The 11th Zhihong International Summer School of Advanced Materials Successfully Holds the 3rd Fun Sports Day On the afternoon of July 21, 2026, the Fun Sports Day of the 11th Zhihong International Summer School of Advanced Materials kicked off at Zhiyong Natatorium on campus. More than thirty Chinese and international participants from various countries were divided into five mixed groups based on their research topics, with each group consisting of both Chinese and overseas students. Teams competed against others in five official events. All participants upheld the sportsmanship of "Friendship First, Competition Second". They collaborated closely and communicated with one another during fun team challenges, breaking down linguistic and geographical barriers to create a vibrant youthful memory that crosses national borders. The Fun Sports Day was hosted by Luo Xiaofu, student volunteer of the summer school.
The first competitive event was Standing Sticks. Six members from each group formed a circle, holding vertical poles only with their palms to complete clockwise position transfers. The challenge was completed only if the team finished 12 consecutive rounds without any pole falling. Every group concentrated and synchronized their steps to quickly get into rhythm, and Group 5 claimed first place in this event with perfectly coordinated teamwork.
The second event that followed was Ping Pong Ball Pickup Relay. Team members took turns using chopsticks to carry ping pong balls from a water bowl to a container at the finish line. If a ball dropped mid-transit, the participant’s turn ended immediately. Rankings were determined by the total number of successfully transported ping pong balls; teams with identical quantities were ranked by their total completion time. Players held their breath and stabilized their hands to carefully move the balls, and Group 3 delivered steady performance to earn the highest score for this round.
The third competition was Marble Run Journey. All team members lined up holding U-shaped tracks end to end, working together to deliver a marble from the starting point to a cup at the finish. Every time the marble fell off the track, an extra 5 seconds was added to the team’s total time. On the venue, participants rapidly adjusted their positions and connected tracks to form a smooth delivery passage, making every effort to minimize marble drops. Group 5 secured the top rank of this event with seamless and consistent marble transportation.
The fourth official event was Tower Stacking Challenge. Team members pulled ropes together to lift blocks with hooks, carried them to the designated area, and stacked four blocks vertically. The tower had to remain standing for 10 seconds after stacking to mark a successful challenge. All teams divided labor and collaborated steadily to finish the stacking task.
The fifth event was Stepping Stones River Crossing. Six team members per group stood on foam pads and passed the spare pad forward repeatedly to move ahead. No participant’s feet were allowed to touch the ground at any time, and any rule violation required the whole team to restart from the beginning. All competitors advanced steadily and passed the foam pads in order, coordinating as a team to move forward efficiently.
After all five events concluded, a unified scoring system was applied: the 1st place of each event gained 5 points, 2nd place 4 points, 3rd place 3 points, 4th place 2 points, and 5th place 1 point. The final rankings of the Fun Sports Day were confirmed as follows: Group 5 with 19 points, Group 2 with 16 points, Group 4 with 15 points, Group 1 with 12 points, and Group 3 with 12 points. At the end of the competition, the organizer presented customized prizes to all teams in accordance with the final rankings to recognize their perseverance and teamwork. The 3rd Fun Sports Day of Zhihong International Summer School came to a successful close. Adhering to the distinctive model of "Fun Sports + Cross-border Team Collaboration", the event balanced entertainment and team-building tests. It enabled students from all countries to release energy and strengthen their sense of collaboration through competitive races. By overcoming challenges side by side, participants broke language barriers and drew closer to each other, building a relaxed and friendly communication platform for the summer school. The activity received unanimous praise from all Chinese and international participants.
This passionate and heartwarming cross-cultural sports gala fully demonstrated the positive spirit of young scholars and added vivid youthful charm to this International Summer School of Advanced Materials.