Sports Day: A Collection of Poster Design and Motif Ideas

Keyboard playerSAKI
I’ve been playing the Electone since I was six, mainly performing Disney music, anime songs, and music from dramas and films. I post performance videos on YouTube and social media, and I also give concerts. Building on my Electone experience, I took up synthesizer and piano during my student years and performed at school-sponsored events. As a writer, I’ve covered not only music-related topics but a wide range of genres, so I hope to draw on my experience to deliver articles that make readers think, “I want to try that!” or “I want to listen to that!”
A Vocaloid producer who is also a music writerAraki Jakkan
I’ve worked in a variety of roles—regardless of pro or amateur settings—including live event PA, cameraman for video and photography, restaurant staff, and logistics center staff. I now spend my days as a part-time writer. I’ve contributed to music and manga websites with feature/review articles, and wrote the liner notes included as a bonus for 1st PLACE Inc.’s “IA SUPER BEST.” As for my music background, I started playing guitar in junior high and focused on band activities during my school years. For over 15 years since then, up to the present, I’ve continued releasing original tracks as a Vocaloid producer. My areas of expertise are Japanese rock, Vocaloid, and manga.

Once the practice for the sports day starts, you can’t help wondering, “How many people will come to watch on the actual day?” For some, the more spectators and the more attention they get, the more motivated they become.

In this article, we’re introducing ideas for poster motifs—an essential item to promote your sports day to different audiences! We’ve gathered ideas that will help when you’re asked by your school to design a poster or when you want to submit a design for a contest.

Be sure to read to the end!

[Sports Day] Collection of Poster Design and Motif Ideas (21–30)

God of War

Let your imagination expand and start drawing! Here are some ideas for depicting gods of war.

How about drawing deities based on Japanese mythology? Among the posts, we see illustrations of Amaterasu Ōmikami, the sun goddess who symbolizes light, compassion, and truth—held as the most revered deity and the ancestral figure of the Imperial Family.

Try creating your own interpretation with respect, through choices like color palettes, clothing design, facial expressions, and hairstyles.

When you draw with a clear theme, origin, and meaning, it may help students more easily appreciate the appeal of the artwork.

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Sky and the Whale

Ignite your imagination! Here are ideas featuring the sky and whales.

Are you one of many who can’t decide on a design? These are dynamic design ideas we highly recommend.

A student wearing a headband and gym uniform is looking up at the sky from inside a stadium.

In the clear blue weather, a whale is swimming upward between large white clouds.

The text is rendered in blue and white, giving the overall design a cohesive and striking color scheme.

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shark

Bold design is the highlight! Here’s a shark-themed idea.

The design of a shark leaping from choppy water is striking, isn’t it? The light effect that looks like rays shining down will also leave a strong impression on viewers.

It’s also great how the color of the shark’s heart is linked to the lettering to match the slogan, “Ishin-denshin — Our Bond Is Flawless.” This is an idea worth referencing when combining a slogan with a motif.

Definitely give it a try.

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RPG-style

An RPG-style poster is a unique and cool idea that transforms a sports day or athletic festival into a grand adventure.

If you portray the entire class as characters like heroes, mages, warriors, and clerics, and depict them as a party aiming for victory by defeating rivals, it will boost team unity.

Listing items such as “Friendship,” “Grit,” and “Speed” in an inventory section creates a strong game-like feel.

The narrative of joining forces as comrades-in-arms will fire up the hearts of viewers.

It will truly be a poster that challenges the final boss known as Victory.

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Cobra

A cobra-themed poster is a cool and striking idea that exudes a sharp presence at school sports days and athletic festivals.

The image of a cobra, securing its prey with piercing eyes and fluid movements, symbolizes quiet determination and explosive speed, mirroring a class that unleashes its power at decisive moments.

By highlighting an intimidating pose and venomous colors to enhance intensity, you can leave a powerful impression on opposing teams.

It’s a poster that conveys a calm yet unyielding will that never lets a targeted victory slip away.

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motorcycle

How about using a motorcycle as the motif for a cool poster that will stand out at a sports day or athletic festival? It can create an overwhelming sense of speed and impact.

By depicting a bike racing forward with dust swirling and the rider cutting through the wind, you can express your class’s determination to compete faster and hotter than anyone else.

Infuse individuality into the machine and rider designs, and you can clearly showcase your team’s identity.

Why not capture that spirit of going all-out from start to finish in your poster and race through sports day?

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pixel art style

A pixel-art-style poster design that incorporates a game-like world view sparks a playful spirit and turns the sports festival into an adventure.

By composing the entire piece in dot art and turning the students into characters, you can create the feeling that they’re taking on roles like hero, mage, or fighter and battling it out.

If you place courses and obstacles against a stage-like background, the festival will look like a level from a game, doubling the excitement of the events.

Finishing the title in a logo style that mimics old game packaging will further enhance the overall quality.

This design not only depicts winning and losing but also challenges and growth, emphasizing that everyone who participates is a protagonist.

It will be a creative piece that even those who aren’t fans of games can enjoy.

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