COBIS Games

This event is open to all COBIS accredited member schools.  Teams should be formed of between 12 and 20 students in Years 5 and 6 (including a minimum of 6 Boys and 6 Girls). For the 2026 competition, the boys' and girls' teams will each take part in athletics, basketball and football. There will also be the opportunity to participate in a Charity Swim, see the handbook for further details.

There are 20 school team places available; the following places are pre-allocated (please note the previous host and winner must still register if they wish to be allocated a place):

• The host school of the COBIS Primary Games 2024 (Braeburn Mombasa International School).
• The host of COBIS Secondary Games 2026 (British School of Vilnius).
• The winners of the last in-person Primary Games (St. Saviour’s School Ikoyi).

In the case of oversubscription, where a higher number of schools have registered than places available, COBIS will conduct a random lottery draw with all other registered schools, to allocate the remaining places.

The cost is 2000 RMB per student based upon at least 12 and a maximum of 20 students (approximately £210 per person based upon the exchange rate at the time of publication). This cost is inclusive of 3 teachers accompanying the team. N.B. The cost excludes accommodation and travel to and from the host country and accommodation in the host country.

If fewer than 7 schools sign up, the Games may not be financially viable and may be cancelled, therefore schools must not make any arrangements to travel or book accommodation until delivery has been formally confirmed.

Please use this online form to register your school for the Games.

Registration will close on Wednesday 26 November 2025.

Download the Games Handbook for full information about the Games. The schedule will be available once places have been confirmed, and the number of participating schools is known.

Download the Handbook 

Participating schools must not make any arrangements to travel to Haikou or book accommodation until the delivery of the Games has formally been confirmed. COBIS will make this announcement as soon as all payments have been received. Transport to Haikou, Meilan Airport, Hainan is the individual responsibility of all participating schools; you will be asked to inform us of your flight details by 1 February 2026. Recommendations for places to stay will be added here once delivery has been confirmed.

Visas

Haikou is a visa free destination for many counties. This is dependent on the first point of entry into China being Hainan. It is not possible to combine other visa free travel policies in China to avoid transit visa requirements when seeking to use visa free policies to enter Hainan. This is because transit within China is domestic rather than international transit. Further details are available from Policy Interpretation_National Immigration administration.

Participating schools may choose to bring spectators to the COBIS Primary Games. They are invited to the Opening Ceremony, individual sporting events, the medal ceremonies, and the closing ceremony. Spectators are not allowed to travel on the team transportation buses and will not be allowed to take part in evening entertainment.

Download Terms and Conditions

Download the Student Code of Conduct  

COBIS and the host school reserve the right to cancel this event if insufficient bookings are received, or if travel to the host country becomes inadvisable.

Schools must take out the appropriate insurance policies in order to attend the Games; the policy should include cancellation, travel and medical insurance as well as anything else as required by your school or region