SDG3
NCKU Sports Year Kicks Off with the Thrilling “Mixed Relay Race”
Written by Hsu Tsu-Yueh. Image credit to NCKU News Center.
The Physical Education Office at National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) is dedicated to encouraging faculty, staff, and students to actively participate in sports, fostering camaraderie, and promoting physical well-being. This year, the university launches the “NCKU Sports Year.” NCKU aims to bring the campus community together through a year-long series of athletic events, advocate for a healthy lifestyle, and cultivate teamwork across disciplines. The “Mixed Relay Race” kicked off the initiative, which received an enthusiastic response from the moment registration opened. A total of 28 teams signed up, showcasing the NCKU community’s passion for sports. The finals on March 13th saw eight teams competing fiercely for the championship. President Meng-Ru Shen expressed strong support for the event, attending both the preliminaries and the finals. He fired the starting pistol and presented the awards, adding to the thrilling atmosphere of the competition.
President Shen encouraged the participants during the preliminaries and shared the core idea behind the “Mixed Relay Race.” He pointed out that one of the most important concepts today is “interdisciplinary.” This idea goes beyond academic courses—it brings together students from different fields, helping them connect and communicate with each other. To encourage this, the event required each team to have members from at least three distinct colleges, creating more opportunities for students to make new friends. President Shen expressed his hope that in the future, students would not only be seen running across campus to get to class but also to build new friendships. Before presenting the awards at the finals, he shared that he was deeply moved by the smiles on the participants’ faces. He wished that when everyone looked back on memories at NCKU, they would remember the clear blue sky as they ran across the field. He also emphasized the importance of staying healthy and encouraged participants to share their feedback and suggestions with the university, so the event can continue to improve and attract even more students in the future.
The NCKU Physical Education Office stated that as the first event of the Sports Year, the “Mixed Relay Race” had a high entry requirement—each team needed to include members from at least three different colleges and consist of 20 participants (10 men and 10 women). Despite these conditions, an impressive 28 teams signed up, demonstrating the intense enthusiasm for sports among NCKU students and faculty. The office also expressed special thanks to the university's track and field team for their full support, which helped ensure the smooth running of this event.
A team made up of students from the Departments of Chinese Literature, Hydraulic and Ocean Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and Electrical Engineering shared their experience of preparing for the race. They emphasized the importance of constant communication, encouraging one another, and building confidence as a team. One of the most touching moments came when the team chose to have their final runner be a student with ankylosing spondylitis, who initially didn’t believe they could participate. This decision showcased the team’s unity and trust. They thought that every runner brought something unique to the team, and as long as they kept passing the baton, they would make it to the finish line together. The team also kept their teachers’ words in mind: “Never give up until you cross the finish line” and “When faced with a challenge, find a way to solve it.” They expressed their gratitude to the university for organizing such an exciting event and hoped it would continue in the future. To them, this race proved that NCKU is a top academic institution and a place where sports and athletics thrive.
The “Student Dormitory United” team members shared their thoughts on the race: “As long as everyone does their part, gives their best, and creates their own memories, that makes for a perfect relay.” Team members expressed their appreciation for President Shen’s efforts to promote the event and for the hard work of the Physical Education Office in organizing it. They hoped that through activities like this, the NCKU community would grow even closer and that the spirit of sports would take root, eventually becoming a part of everyday life for everyone.
The first-ever “Mixed Relay Race” received overwhelmingly positive feedback from participants. Some students even suggested adding more awards in the future, such as creativity prizes, in addition to increasing the competition prize pool, to make the event even more exciting. To recognize the efforts of the finalists, the university prepared special rewards for the eight teams that made it to the finals. The NCKU Physical Education Office hopes that this energetic and team-driven competition will inspire more people to enjoy sports while strengthening teamwork and friendships across campus.
