AUBG Olympics Hosts First-Ever Fall Olympic Days
“We made the impossible possible.” That is how Constantina Georgieva, Vice President of the AUBG Olympics, described the first-ever AUBG Olympics weekend to be held in the fall semester.
The unprecedented circumstances caused by the global pandemic were a challenge for the Olympics crew. “We had to figure out how to incorporate the safety measures and protocols without disrupting the sports too much,” Georgieva said. “What is more, going up to your friends and peers and reminding them to comply with the rules while having fun was not enjoyable but was essential in order to ensure the safety of all attendees.”
The traditional fire-lighting at the Opening ceremony on Thursday evening marked the start of the sports event. RJC, Broadway performance Club and the aspiring singer Stella Gurtsilidu all performed at the ceremony.
Over the weekend, the participants competed in 16 disciplines. Soccer, dodgeball, volleyball, tug of war, arm wrestling and long jump were among the activities students, alumni, staff, faculty and locals took part in.
This year’s special guest at the Olympics was Tervel Pulev. He is a three-time European medalist and a bronze-decorated boxer at the 2012 Olympic games. The renowned Bulgarian athlete awarded the winners of each discipline.
“The sports spirit and the AUBG spirit are still on campus,” said Nikola Stanimirov, President of the AUBG Olympics. “Everybody can feel it - students, staff, faculty, alumni, all of us.”
“We want to thank everyone who attended [and] complied with the safety measures and protocols, the boys and girls who showed up on time and were patient,” said Georgi Staykov, AUBG student and part of the AUBG Olympics crew.