OSC’s new gymnasium project

The main highlight of the new gymnasium project of the Overseas School of Colombo (OSC) is the state-of-the-art climbing wall designed to give students and the OSC community opportunities to participate in the growing sport of wall climbing. The wall was designed and constructed by Peter Stewart of Adventure Asia.

Training in wall climbing

It portrays a gecko since this is the symbol of schools mascot. It was completed in March and was subsequently subjected to a wide range of tests for it to be internationally certified. The certification was conducted by Amit Choudhury of iZone, a climbing organization based in New Delhi.

Following successful testing, a group of OSC faculty members were able to participate in a two day training session.

The objective of the training session was to round up a group of OSC faculty members who can safely supervise climbing activities on the wall. The training focused on safety procedures, climbing equipment, the art of belaying and how to safely conduct climbing sessions with small groups of students and adults.

All group members had a chance to climb, belay and demonstrate climbing techniques under Choudhury’s supervision. Lenny Lockwood (age 5) became the first OSC student to get harnessed up and make an attempt at climbing the wall. He was successfully belayed by his pre-kindergarten teacher, Nirmalee Perera.

The new facilities will consist of a double gymnasium with a curtained partition that will enable two classes to be conducted simultaneously.

The roof of the building will be installed with a totally new ventilation and insulation system. In addition to the climbing wall, the gym will be equipped with the following facilities: two basketball courts, two volleyball courts, eight badminton courts, a professional standard sports lighting system, fixed and mobile bleachers, specially designed rubberized floor for multi sports usage, and a floor cover for non-sports events.

Support facilities such as office space, weights and fitness room, classrooms, lockers and changing rooms and maintenance facilities such as tools stores, and furniture storage areas are also included in the plan.

Founded in 1957, The Overseas School of Colombo is a non-profit organisation and Sri Lanka’s oldest internationally accredited educational institution. It is the only school in Sri Lanka to offer the International Baccalaureate Program from pre-school to Grade 12.