The starter's pistol cracked, colored smoke burst into the air, and the opening remarks gave way to the fifth Peking University HSBC Business School Sports Day. Under the spring sun, teams of students, faculty, and staff spread across the field, some wobbling on long boards, others sprinting around poles with a single stick, and a runner digging deep into the final stretch as her teammates shouted from the grass.

Nearly 1,000 people had gathered at the University Town Sports Center, a short walk from the PHBS campus. With 21 events on offer, some purely athletic, others more playful, participants moved between stations, competing, resting, and cheering in no fixed order.

Opening ceremony

Contingents march into the stadium

The reviewing stand

Professor Hai Wen fires the starter's pistol for the first race of the afternoon

The afternoon began with a march‑past. Contingents from the MA&PhD, MBA, EMBA, DBA, and EDP programs, as well as faculty and staff, filed into the stadium waving flags and chanting slogans. Some carried pom-poms and performed cheerleading routines; others coordinated simple dances. After a few brief speeches, Ren Ting, the school’s Party secretary and associate dean, emphasized the university’s belief that “complete character starts with sports” and expressed hope everyone would compete with style, skill, and joy.

Cheerleading routines

On the track, sprinters shot from the line, while longer races required patience as well as speed. Relays drew the loudest crowds: batons changed hands smoothly or not. Nearby, participants pulled hard on rowing machines as teammates counted down seconds.

Tug‑of‑war became a study in collective effort. Students and faculty members dug in their heels, faces reddening as the rope barely moved. In the frisbee accuracy contest, discs flew toward hoops; spectators held their breath until a clean shot drew applause.

Relay race

Tug-of-war

Whirlwind run

Penalty shootout

Frisbee accuracy contest

"Crossing the river together"

Other events required balance and speed. In the 'whirlwind run,' groups of six sprinted around poles, sometimes in sync, sometimes not. For 'crossing the river together,' teams stood on a single long board, lifting it in unison and chanted 'left, right' to move forward; laughter erupted when someone stumbled. The penalty shootout made amateur goalkeepers momentary heroes as phones captured misses and saves.

Scorekeeping volunteers

Emergency rescue station

Staff and volunteers

Off the field, the work was quieter. Volunteers handed out water and snacks. Medical staff kept ice packs ready. Registration assistants checked names and directed traffic. Between events, teammates huddled over strategy, while others simply sat on the grass, catching their breath and watching.

School leadership presents awards to winning teams

By late afternoon, results were in: the MA & PhD team won overall, followed by the faculty and MBA. In addition, the faculty received an award for outstanding organization. As the sun set, exhausted but smiling participants lingered, while group photos were taken and moments were replayed. Ultimately, the day proved that sport builds both strength and the bonds that hold a community together.

Participants pose for a final group photo

By Annie Jin