Wonderful sports day / athletic festival

[Make Sports Day More Approachable!] Unique Event Names: Fun Competition Titles by Category

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.
Editor-in-Chief, RAG MUSICHane Keisuke
Editor-in-chief of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. After working in a music studio and handling wedding sound, joined the RAG MUSIC editorial team in 2016. Experienced with a variety of instruments: marching band in elementary school, clarinet in junior high school wind ensemble, and drums in a band from high school onward. Drawing on my own musical activities and the experience gained through my work, I produce daily articles, including various song introductions, features on music festivals around the country, and live reports. In music, I enjoy not only rock from Japan and abroad but, lately, a wide range of J-pop as well.

Sports festivals are one of the big events for students, aren’t they?

And even among working adults, there are people who join company or community sports days and enjoy them just like students do.

Did you know that lately some sports day events have been given amusing names?

In this article, we’ll introduce a variety of humor-filled, unique event names—from ones that make you chuckle to cleverly crafted titles that are truly impressive.

Teachers and organizing committee members who are deciding on sports day event names, please feel free to use these as inspiration.

We hope this helps make your sports day even more exciting.

Running events (11–20)

Borrowed-Mon GO! (Borrowed Item/Person Race)

With a name that playfully riffs on the game Pokémon GO, it instantly captivates the crowd and fits perfectly for a borrowing race.

The sight of participants dashing off to find designated items or people evokes the feel of a city-wandering game, which is exactly the point.

The unpredictable twists—what kind of borrowed items will appear for each prompt—are part of the event’s charm.

Incorporating design elements on the poster that evoke a game-like map or capture screen will further convey the worldbuilding.

In this event, where searching, running, and handing off all demand humor and quick thinking, it’s a great idea to add a game-like sense of fun to a sports day.

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No running for 〇〇 meters (〇-meter run)

It’s an event name that seems to incorporate the distinctive speech style of Funassyi, the unofficial mascot of Funabashi City in Chiba Prefecture.

While it’s a simple format that just adds an ending to the running distance, it clearly conveys that it’s inspired by Funassyi.

Speaking of Funassyi, its intense, almost eccentric movements and high energy are a big part of its appeal, so just evoking Funassyi instantly communicates a high level of excitement.

It’s a name that conjures up Funassyi’s image and creates a sense of familiarity, while also boosting the motivation to approach the competition with a fun mindset.

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UFO

[2024 Saga Girls’ High School Sports Festival] Event name: UFO. Carry a balance ball on your back in a relay! The direction you run will determine the outcome!

UFO

A team competition where all participants form a shape like a UFO and work together.

Its unique rule is to carry a large balance ball on their backs without dropping it.

Several people stand in a circle, back to back, supporting the ball and moving forward while calling out to one another, creating a scene that looks like a UFO floating in the air.

Because it requires cooperation and a sense of balance, it’s enjoyable for everyone regardless of age or fitness level.

People naturally speak up and smile more, and the team’s sense of unity grows stronger.

Even those who aren’t good at sports can shine, and everyone shares a strong feeling of accomplishment when it’s over.

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One hundred times the energy! Anpanran!

This is the name of a relay event based on a familiar phrase.

It evokes the image of moving with boundless energy like Anpanman, lifting participants’ spirits.

You can also enhance the event with playful touches, such as using a medley of Anpanman songs as background music during the competition.

Adding smiling characters and a design brimming with energy to the poster will help convey a lively mood to the entire student body.

With a name that combines both fun and approachability, it’s a perfect event title to energize the sports day.

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Be yourself—let it go!

The event name is inspired by “Let It Go” from the worldwide hit film Frozen, and it centers on the theme of taking on challenges while valuing your true self.

It’s a perfect title for activities where individuality shines, such as dance or obstacle courses.

It also pairs well with performances that incorporate free-form movement and unique costumes, letting participants enjoy not only running but also the joy of self-expression.

By playing background music during the event or adding decorations featuring snowflake motifs, you can create a magical atmosphere.

Rather than focusing on winning or losing, sharing the fun of moving as your heart leads will make it a more memorable event for the sports day.

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The Borrowed Item and Person Relay

A naming idea for a borrowing race that you can enjoy while imagining the popular Sumikko Gurashi characters in a gentle, heartwarming world.

It eases the tension of competition and creates a charming atmosphere where both participants and spectators can watch with warm feelings.

By adding clever twists to the prompts and the traits of the people to be “borrowed,” a story emerges, as if the characters are setting off to find a place that feels right for them.

If you use costumes and decorations to express the world, the entire event will feel like a single story.

Though it’s a race, it’s an idea full of kindness that everyone can enjoy, adding warmth and humor to a sports day.

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Tug-of-war (11–20)

Next up are some unique event names recommended for tug-of-war.

Many borrow from anime and drama titles or famous lines, which makes them feel familiar and fun.

There are some with a grand, epic vibe, too! A title that makes you chuckle can change how the sport feels, and might make it easier for people who aren’t confident in athletics to give it a try.

It would be great if the team could unite around event names that highlight teamwork while letting each person feel like the star.

Tug of War (1–10)

Your rope

This one is inspired by director Makoto Shinkai’s smash-hit anime film “Your Name.” How about changing the “ha” to “wa” and turning it into “Kimi no Nawa,” then using it as the name of a tug-of-war event? It keeps the same pronunciation but changes the writing—a uniquely clever title.

It might even fire up the participants, with a rallying cry like, “It’s not your rope, it’s our rope!”

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