Students go for gold at soccer Olympics
Tue 03 June 2008
Benn Dorrington, Journalism
With the Beijing Olympics looming, University of the Sunshine Coast students teamed up to play each other in their own Soccer Olympics.
Over 200 people turned up as the eight teams of students played six-a-side in the first ever USC Soccer Olympics o May 22, 2008.
The games were hard and fast as high-energy dance music, provided by the Red Frog crew, made the event pulsate with adrenaline.
Spectator Lisa Campbell said the event was far greater than she had expected.
“The games were so much fun, I would definitely play next time if they have them again,” Miss Campbell said.
With two games playing at all times, spectators and other teams were treated to a constant flow of highly-competitive 20-minute games.
Finally the competition whittled away the eight teams to just two.
Winning team ‘Sebastian’s Team’ won the championship by one goal in an intense final match. After two close rounds of overtime, Sebastian’s Team was victorious with the last goal resulting in a 5-4 win against the Melloonas.
The first ever Soccer Olympics, a student initiative, was hailed as a success by all who were part of the event. Food and drinks were provided along with pumping music for the players and spectators.
Event planners Pal Vangstein, Alicia Dent and Lisa Kulpa said the event began as an assignment for their USC event management course. Miss Dent said that the event’s turnout surprised the group and went much further than expected.
“I think the turnout was awesome ... Being aware that everyone had a good time and really enjoyed themselves that was the best bit,” she said.
“I was amazed at how many people we actually got participating. I would definitely do it again given the opportunity, because you learn so much”
The group organised the event as a purely theoretical assignment but after seeing its real potential, followed it through with impressive results. With the main goal to improve uni students’ lives, this amateur event could grow to one of cult status for students.
USC’s sport department played little part in the event’s planning but gave their complete support. Miss Kulpa said that although the group would be going their own ways, she would still want the event to carry on next semester through either students or the sports department.
“I've actually seen some of the players after the event and was asked when the next competition would be.”
USC offers a variety of other competitions like the University games, a national event involving universities from around the country. Locally the Red Shield Games and other groups provide students with the active lifestyle that many want.
The future of USC’s Soccer Olympics is bright as the organisers and players of the event believe the event could carry on annually. Olympic records may not be made in the Soccer Olympics but the event will definitely guarantee students a fun and healthy time out from study in the future.
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