The Spirit of the NTNU Sports Show: A Legacy of Excellence

The Sports Show is the most celebrated early-summer event at National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU). Originally serving as a showcase for graduating seniors of the Department of Physical Education, the event evolved in 2005 into a collaborative production between the now Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences and the Department of Sport and Kinesiology under the College of Sports and Recreation (with the General Coordinator role alternating between the two departments). The entire production—from planning and logistics to the final performance—is managed by senior students, who lead the freshmen, sophomores, and juniors.

When did the Sports Show first appear? According to the March 1953 issue of the Physical Education Research Bimonthly (Vol. 5 & 6, p. 2): “Since Mr. Hsiao  Chung-Kuo took charge (who served as Department Chair from 1949 to 1951), facilities have been expanded… and activities such as Physical Education Performance Nights have been held.” This suggests the event’s roots trace back to the very beginning of the 1950s. While alumna Liao Yu-Ru (Class of ’54) recalls the “first” show occurring in 1953 during her freshman year—a slight discrepancy in dates—it is clear that the tradition solidified during this era.

Alumnus Wu Wan-Fu (Class of ’54) recalls that during his sophomore and junior years, students frequently performed at the Tri-Army Stadium in front of the Presidential Office Building (now Jieshou Park) to share the grace and technical skill of gymnastics and dance with the public. By 1961, the event began utilizing closed-circuit television recording. Graduation albums from the 1960s and 1970s depict a diverse array of indoor and outdoor events, including trampolining, balance beam, judo, martial arts, and various dance forms.

Historically, the event was simply known as the “Sports Show.” It was not until the 1990 academic year that unique annual themes were adopted to reflect the spirit of each graduating class. Notable examples include the Class of ’91 theme, “The Ultimate Perfection: A Final Procession of the Gymnasium,” marking the demolition of the old building. Each year, students spend a full year rehearsing a wide range of disciplines—from swimming and rowing to bodybuilding and folk sports—blending technical mastery with creative storytelling to produce a high-quality spectacle highly praised by the audience.

Beyond thematic innovation, each Sports Show seeks to break new ground. A landmark example was the Class of ’99 show, which integrated a public expo at the Xinyi Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Plaza. This event featured both dynamic performances and static displays, including fitness testing, health consultations, and academic exhibitions.

The Sports Show remains a major annual event open to the public for free. The queues for admission often stretch four to five hundred meters, with many spectators waiting under the sun for half a day to secure a seat. Since 2007, the college has invited high school students from across Northern Taiwan to join, sparking immense enthusiasm for sports among the youth.

As a signature symbol of the College of Sports and Recreation and NTNU, this event demonstrates the power and beauty of movement, encouraging everyone to integrate physical activity into their daily lives.

Wrote by Mei-Chun Lin, Professor and Dean of Student Affairs

(English Version Curated by the CSR)

Source: NTNU News