Any athlete or fan can tell you why he or she loves sports. The reasons vary, from answers like “They encourage us to try our best” to “They give me something to watch every day of the week.” Athletes and spectators alike become emotionally invested in sports not just because of the simple acts of throwing or catching a ball, but also because of what sports stand for.
So, every now and then, we need to step back and take a look at what sports can accomplish. Even on Grounds, various events are being organized as we speak to bring people together for great causes, and some of these use sports to accomplish that goal. While there are many fraternity and sorority charity events that fit this description, this column will shed light on two very different events at Virginia that use sports to foster philanthropy and friendship, respectively.
Lose the Shoes Barefoot Soccer Tournament
Mad Bowl will be busy Sept. 27, as it hosts the second annual Lose the Shoes tournament from 1-5 p.m. The tournament is as the name would suggest: barefoot soccer, played with a special, softer soccer ball. The games are played 3-on-3, and multiple fields are set up to allow for concurrent games. Last year’s tournament raised more than $3,000 after third-year College student Alex Beyard approached some friends with the idea, inspired by a non-profit organization called Grassroot Soccer.
The proceeds from the Lose the Shoes tournament are sent to Grassroot Soccer, whose mission statement is “Using the Power of Soccer in the Fight Against AIDS.” On the same day as the U.Va. tournament, other Lose the Shoes tournaments will be held at Brandeis University, Boston University and University of Wisconsin-Madison. These events are held across the country to benefit Grassroot Soccer, which works primarily in South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Simply put, the goal is to raise as much money as possible to fight AIDS in Africa.
The Lose the Shoes tournament is one of my favorite ways through which sports are used for a greater cause, because I love soccer, and I love the prospect of saving millions of lives. Somehow, I doubt I am alone in these feelings. And, I’m not, because third-year Commerce student co-founder Andy Roos feels the same way.
“The event is great because it brings a group of diverse people together for a fun afternoon in support of a good cause,” Roos said.
Prizes for the Lose the Shoes tournament include an iPod and University Bookstore gift certificates, and there will be live music, free food and T-shirts available for sale.
University of Virginia Tri-Service Olympics
Air Force, Army and Navy ROTC students at the University will come together Nov. 8 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. to participate in the inaugural Tri-Service Olympics. The event will be a mock Olympic games, complete with a number of athletic trials and medals for the top three finishers in all events. According to third-year College student Dante Earle, the event coordinator, only ROTC students are participating, but all students are encouraged to come to the events and cheer on their peers.
You may ask, why is this important? Well, it’s highly uncommon for the three ROTC groups to come together for a day of fun competition.
“The public generally associates the three services with having an overly competitive spirit,” Earle said. “However, the very act of putting this event on as a joint force speaks to the unity inherent to the military as seen in this microcosm of Air Force, Navy, and Army ROTC units here at U.Va.”
As far as details go, the events include 3-on-3 basketball, 5-on-5 indoor soccer, singles racquetball and 10 distance running events, from the 100m to the 5000m race. The track events will have separate medals for men and women, while basketball, racquetball and soccer will have one set of medals each. An opening ceremony will consist of a few statements recognizing the fellowship of the games and a Tri-Service drill demonstration. The locations for the events span Grounds and range from Slaughter Recreation Center to Lannigan Field.
You can expect all the events to be scheduled on military time, so if you plan on attending, don’t let the times of 1300 or 1700 fool you.
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