Olympic Day Brings Out Our International Spirit

Oleg Serdyukov, the head of Physical Education and Sport for Belgorod Region, launched proceedings, which marked 125 years of the International Olympic Committee and the second modern Olympic Games. There was an Olympic Mile race, and a chance to exercise with Olympic champions, Sergey Merkulin and Anna Likhonina. Local young athletes from schools across the city demonstrated their prowess, and there was a concert for guests. Our 'BSU Lions' football team, made up of students from Iraq, Lebanon and Ecuador, entertained the crowds with their football skills, and the 'Wonder Team' dancers from Benin, Zambia, and Togo performed African dances. There was a dance-troupe made up of Uzbek students there as well. Indonesian students Bernardus Ani and Angelia Sara serenaded the audience with a rendition of 'A Million Dreams' from the film 'The Greatest Showman'. A flash-mob called 'Peace Sport Friendship' rounded off the day, along with a creative depiction of the Olympic Flag, the Olympic Rings, and the Russian flag, and a dove release. This impressed Dr Elena Nazarenko, Director of the Centre for Cross-Cultural Communication, who coordinated our students at this event,

“We are proud of all of our students, and especially those who excel in sports and creativity, and who actively participate in the life of the University. Our University has one of the largest numbers of international students in the Russian Federation, and this holiday is proof that friendship unites us all!”