Sportsfest and the RCM Team

Our Sports Committee headed by its indefatigable Chair, SAA & DE Nagi Zeitouni, has scheduled this year’s sportsfest on Saturday, November 11. It is hoped that many Manila Rotarians, ideally with family members in tow, will be able to join this exciting event. Last year, there was a good number of participants, but given the size of our Club, the number could have been much more. This year, let us troop to The Palms and participate in the various sports activities with our brothers in RCM. Let us take this chance to once again bond not only with fellow Rotarians, but with members of the family who will be there to join the sportsfest.

As we all know, nations engage in sports activities as a means to promote global understanding. Indeed, sport’s role in establishing world peace and comity lies in its unique ability to go beyond national, political, cultural and socio-economic limitations and barriers. The social nature of sport enables it to foster camaraderie and fraternity. Sports events open opportunities to bring sports officials, coaches, players, spectators and volunteers around the world together under a common goal. In this regard, former UN Secretary General Kofi Anaan correctly observed that “sport is a universal language. At its best it can bring people together, no matter what their origin, background, religious beliefs or economic status.”

With this, the upcoming RCM sportsfest can be a perfect venue for Manila Rotarians to come together and simply enjoy one day of friendly sports competition, banter, laughter, and fraternal camaraderie. Equally important, the sportsfest can be an occasion for us to be reminded that RCM is not just a Club, but a Team; and we must all see ourselves as members of a great and pioneering Philippine Rotary Team. Thus, we all need to participate, proactively and purposively, for our Team to win; for our Club to achieve its objectives; and for us all to realize our collective dream to make RCM a beacon of service above self.

In fine, as we continue to dream big for our Club, let our sports activity on Saturday be a perfect reminder that “team work makes the dream work.”