The winners: (From left) Jonathan Doyle, Matthew Luckay, and Londani Kwinda received medals for their participation in the Mini Olympic Games.

Olympic fever hit the UCT Educare Centre on 22 August when the little ones staged a much scaled-down Games of their own.

Unlike the South African team in Beijing, who managed only one medal between them, all 50 young athletes at the Educare event took home a medal. The children were also taught about the origins and history of the Olympic Games, and about the host nation China. The event was part of "a learning that goes beyond the classroom" to make children aware of what was happening around the world, says teacher Desray Ferhelst.

Then they took part in different sporting codes, which included everything from running to jumping and crawling.

"This was important because kids are familiar with the sports champions," Ferhelst explained. "They know who Natalie du Toit is, they know who Mbulelo Malaudzi is. And they (the children) are the future stars of this country."

The centre has held similar events in the past to coincide with marquee occasions such as the Rugby and Cricket World Cups, Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday party and the elections.