International Sports Day

Yesterday was International Sports Day. Seven Dutch universities with international programs akin to ours, descended upon Delft for a day of activities and a night of celebrations. There were eight sports: soccer, volleyball, basketball, running, darts, chess, table tennis, and badminton. There was extra pressure on us this year since not only were we the hosts, but it is the 50th anniversary of the institute (yeah, not all the athletes are number 50).

I wasn't supposed to participate. From the moment that I arrived at the TU-Delft sportscenter everyone began to ask me why I wasn't participating. I had to be very diplomatic with the answer. I would tell people that I had intended to play on the woman's soccer team, but since our match had been taken off the schedule (well, it actually hadn't been put on the schedule, there is no Title IX here) and the men's team had already been chosen, I didn't play. And the running team had already been set. The truth is that I didn't make the cut (I think). I'm actually glad that I didn't play because I didn't like the format. The matches were only 10 minutes each.

So I brought some gym clothes with anyway. And books. The plan was to either work or play. During the lunch break was the running. We went to watch. As the runners were lining up for the 1200m, I asked why there wasn't a woman running for IHE. The coach said that our runner had been injured. So I offered to run. After a three minute warm up I did. I placed 2nd. Out of three. Apparently I had a nice sprint at the end. I don't remember my time, but I don't think it was at all impressive. I've discovered that I am not a sprinter. It took about two hours for me to breathe normally after the race. And I got a t-shirt.

But I feel that my participation was crucial (but not critical). IHE placed first in running. It turns out that we placed first in half the events. TU-Delft place first in the other half. But at the end of the day it was all about the seconds. We won the cup! But we didn't know that until the party. There is always a party. This one was a bit different because we actually got to socialize with the other students. But everyone was tired and had to head back to other parts of Holland. The party at IHE wound down about midnight. So we had another party in Mina. But I didn't stay for too long because I was tired and sore (not from the running, but from last weeks capoiera class).

At least one team I support has something to cheer about this week.