There was fierce but friendly competition during Exercise Kakadu's sports day event, with international participants demonstrating how athletic events transcend language and build camaraderie across cultures.
More than 20 nations were represented, with teams competing to win the coveted Kakadu Sports Day Perpetual Shield across three events: the Ninja Challenge Cup (an on-water obstacle course), indoor soccer, and indoor beach volleyball.
Warrant Officer Corey Short, physical training instructor and event director, said the day allowed participants to integrate and communicate at a level everyone could understand.
"Having a sports day during the harbour phase of Exercise Kakadu is really important as it fosters camaraderie," he said.
"Sport is a great moderator and equaliser. When we are playing sport, we only see people as players and sportspeople."
Amid the team cheers, national flags were raised and anthems sung, as the events played out at locations including the Darwin Waterfront Precinct and Top End Indoor Sports Centre.
'Having a sports day during the harbour phase of Exercise Kakadu is really important as it fosters camaraderie.'
Spectators strolled along the waterfront and found themselves caught up in the atmosphere and excitement as teams battled it out on the obstacle course.
Members from HMAS Coonawarra, HMAS Warramunga and a team of gap year members represented the Royal Australian Navy, but didn't bring the sports day shield home.
That honour went to Indonesia, while the individual trophies went to Malaysia's 'Marlin Ninjas' for the Ninja Cup Challenge, France's 'Les Frenchies' for the soccer, and Indonesia's 'Guns and Roses' came out on top in volleyball.
Lieutenant Lane Wilson, a logistics officer at Coonawarra, was thrilled to be a part of the event and to connect with members from other nations.
"We are more than our jobs on the ships, so it's great to meet other sailors and aviators from other countries and share our cultures, commonalities and passion for sport," Lieutenant Wilson said.
For Kakadu Exercise Director Captain David Tietzel, the sports day and cultural event - held later that evening - were the perfect way to wrap up the harbour phase of the exercise before sending ships off to sea.
"We share a common language of the ocean, but English is a second language for many of the nations here, so getting out and engaging in that competitive sporting culture we foster, and then having the cultural festival allows everyone to form friendships that they can take with them back home," Captain Tietzel said.
