Inauguration of the Airtel Sports Complex at the British School

The British School today unveiled its newly completed indoor sports facility. Mr.Rajan Mittal, Vice Chair and MD of Bharti Enterprises inaugurated the Airtel Sports Complex at the British School amongst students, parents and school officials.

The hall is very much a multipurpose hall that caters to students from EYFS (through physical development) to Year 13. The hall boasts a magnificent indoor basketball court, four badminton courts, indoor cricket nets and a fully functional TRX gym. The sport complex can also offer gymnastics and trampolining. The facilities cater to all ages and are designed to promote lifelong learning through sport and physical education.

Welcoming the chief guest, Dr Nick Argent, Director, said “I am delighted to have Mr Mittal inaugurate the 21^st Century Airtel Sports Complex, marking the end of a fascinating journey during which this sports complex has emerged from a building site. The complex is important to the school because it will support our staff and coaches in the delivery of a wide range of sporting activities. The enhanced facilities for sports will also contribute to our student’ personal development not least because sport develops in the individual both teamwork and leadership qualities.”

Mr Rajan Mittal, Vice Chair and MD of Bharti Enterprise congratulated the governors and staff on providing the excellent sports’ facilities and an infrastructure that will benefit students’ holistic development. Mr Mittal, said “being a sportsman, sport has been very close to my heart. Sports teach character, discipline, team spirit and leadership qualities, attributes which college or corporate life do not necessarily develop. This sports complex is a wonderful example of how sports can promote access to new cultural, educational and social opportunities. The students will definitely benefit from the state-of-the-art training facilities. To promote higher sporting standards in India there should be many more such private partnerships and greater encouragement to participate from parents”.

On this occasion, Mr Kieron O’Brien, Director - Physical Education and Sports at the British School said “This 21st century sports hall means our students have a fine environment that is tailored to deliver 'high quality' physical education and where our students can flourish with pride as a panther when representing their school. This academic year participation levels in extracurricular sports have increased and we have seen the first signs of greater success both our senior boys basketball and senior girls football teams winning their recent ISACI tournaments”.

The opening ceremony was followed by an enthralling basketball match between alumni and the students in the newly opened sports hall. The British School alumni emerged as winners and were presented with the winners’ trophy. This healthy competition marked the end of this auspicious occasion and the current students relished a memorable clash with their predecessors.

About The British School

The British School in New Delhi is unique. Not just because it is home to a rich cultural mix of almost 700 students with 50 nationalities ranging from ages 3 to 18 years. Not because it operates a not-for-profit system with an inclusive approach. The reason is simple – it is more than a school. It is a family.

The school was started in July 1963 by a group of British parents with 40 students representing six nationalities in a residential colony. They were supported by the British High Commissioner. In 1969, the school moved to its present site in Chanakyapuri, the heart of diplomatic area. Today it is still owned and managed by students’ parents who form The British School Society.

For more information, please visit www.british-school.org.