More than 300 children from 12 rural communities in southeast Romania's Ialomita County competed in several sports contests during the recent World Vision Sports Cup.

For these children, aged nine to 14, many of them from poor families, the event was a wonderful opportunity to exercise their talents, socialise, communicate and increase their self-esteem.

'A project like this underlines three important aspects: the successful existing partnership between schools, local authorities, community members and World Vision Romania, the importance of school as an institution within the community and last, but not least, the excellent opportunity to promote children as the image of our schools, through this kind of initiative', said Mrs. Mihaela Baciu, school principal from Manasia village.

Initiated in 2008, 'World Vision Sports Cup' brought together children, teachers and community members from 12 local communities and World Vision Romania's – Ialomita Area Development Programme (ADP), located about an hour away from the Romanian capital Bucharest. The competition aimed at creating a tradition in supporting children in need from rural areas and it encouraged and promoted team spirit and fair–play among them.

'For me a competition means to win and be proud that I am able to win. Although I was nervous in the beginning, now I have more confidence in myself', said 11-year-old Elena T, a fifth grader who took first place in a game of rounders, and second place in athletics.

The lack of extra-curricular activities is a widespread problem in rural areas and World Vision is striving to create extra-curricular opportunities for children through events like the Sports Cup. In the absence of these kinds of activities, children often spend their time helping their parents with chores or simply mingling around the village lanes, with no purpose and no opportunity to learn something new or use their spare time in a fun but fruitful way.

Students therefore participated with a great deal of enthusiasm and competitiveness in athletics, a game of rounders and football matches. Finalists were awarded cups, medals and various sports products by the project team in a closing ceremony.

Sports Cup and other events that promote physical activity are also needed more than ever given that rates of child obesity are on the rise with recent studies showing that in Europe, 1 in 5 children are overweight.