IHG Opening Ceremony 2011

Written by: Lawrence Wu
Edited by: Jocelyn Yeo

The NUS Inter-Hall Games (IHG) 2010/2011 opening ceremony finally kicked the IHG to its official start on 12 January 2011, despite several glitches, including one postponement from its original date, a change in location, and the incessant heavy rain in the afternoon. It promised to be an exciting event, as the pool at the NUS Sports and Recreation centre (the new setting for the ceremony) saw sportspeople and supporters from the six Halls of Residence turning up amidst upbeat music in the background, pumping up the excitement in an already highly charged atmosphere.

Many KEVIIans were also present to cheer the KEVII sportspeople on, all fired up and decked in our customary red shirts. One of our Resident Fellows, Dr Seow Teck Keong, was also present to support our IHG participants.

By the poolside! Sportsmen and supporters starting to stream in.

The opening ceremony started around 6.30pm, with an address by the Guest-of-Honour Associate Professor Tan Ern Ser, Vice-Dean of the Office of Student Affairs (OSA).

Opening address by A/P Tan

During Prof Tan’s speech, he mentioned that he was especially heartened by the number of new participants in the IHG every year, and hailed the IHG as a stepping stone towards fostering stronger bonds among NUS students. Prof Tan also challenged the IHG participants to continue promoting a greater love for sports that goes beyond rivalry and competition. The participants and supporters present were evidently roused as sounds of cheer punctuated Prof Tan’s statements during his crisp, minute-long address.

Promoting a LOVE FOR THE GAME! But who will be the champion this year?

This was followed by the oath taking, where participants from the six Halls of Residence pledged to play with integrity.

KE sportsmen and supporters taking the oath

Next up, Prof Tan led the participants of the IHG in the toasting ceremony. Everyone rose from their seats and lifted up their cans of 100 Plus (a sponsor of the IHG), to drink towards a successful series of games.

Drinking…towards a successful IHG

Finally, it was the moment that everyone had been waiting for, as the convening committee invited Prof Tan to officially open the IHG of 2010/2011. Standing in front of the entire crowd, Prof Tan released a group of colourful balloons, and cheers and applause from the crowd marked the start of what will be an exciting season of competition, fun and bonding.

Look at those colourful balloons!

Jerwin, KE’s Sports Secretary, said after the event, “I’m really encouraged by all the hard work that the KE sportsmen have been putting in during trainings and IHG competitive matches. To all the KE sportsmen, please take good care of yourself, do your best and enjoy the sports that you are taking part in. And to KE Hall, continue to lend your biggest support to your friends by attending their IHG matches.”

Have fun watching our friends and flying our flag high!

So what are you waiting for? Let our spirit and sporting prowess shine forth at this IHG! Best of luck to KEViians playing in the upcoming matches!

feb 11th IHG closing ceremony

Writer: Jeremy Auw

After much toil, blood and sweat, the Inter-Hall Games 09/10 finally came to a grand conclusion last night with the IHG Closing Ceremony, which took place at the SRC Track. Certainly, like all preceding IHG matches, the closing ceremony was not short on dazzle and wonder. Even before the event, the grandstand was packed to the brim with a boisterous and convivial crowd of supporters, athletes, cameramen, and guests. There would not have been anyone there last night who did not leave the ceremony infected by the contagious spirit of the games. It was truly an event scintillating with light, sound and action.

The ceremony began in pomp and circumstance with a brief opening speech by our Guest-of-Honour, Prof Tan Tai Yong, Vice-Provost (Student Life). This was followed by an inspirational address by our IHG Convening Chairperson, Jun Kiat. He lavished praise on all participating athletes for bringing “sporting talent, sportsmanship and teamwork” to the table, and remarked that this year’s IHG was a clear example of the “unifying power of sports”. He repeatedly emphasized that IHG was really not about winning, but about “energy, brotherhood and support”. Indeed, it was a truly incredible statement that struck a chord with all of us. To conclude his speech, he thanked his committee, especially his deputies Jerusha and Sharlyn, and the six sports directors from all the halls, and pleaded that next year’s games be “convened at a higher level”.

After the speech, the audience was treated to a fantastic cheerleading performance by the Temasek Twisters. They made their stage area look like an Olympic playground with their impeccable somersaults, acrobatic stunts and mid-air moves. There was much synergy between the male and female cheerleaders as they put their choreographed routine into action with pyramid formations, high-flying throws and double flips. All this was done to bubble-gum pop and trance music, much to the delight of the audience. Ultimately, it was a very commendable effort, and when the performance ended, everyone was left gasping for more.

The next item on the jam-packed programme was the cheering competition. Kent Ridge Hall began with their notorious but repetitive “K K K K Rrrrrr…”, followed by KEVII’s resounding war cry led by Qing Song, and then Raffles Hall with their own cheer. Eusoff, huddled together in a sea of yellow, gave their best. In response, their archrivals Temasek, organized into a military-style contingent of white shirts, belted out loud but unintelligible words to the beat of Queen’s “We Will Rock You” and brought the house down. Sheares, a sea of orange, closed off the competition with a trademark “north south east west who’s the best” type cheer, but drew jeers from Eusoff. Of course, all this was done in the name of fun and spiritedness, especially as recess week was drawing near.

