ANP children at the King’s Games in 2023
In association with
Broadcasting Brabant
NOS News•today, 10:16•Changed today, 11:35
Part of the King’s Games that were supposed to take place today have been canceled due to bad weather. According to schools, it is too wet and too cold.
This applies, for example, to seven primary schools with a total of 1,200 children in Boxtel, writes Broadcasting Brabant. “The fields are already wet and swampy,” says Ghislaine de Brouwer, director of Brede Scholen Boxtel, which organizes the King’s Games there.
Bringing the festivities indoors was not an option. “You can no longer arrange an indoor program at such short notice. You also cannot let the children play sports outside. In addition to the rainfall, it will only be 8 degrees,” says De Brouwer.
6,000 primary schools participate
The King’s Games have been organized since 2013. More than 6,000 primary schools now participate in the annual sports day that takes place on the last Friday before King’s Day. Because schools have the choice to start the May holidays a week earlier, part of the King’s Games will already take place today. According to the organization, this concerns about 15 percent of all participating schools.
The organizers in the municipality of Loon op Zand indicate that safety and fun come first and that it will be difficult with these weather forecasts. In Hilvarenbeek they also think it is a shame that the King’s Games are not going ahead. “Unfortunately, we cannot control the weather,” the organization wrote on Facebook.
No alternative date
The King’s Games will also not take place at a number of primary schools in Apeldoorn, the local broadcaster reports. This also applies to schools in Eindhoven and Veenendaal. Because the children at those schools are on holiday after today, an alternative date is not possible.
The umbrella organization of the King’s Games does not know how many games will not take place today. “Schools decide for themselves how the King’s Games are designed, so we have no insight into how many schools have canceled them. Fortunately, we hear from many schools that they are moving the sporting activities indoors today,” the organization said.
The King’s Games on April 26 will continue. The weather forecast for next week is still good.
