and have fun.”
To learn more about the history of the Dulwich Olympiad, click here.
Congratulations to all our students, thank you to all the parents and teachers who accompanied them during this five-day adventure and also to Dulwich College Singapore for being such wonderful hosts. Watch out for the next Olympiad in 2027 – a joint collaboration between Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi and Dulwich College Shanghai Pudong.
Read the full recap of the Dulwich Olympiad 2024 here, and watch this space for more Dulwich Olympiad 2024 news!
