WHY TODAY ?
This meeting was supposed to be on Sept. 30th. but a clash of dates caused it to be moved to today. Then we were very pleased because it rained most of last Saturday when we should have been running (no offense to YESS who were meant to use it !) We spoke to the Football organisers, with whom we mostly share the facility, and fixed it with them that there would be no problem today !
BUT THEN GOD INTERVENED !
Friday, October 6th. was a public holiday (for World Teachers' Day) and the rain held off until the President and his wife were safely enjoying entertainment with the teachers in the celebration mwaneaba (meeting-house) ! But then there seemed to be a "long black cloud" heading our way until this morning. This, combined with spring high tides and an on-shore wind from the south, flooded roads and blocked causeways. The strong wind also blew down large tree branches to block the road. Where the tide (at about 4.00 a.m. this morning) came over the sea-walls, it broke some and deposited large chunks of reef-rock and sand across the road. I drove to Broadcasting House (near the Stadium) by about 6.40 a.m. to stop athletes travelling in open-top trucks in the rain and cold wind. With school teams coming from as much as 20 kms. away in the early morning, it was impossible to do more. A few hardy souls came independent of their schools, plus ONE school team ! (They had not heard the broadcasts !) Of course, it was the team that has to travel the furthest ! They must have had a good driver ! I stayed at the Stadium until after 9.00 a.m. (Start due at 8.00.)
The photo was taken about six hours later.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT ?
We are beginning to run out of Saturdays, then we have end-of-year exams., reports, farewells, etc. So one idea, though the Complex is not yet officially open, is to try to transfer our activities indoors. We have a new Sports Complex nearing completion and maybe we could have the first ever "Sports Hall Athletics" Meeting in Kiribati ?! Enquiries start on Monday !
Last Modified on 07/10/2006 14:54