2008 ONTARIO SUMMER GAMES
POSTER DESIGN AND ESSAY CONTESTS

What Sport Means to ME

By: Julia Manconi

For the first time in my life, I think I should add more to the dictionary, even though English is my most hatred subject.

Well, according to the Nelson Canadian Dictionary, “sport” is primarily defined as “an activity involving physical exertion and skill ... blah, blah, blah.” Alright, so that is technically correct but I think they forgot some (very) important things. I’ll explain.

I am an athlete. With that past, "sport" means more than the physical stuff, it’s also mental. Take soccer for example; knowing where to pass the ball, where to position yourself with different plays, a lot of remembering going on there. However, what about the burst of adrenaline on a breakaway, or the thrill of scoring the game-winning goal? For me, I crave the intensity among my teammates just before we’re ready to head onto the pitch and play our hardest.

I must not forget to include the undeniable feeling of defeat, or the frustration of letting a goal in, as part of the definition of “sport”. What comes into my head now? Some Rocky movie clips and “Eye of the Tiger” music. Sports aren’t always about winning or losing, it’s challenging oneself to the next level of game, for himself or herself and not for anyone else. Your attitude can make you or break you, a common thought that’s always rushing around in my head.

Even in low times or times of defeat, my inspiration to keep playing the game I love is waiting for that wonderful feeling of teamwork, self victory or improvement, spirit, or simply enjoying oneself. Whether it is competitive or playing with my sister at the park, fun and spirit can be present in any sport. It’s what you make out of it. Even if your team is losing the game 8-0, you have to make the best out of it. We’re doing this because we love it! The medals will come and fade in value over time, the “stats” will be replaced next year, but the feelings in the heart will stay forever.

The 20th biannual Ontario Summer Games will be held in Ottawa, August 13-16, 2008. More than 3,500 competitors from across the province will compete in 26 different sports.

To celebrate the Games, the Organizing Committee and sponsors have created two contests, available to both Elementary and Secondary Schools.

  1. Create the 2008 Ontario Summer Games Official Poster
  2. OR write an essay entitled: "What Sport Means To Me"

CONTEST 1:
POSTER DESIGN CONTEST

Download Hi-Resolution Official Logo For Poster

  1. Horizontal Logo
  2. Stacked Logo

Click on the link to go to the picture. Once the picture shows up, right click > save image as, or right click > save picture as to save a copy of the image to your desktop.

Available to: Elementary & Secondary Schools.

There will be one Elementary School winner, and one Secondary School Winner for this contest

The Poster Design Contest is available for a student (or a group of students) to design the "Official Poster of the 2008 Ontario Summer Games."

  1. The poster must be bilingual
  2. Include the Games website address: www.2008osg.ca
  3. The date on which the Games will take place: August 13-16, 2008
  4. It must not be larger than 11" x 14" in size.
  5. The rest of the poster design is left to the imagination of the student designer(s).

The Poster Contest will be judged by local Ottawa artist, Ben Babelowsky.

WINNERS:

Students may submit multiple entries. Poster and essay submissions will become the property of the Ontario Summer Games Organizing Committee, upon receipt.

SUBMISSIONS:

Students have until May 30th JUNE 8th to submit their entries for the contests

Please include the following when you submit your entry:

You may submit your entries in one of the following ways:

  1. By mail to:
    Pat Reid, Director General,
    Ontario Summer Games
    100 Constellation Crescent, 8th Floor West
    Ottawa, Ontario. K2G 6J8
  2. e-mail to: pat.reid@ottawa.ca
  3. FAX: (613) 580-2855 (attention of Pat Reid)
  4. OR it can be dropped off at the Security Desk of the Ottawa Citizen, 1101 Baxter Road in Ottawa. Please be sure to state "Ontario Summer Games Contest Entry."

CONTEST 2:
LITERARY ESSAY CONTEST

Available to: Elementary & Secondary Schools.

There will be one Elementary School winner, and one Secondary School Winner for this contest

A literary panel will judge the essays and the top three essays (elementary school) and the top three essays (secondary school) will be featured in the Ontario Summer Games Official Program and on the Games official website.

WINNERS:

Students may submit multiple entries. Poster and essay submissions will become the property of the Ontario Summer Games Organizing Committee, upon receipt.

SUBMISSIONS:

Students have until May 30th JUNE 8th to submit their entries for the contests

Please include the following when you submit your entry:

You may submit your entries in one of the following ways:

  1. By mail to:
    Pat Reid, Director General,
    Ontario Summer Games
    100 Constellation Crescent, 8th Floor West
    Ottawa, Ontario. K2G 6J8
  2. e-mail to: pat.reid@ottawa.ca
  3. FAX: (613) 580-2855 (attention of Pat Reid)
  4. OR it can be dropped off at the Security Desk of the Ottawa Citizen, 1101 Baxter Road in Ottawa. Please be sure to state "Ontario Summer Games Contest Entry."