Foreword

The Triennial Intervarsity Games (TIG) is an international sports event organized by the University of Hong Kong. Since 1949, TIG has been one of the most breathtaking sports events in HKU. Over a 50 year period, it grows into an international event between the universities in Asia on a triennial basis, giving countless university students from different countries an unforgettable experience. The 23rd Triennial Intervarsity Games will be held in July 2007. With utmost vigor and confidence, it becomes the match that lights up the hearts of all athletes from Asian universities.

The TIG has been regarded as serving a multitude of purposes. On a collective level, it strengthens the ties between neighboring countries in the Asia-Pacific region, attaining deeper understanding, fostering national respect, mutual understanding and international spirit in and through sports participation.

On an individual level, the Games encourages and promotes lasting friendships and a sense of life rewarding experiences through sports. These targets also encourage and promote teamwork, sportsmanship, self respect and a range of other human characteristics through competitions, allowing travel opportunities for individuals or teams, and broadening one’s insights about other cultures.

There is an interesting story about the history of Triennial Intervarsity Games. In 1949, Sir Lindsay Tasman Ride, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hong Kong, delegated the HKU Tennis and Cricket team to compete in Singapore. Since the firstIntervarsity Games (IG), Singapore and Hong Kong established many exchanges and international relations. In 1951, IG officially became a biennial event, the Biennial Intervarsity Games (BIG). Biennial Intervarsity Games during the fifties and the sixties were only limited to Singapore and Hong Kong. It was pleasing to have these events every other year, however, the further magnification of the Triennial Intervarsity Games stirred in the sixties by the hard work from many different parties.

In 1962, Singapore became independent, Universiti Malaya separated from National University of Singapore, became its own independent university. Therefore, BIG became a sports event between three universities. In 1966, HKU Athletic Association became Sports Association, HKUSU. The President, Mr. Lau Wai Kit, traveled to eleven countries in Southeast Asia in 1968. Soon after, University of Indonesia officially joined this glorious event. The TIG’s foundation was laid after the establishment of the Anthems, Oath, and regulations.

The development of Biennial Intervarsity Games to Triennial Intervarsity Games is the milestone of its development. In the seventies, there was an economic inflation in Asia, facilitating the improvement of TIG. The participating universities consented to change this sports event from a biennial to a triennial sports event, using this extra year in between to prepare and fundraise. In HKU, one of the most magnificent fundraising events of TIG was the fundraising ball. Dr. Stanley Ho and Dr. Henry Fok were the two most generous contributors for making this possible.

With many international and local supports, TIG entered its ‘Golden Age’. TIG, a triennial event, included more than thousand university athletes and volunteers; the amount of categories of different sports ranged from nine to more than a dozen. Other events such as Cultural Nights, Ball, and local sightseeing also became TIG’s many highlights. During this period, HKU is the only university where the students organize TIG which is something to be proud of.

Why was TIG discontinued in 1990’s? There are some correlations with the economy. Until the ninties, TIG’s budget became increasingly immense. There were problems concerning the financial support from many sponsors during the Asian financial crisis in 1997. With the lack of resources and financial support, TIG was stopped for a period of time. Originally a Millennium Intervarsity Games, supposed to be held by Indonesia in the year 2000, was withdrawn.

TIG stopped for almost ten years now. Every Sports Association Committee after the millennium hopes to revive TIG. On April 2006, the Triennial Intervarsity games Organizing Committee was established, with the collaboration with Singapore to restore a new light in TIG The University of Hong Kong notably supports TIG. Sir Rayson-Huang and ProfessorWang Geng-wu generously offered help to contact other universities. The next TIG is also upheld by HKU’s Vice-Chanceloor, Professor Lap-Chee Tsui Lap-Chee Tsui, and many departments of the University of Hong Kong.