The 17th Sports Olympiad of German Schools in Southern Africa was opened with a festive ceremony on 16 September 2018 in the auditorium of the Deutsche Höhere Privatschule (DHPS), who is hosting the major event this year. In the presence of the entire school community, teams of 300 athletes overall and teachers of the participating schools from Windhoek, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Hermannsburg and Accra - marched into the auditorium in an exuberant atmosphere – then, at the latest, all were captivated by the Olympic spirit. Now, one stage highlight followed the next - from cheer leading to the DHPS orchestra to acrobatic performances. Also, the speeches by DHPS principal Kristin Eichholz, German Ambassador, Mr Schlaga, Swiss Honorary Consul Mr Gamma and the head boys and girls of the participating schools reflected the Olympic ambition, but also the actual goal of the event: Participating, having fun together and letting fairness and team spirit take centre stage.

This was already evident at the swimming competitions that were held on the first day of the Sports Olympiad. Warm up started early in the morning at 7 a.m. - the swimmers were delighted about the water temperature of around 25 degrees.
At 8 o’clock the 4 x 50 m relay started with four swimmers in a team for back and breaststroke, butterfly and crawl respectively.
Several records were broken:
- Boys’ Competition Group I: Deutsche Schule Kapstadt (Cape Town) with a new best time of 2:21:56 minutes.
- Girls’ Competition Group I: Deutsche Schule Kapstadt (Cape Town) with a new best time of 2:20:38 minutes.
- Boys’ Competition Group III: Deutsche Schule Johannesburg with a new best time of 2:03:81 minutes.

Then the heats for the individual competitions started, in which swimmers competed in 50 m freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke and butterfly.

The last item on the morning schedule was the 12 x 50 m relay. In this relay, each team took part with 12 swimmers, 4 swimmers from each age group.
- The boys of the Deutsche Internationale Schule Johannesburg swam a new record of 5:59:99 minutes.

After a delicious lunch, it was time for the finals. Again, several records were broken.

The records of DHPS Windhoek:
- Tiana Esslinger of Competition Group II achieved a new best time in 50 m of 37.80.
- Matthias Lichtenberg, who started in Competition Group III, swam 50 m freestyle and a best time of 25.53, while he broke the 50 m butterfly record in 27.55 minutes.
- Nicole Redecker in Competition Group I also broke two swimming records: 50 m breast stroke in 39.48 minutes and 50 m butterfly in only 34.81 minutes.

The Cape Townians achieved the following bests:
- Liv Etzold in Competition Group II of Deutsche Schule Kapstadt swam 3 new records: In 50 m freestyle in Competition Group II with a new time of 28:38, while she swam the 50 m backstroke in 31.56 and broke the butterfly 50 m record in a new best time of 30.44.
- Also, from Cape Town in Competition Group II: Nicolas Oosthuizen set 3 new records: 50 m freestyle in a new time of 25:97, while he swam the 50 m backstroke in 30.69 and broke the butterfly 50 m record in a new best time of 29.08.

The swimmers from Deutsche Internationale Schule Pretoria broke the following records:
- Corinna Meyer in Competition Group I achieved a best time in 50 m freestyle in 30.07.
- In the girls’ Competition Group III, Janka Meyer broke the 50 m backstroke in a time of 33.23.
- Tom Schulz in Competition Group II swam 50 m breast stroke in a new record time of 34.09.

The swimmers from Deutsche Internationale Schule Johannesburg broke three records:
- Philip Dresel in 50 m breast in the boys’ Competition Group III in a best time of 34.82,
- while Sebastian Karnwischer swam the 50 m back in the boys’ Competition Group III in a best time 31.44.
- Philip Trummer in 50 m breast in the boys’ Competition Group III in a broke the record in 31.60

It was a great competition day in an extraordinary atmosphere and great team spirit.

(A big thank you to Anthony Rivett (DSK Media team) for the great support:-) )