Embracing new opportunities: International Competitions

By Annie Constantinides, Director of Athletics

Æ Never underestimate your opponent.

Æ Work on your weaknesses until they become your strong points.

Æ Remember that a great effort is usually the result of great attitude.

Æ Win with humility, lose with grace.

Æ Ignore those who discourage you.

Æ Remember that how you conduct yourself off the field is just as important as how you conduct yourself on the field.

For many of us, the memories of COVID -19 and its impact on our school sports programs are quite vivid. In the past few years, our student-athletes missed an important part of the ACS Athens Athletics program; that is, the international competition at the end of each season, the most exciting part of the sport!

From the onset of the present academic year, our Academy and Middle School studentathletes were presented with new opportunities for international sports competitions as well as travel. ACS Athens is now a member of a new sports conference; the International Schools Athletics Association (ISAA) consists of 16 international schools, and the geographical makeup of the conference makes all competitions quite interesting.

The international competitions offer exposure to different playing styles, diverse teams, and new cultures, broadening our athletes’ horizons and nurturing a global perspective. Each one of these new opportunities has a positive impact on student-athletes and is a foundation of education-based athletics.

These experiences contribute to their personal development and growth in many ways; their skill set is being challenged and improved at the same time, they learn to handle pressure, manage time effectively and adapt to unfamiliar environments. Furthermore, by competing and interacting with athletes from different backgrounds internationally, they gain valuable insights and may even build lifelong relationships. In addition, during international competition and travel events, our studentathletes become ambassadors of our school and our community representing the values of ACS Athens and, even more specifically, the values of the Athletic Department: motivation, discipline, pride, effort, sportsmanship, and respect.

Game and match scores, as well as “personal best” performances, may soon be forgotten; but the relationships and memories may have a greater impact as well as last forever.

ISAA Conference schools

Æ Vienna International School

Æ Marymount International School London

Æ TASIS The American International School in England

Æ American International School in Israel

Æ The British School in the Netherlands

Æ ACS International School Egham

Æ ACS International School Hillingdon

Æ ACS Athens

Æ Cairo American College

Æ International School Eindhoven

Æ Bonn International School

Æ International School of Geneva

Æ Sotogrande International School

Æ Schutz American School

Æ The British School of Brussels

Æ The British School of Paris

Æ Talent is God-given – be humble. Fame is man-given – be thankful. Conceit is self-given –be careful.

Æ Don’t ask to be deprived of tension and discipline – these are the tools that shape success.

Æ Do what has to be done, when it has to be done, and as well as it can be done.

Æ Always give your best!