DECATUR — Davis Elementary School students lined the football field of the new Raider Athletic Complex Monday for the Davis Olympics opening ceremonies.

The bleachers were filled with family, friends and retired Davis employees watching as classes stood center field to open the Olympic games at the elementary school.

More than 400 students in preschool through fourth grades stood with their classmates and teachers, each class representing a country. Davis music teacher

Rose Emendorfer led the audience in the national anthem, Olympic songs and a Mexican folk dance by the second- and third-graders.

“We began planning this in the beginning of February,” Emendorfer said. “With music class only once a week, you have to start early.”

The tradition of the Davis Olympics, which began in 1996, has continued to gain community and school support. Emendorfer said the opening ceremonies often rely  on the help of parent volunteers, donors and the school’s Teacher and Parents Group (TAP).

“We have a lot of donors who help fund the cost of the event,” Emendorfer said. “Our

TAP Group helped raise the money to get each kid a T-shirt, which was a couple thousand dollars.”

The opening ceremonies were just the beginning. Today, Wednesday and Thursday are track and field days for the students to participate in games-like activities.

“There’s not a focus on winning or losing,” Emendorfer said. “Each child will receive a medal for participating.”

Emendorfer said she felt relieved and excited once the opening ceremony had finished and the games could begin the next day.

“The kids are real excited to start the games, and I’m excited for them,” Emendorfer said. “They rehearsed for months (for today), and they never got tired of it.”

Parents and community members are invited to watch the children today, Wednesday and Thursday at the Raider Athletic Complex. For more information, call the school at (269) 423-6950.