Provider: NCKU News Center
Date: 2025-04-14
The Physical Education Office at National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) is dedicated to encouraging faculty, staff, and students to actively participate in sports, fostering camaraderie, and promoting physical well-being. This year, the university launches the “NCKU Sports Year.” NCKU aims to bring the campus community together through a year-long series of athletic events, advocate for a healthy lifestyle, and cultivate teamwork across disciplines. The “Mixed Relay Race” kicked off the initiative, which received an enthusiastic response from the moment registration opened. A total of 28 teams signed up, showcasing the NCKU community’s passion for sports. The finals on March 13th saw eight teams competing fiercely for the championship. President Meng-Ru Shen expressed strong support for the event, attending both the preliminaries and the finals. He fired the starting pistol and presented the awards, adding to the thrilling atmosphere of the competition.
President Shen encouraged the participants during the preliminaries and shared the core idea behind the “Mixed Relay Race.” He pointed out that one of the most important concepts today is “interdisciplinary.” This idea goes beyond academic courses—it brings together students from different fields, helping them connect and communicate with each other. To encourage this, the event required each team to have members from at least three distinct colleges, creating more opportunities for students to make new friends. President Shen expressed his hope that in the future, students would not only be seen running across campus to get to class but also to build new friendships. Before presenting the awards at the finals, he shared that he was deeply moved by the smiles on the participants’ faces. He wished that when everyone looked back on memories at NCKU, they would remember the clear blue sky as they ran across the field. He also emphasized the importance of staying healthy and encouraged participants to share their feedback and suggestions with the university, so the event can continue to improve and attract even more students in the future.
The NCKU Physical Education Office stated that as the first event of the Sports Year, the “Mixed Relay Race” had a high entry requirement—each team needed to include members from at least three different colleges and consist of 20 participants (10 men and 10 women). Despite these conditions, an impressive 28 teams signed up, demonstrating the intense enthusiasm for sports among NCKU students and faculty. The office also expressed special thanks to the university's track and field team for their full support, which helped ensure the smooth running of this event.
A team made up of students from the Departments of Chinese Literature, Hydraulic and Ocean Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and Electrical Engineering shared their experience of preparing for the race. They emphasized the importance of constant communication, encouraging one another, and building confidence as a team. One of the most touching moments came when the team chose to have their final runner be a student with ankylosing spondylitis, who initially didn’t believe they could participate. This decision showcased the team’s unity and trust. They thought that every runner brought something unique to the team, and as long as they kept passing the baton, they would make it to the finish line together. The team also kept their teachers’ words in mind: “Never give up until you cross the finish line” and “When faced with a challenge, find a way to solve it.” They expressed their gratitude to the university for organizing such an exciting event and hoped it would continue in the future. To them, this race proved that NCKU is a top academic institution and a place where sports and athletics thrive.
The “Student Dormitory United” team members shared their thoughts on the race: “As long as everyone does their part, gives their best, and creates their own memories, that makes for a perfect relay.” Team members expressed their appreciation for President Shen’s efforts to promote the event and for the hard work of the Physical Education Office in organizing it. They hoped that through activities like this, the NCKU community would grow even closer and that the spirit of sports would take root, eventually becoming a part of everyday life for everyone.
The first-ever “Mixed Relay Race” received overwhelmingly positive feedback from participants. Some students even suggested adding more awards in the future, such as creativity prizes, in addition to increasing the competition prize pool, to make the event even more exciting. To recognize the efforts of the finalists, the university prepared special rewards for the eight teams that made it to the finals. The NCKU Physical Education Office hopes that this energetic and team-driven competition will inspire more people to enjoy sports while strengthening teamwork and friendships across campus.
Provider: NCKU News Center
Date: 2025-04-14
The Mixed Relay Race drew enthusiastic participation from students and faculty, showcasing NCKU's passion for sports.
NCKU President Meng-Ru Shen attended both the preliminaries and finals, firing the starting pistol and presenting awards.
As the opening event of the Sports Year, the Mixed Relay Race saw participants take off with excitement and determination.
Participants showcase their passion and creativity during the race.
The event received high praise, with participants thanking the university for organizing such an exciting competition and hoping it continues in the future.
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