Successful Sports Day at the Silesian University of Technology
In a sporty and extremely positive atmosphere, in fantastic weather, several hundred people took part in the Sports Day of the Silesian University of Technology, which took place on the 7th of May at the Sports Centre facilities.
It was a special Sports Day for many reasons. It was organized in the year of the 80th anniversary of the Silesian University of Technology, with many attractions, new competitions, and great interest. The official opening of the event was attended by, among others, the rector authorities of the Silesian University of Technology.
- “We are at this University to study and work, but also, first and foremost, to lead our daily life. Parts of it are also recreation and sport, which are included in our study programmes. Young people have the opportunity to sign up for many sports sections and use sports infrastructure. Their interest in sports is also proven by their successes. Our students gain academic laurels in Silesia, but also in national and international arenas” - explains the Rector of the Silesian University of Technology, Prof. Dr Hab. Eng. Marek Pawełczyk, who admitted that he likes to practice table tennis on a daily basis. – “I had a lot of sports interests as a student”. - “Very quickly I signed up to the sports section and in the hall where we inaugurated the Sports Day, I trained four times a week for strength sports. I also joined table tennis section and this passion has remained with me to this day.”
In the artistic part of the official opening of the Sports Day, Grzegorz Rygulski, a student at the Faculty of Organization and Management, who in 2023 was a quarter-finalist of the Polish Freestyle Football Championship, presented his football skills.
Sports Day attracted hundreds of students who eagerly participated in almost thirty proposed activities. Traditional sports, such as table tennis, football, and basketball, were also accompanied by various creative competitions, such as the cycling obstacle course, horseshoe throw, sailing competition or dragging a rope. On that day, however, the results and the competition were not so important. The most important was the integration of students, also with scientists and employees of our University, as well as good fun.
- “It is extremely important that young people feel very well at our University and have the opportunity to spend beautiful moments in this place, for example on the occasion such as the Sports Day, during which, despite the upcoming exam session, attendance was spectacular. This is very important for us” - says the Vice-Rector for Student Affairs and Education Prof. Dr Hab. Eng. Anna Chrobok, who had the pleasure to give a signal to start the “Run in the helmet” of women, which for years has been organized throughout the country as part of the “Girls at the University of Technology” campaign of the Perspektywy Education Foundation. Over three hundred students participated in it, and Natalia Błachut from the Faculty of Architecture won.
- “Women are very important at our university. We are trying to promote STEM at the Silesian University of Technology. We run, among others, a project together with Stellantis and Perspektywy Education Foundation, in which we invite secondary school pupils to join us for workshops, promoting technical education among women. This symbolic run emphasised their presence at our University. I keep my fingers crossed for them” – adds Vice-Rector Anna Chrobok.
The organizers of the Sports Day made sure there were gifts for each participant of this event. Students collected blocks for completed competition, thanks to which they could receive a meal and a commemorative t-shirt.
– “Lots of smiling people, beautiful weather, huge interest in all disciplines – I am very pleased, because it is after all, for students we have been organizing this day for many years. We started running in a helmet because we wanted to remind the public of the idea of this run. More participants wanted to take part in the run than we expected. Sport is present at the Silesian University of Technology and although science is the most important for students, we are able to find talents in particular sports disciplines and achieve success by effectively competing with other universities” - says Prof. Krzysztof Czapla, director of the SUT Sports Centre.
