Sports across national borders
Athletes treasure the time playing sports overseas
by Teresa Fung
“About 80 students from the Peking University and the National Taiwan University recently skipped lectures and stayed at The Chinese University of Hong Kong for an inter-university competition for a week.
“I am a final year student. I had to skip many lectures in both major and elective courses,” said Miss Zhu You Chen, the captain of Peking University’s women’s volleyball team.
Besides skipping lectures, athletes from the three universities devoted much time preparing the inter-mural friendly matchup.
Although skipping lectures for frequent practices affected the students’ studies, most of the teams still maintained extra practices, and some even had intensive training every day. All of them claimed that it was worth sacrificing for the competition.
“What we gained outweighs what we lost,” said Mr. Sun Yun Xiang, captain of Peking University’s basketball team. “We skipped lectures and devoted our time in this event, but we can compensate by studying harder when we return to Beijing. However, we will definitely regret it if we do not take part, as we may not have another chance again.”
According to the athletes, the competition allowed them to improve their skills. Mr. Chong Kin, a football team member at The Chinese University, revealed, “Besides competing with the local universities, we would like to know the standard outside Hong Kong.”
Above: Athletes claimed that it was worth the sacrifice to participate in the competitions.
Apart from gaining experience from the matches, the athletes from Beijing and Taiwan intended to get a thorough understanding about Hong Kong and its people.
Said Mr. Ran Zheng, a Peking University basketball team member: “I am interested in observing Hong Kong society before 1997. With a new political environment after that, society may change.” Before visiting Hong Kong, most of the overseas athletes had only a vague understanding about Hong Kong through films and television programs.
“The television programs always describe Hong Kong as highly modernized and Westernized,” Miss Zhu from Beijing said. “People here work quickly and even walk quickly.”
Peking University’s athletes were deeply impressed by the nighttime view sof Hong Kong.
“Night views of Hong Kong are very appealing,” Mr. Sun said. “The colourful neon lights of buildings make the night as flourish as the day.
“In Beijing, the electricity supply stops after 11 o’clock every night. Therefore, we do not have the chance to see such bright and pleasant harbour views,” he added.
Besides being strongly impressed by Hong Kong, the overseas athletes all had deep feelings about The Chinese University.
Mr. Tony Tao, the captain of the Peking University’s football team, said, “Being further away from the hustle and bustle environment of the business and industrial districts, the Chinese University is surrounded by a peaceful atmosphere.”
Moreover, the athletes enjoyed shopping in Hong Kong. Within a week, they had visited Mong Kok, Tsim Sha Tsui, Sha Tin, Yau Ma Tei, Causeway Bay and Central.
They bought many souvenirs for themselves as well as their parents, relatives and friends. Clothing, watches, electronic products and cosmetics were their favourites. However, they had different opinions about the prices.
“The products in Hong Kong are quite expensive,” said Mr. Gan Lian, vice-captain of Peking University’s football team. “Spending money here is just like giving away papers. So, we only aim at buying something special in Hong Kong.”
On the contrary, National Taiwan University’s students regarded Hong Kong as the “shopping paradise”.
“The goods here are much cheaper than in Taiwan, especially clothes and electronic products,” Mr. Jiang said.
Above all, the athletes from Beijing and Taiwan claimed that they most treasured the friendships shared among the three universities’ students.
After a week’s stay at The Chinese University, they had built close and friendly relationships with the student helpers there. Even at midnight, they chatted or even went out for supper together.
“It is an excellent opportunity to make friends with students from prestigious overseas universities,” Mr. Clement Lam, a Chinese University student helper, said. “By exchanging ideas, I can understand more about China and the lifestyle there.”
However, the friendships were not built up easily.
Miss Zhu said, “To my surprise, some Chinese University students do not know Mandarin. Therefore, the communication is hindered to a certain extent.”
Internal relationships were also strengthened among the National Taiwan University’s athletes during the matches.
Said Mr. Jiang: “The cheerleaders acted as a unifying agent among us, as we cheer in high spirits together. Students from different teams of our university have become good friends.”
The strengthening relationship among students from the three universities was best shown in the farewell party. All the athletes participated enthusiastically in the performances and games. Some of them sang while others acted in dramas. Besides, they exchanged addresses with each other and shared experience about their matches and their living styles. Laughter filled the gymnasium with a harmonious and united atmosphere and ended the friendly competition between the three universities.
