Some of the Island’s youngsters got a taste of rugby and hockey as part of Olympic Day yesterday.

The primary school students took part in an afternoon of sport at the National Sports Centre as children around the world were doing the same.

Ann Lindroff, of Bermuda Olympic Association, organised the event which this year had the theme of ‘move, learn and discover’.

Lindroff was delighted with the turnout, which saw half the students try their hands at rugby, and the other half hockey.

“This is a wonderful turnout, the numbers are a testament to the success of the event,” she said. “The idea of the theme is to get children off of the couches and for them to become active and hopefully one day to inspire them to be an Olympian.”

Olympic Day events are held annually in 160 countries to mark the birth of the modern-day Olympic movement on the anniversary of the founding of the International Olympic Committee on June 23, 1894.

“For some of the attendees, this will be their first chance to learn about and participate in these two sports,” Judy Simons, BOA president, said. “But, we want the children to take away that there’s a sport for everyone, and if they work hard at it, there is an opportunity for each of them to accomplish great things in a sport of their choosing; possibly even rise to the elite level and get a chance to represent Bermuda in international festivals including the Olympics.”