The competition runs until tomorrow (July 18) and sees students competing in the following sports: football; futsal; petanque; badminton; chess; checkers; balance bike; e-sports; swimming; and athletics.
The events will take place at Saphan Hin Sports Center and selected venues across the island.
The official opening ceremony was held at Sports Building 1 at the Saphan Hin Sports Center at 9am on Monday, overseen by Phuket Town Mayor Suphot La-ongphet.
Mr Suphot was joined by a range of guests and dignitaries, including: Phuket City Municipality Chief Administrative Officer (Palad) Chalermporn Piyanarongroj; Prasert Sinsaophak and Sutthipan Skulthep, both Deputy Mayors of Phuket City Municipality; fellow members of the Phuket City Municipality Council; Ratchadaporn Oin, Chief of the Phuket Provincial office of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports; as well as teachers, parents and students.
Mr Suphot explained the annual competition is designed to leverage sports to develop students’ skills in terms of physical, intellectual, emotional and social skills.
It is also an opportunity for students who possess particular prowess in certain sports to develop their skillsets to eventually advance to represent at provincial, regional and national levels.
The initiative is part of the National Tourism and Sports policy on developing youths in sports, specifically in the under-20 years of age category.