Then, the long-awaited awards presentation was in order. As usual, the ancient rivalry between the two sports-centric halls Eusoff and Temasek came into play. As the winner of each sporting event was called out in succession, it seemed like a ping-pong game between the two halls. Even at the end of IHG, their rivalry could not escape being compared to a sport. The overall victors were then revealed: Temasek won the Cheering Competition, the Overall Male Champion was Eusoff Hall, and the Overall Female Champion was Temasek Hall. Finally, the President’s Challenge Shield and Dean’s Cup was awarded to Eusoff by a margin of four points. One could feel the overwhelming hall spirit of the athletes and supporters from Eusoff as they lifted their trophy and held their heads high.

Jun Kiat then stepped forward to make a closing statement, saying boldly that IHG “drives the spirit of each hall” and that it was a great experience witnessing the inter-hall spirit as well. The torchbearer ran in, and he extinguished the IHG torch. “With that, I declare the IHG 09/10 closed!” he proclaimed. Confetti and streamers rained all over, the KR Steppers leaped onto stage with a cheerleading performance, and everyone in the stadium burst into celebration. It was a sensational ending to a spectacular season.

2008/2009 Inter-Hall Games Closing Ceremony

Photos & Article By: Nicholas Ng

After what has been almost 6 months of gruelling training sessions, team talks, and highly-competitive matches, one might expect a lack of interest and excitement in the final day of IHG – Track Meet, and Closing Ceremony. Yet, there was no lack of adrenaline as members of the various halls gathered to witness NUS Halls’ fastest compete on the tartan track, and stayed on to watch the medal presentation, and the closing speeches.

It began at 7.45pm, with an opening speech (how apt, for a closing ceremony) by the Head of NUS Sports, Mr Thomas Sim, then another speech, by Marcus, of Sheares Hall, which was the convening hall for IHG 08/09. They reminded us that participation in sports goes beyond winning medals, and keeping fit (although they did mention the benefits of exercise). Sports rally the community together, and give us the sense of team spirit that all of us treasure.

Their speeches were succinct, but their words rang true, over the cheers from the over-enthusiastic crowd.
They were about to get even louder, as the cheerleaders of Temasek Hall and Kent Ridge Hall were about to take the stage. Performing innovative, gravity-defying stunts, those cheerleaders lifted the spirits, and the voices, of the hungry crowd with their enrapturing performances.

Then came the Sheares Band, which also performed at the opening ceremony. Even their takes on grunge bands like the Stone Temple Pilots did little to appease the crowd, which was growing increasingly restless for action.

Finally, it was time for medals to be presented. For the efforts our players had put in, we collected the Softball, Squash (Men’s) and Tennis (Ladies’) golds. Kudos to these teams for garnering first place in their sports, but that doesn’t mean our other sports did badly. As the Head of NUS Sports had said earlier, it isn’t all about winning medals, but also about the cooperation and teamwork that has made each team a team. The effort all our athletes have put in, should be applauded, for their collective effort is commendable.

The overall winner for IHG Ladies’ was Temasek Hall, while the overall winner for IHG Men’s and IHG overall was Eusoff Hall. King Edward VII, though, left the SRC with our heads held high, knowing that we had put in our best for this year’s IHG, with the promise of more good results to come.

Eusoff Hall going crazy at the announcement of their victory

We even had it in us to fly the paper aeroplanes from Red Bull, which decided to really give us wings this time, albeit paper ones.

the ke7 flying team!

Through the IHG 08/09 season, KE VII Hall has shown spirit that has lived up to the expectations that we have set ourselves. We may not always have been victorious, but the experiences our Hall members have gone through have proved to be much more invaluable than winning itself. Friendships have been built, bonds have been formed, and these are what will walk us through our lives many years from now.

To quote Marcus, of the Convening Committee:
We will forget what we study – but we will remember the people who run beside us, train with us, and these memories are what we will remember, and bind us as one Team NUS.

Congratulations to KE VII Hall, for a commendable IHG 08/09. Let’s make next year even more memorable!

Jan 16th – IHG Opening Ceremony

Article & Photos By: Xiao Shuang
Editor: KP

IHG 08/09 Opening Ceremony was held on 16th January 2009 at MPSH Hall 5. The Guest-of-Honor and Hall residents started to pour in by 5.30pm and two of our Residents Fellow, A/P Wong Yoke San and Mr Jenson Goh were present to lend KE sportsmen their support. Also present were the Dean and Vice Dean of Office of Student Affairs (OSA). The Convening Committee for this year’s IHG is Sheares Hall.

The opening ceremony started at 6pm with an opening speech by the Dean of Office of Student Affairs (OSA), A/P Tan Teck Koon. He mentioned about Singapore Universities’ achievements in the ASEAN University Games and hailed IHG games as a platform for nurturing national sportsmanship among students of Singapore Universities.

After the speech, an introductory video clip featuring interviews of Sports Secretary from each hall was shown. Our hall’s Sports Secretary – Musa – mentioned that our hall’s performance had improved as the years gone by. He took this opportunity to thank all KE captains for their dedication and hard work. This drew loud applause from KEVIIans.

The NUS cheerleading squad put up a stunning performance after the video. Various human somersault stunts were performed.

This was followed by the pledge, featuring the sportsmen of all the 6 Halls of Residence in NUS.

Then, the band from Sheares Hall gave an astounding performance by singing two songs “ It’s my life” and “We are the champions”. By then, the ceremony was over but one thing’s for sure – KE’s voice & spirit shall reign supreme this IHG!

Go KE! Let them witness our glorious victory!