When students are creative...

A few years ago, a small group of students took part in a marketing seminar led by Prof. Erichson and put forward suggestions for improving the reputation of our university. They recommended that the sports centre should appeal to the new generation of students by offering different types of competitions.

Since the sports centre already organises quite a few competitions and would be overwhelmed in terms of personnel, we agreed on the condition that the initiators, i.e. the students, would participate in the organisation.

No sooner said than done: the economics students were willing to help and will – hopefully – continue to do so for years to come. A motto and logo had to be found, sponsors secured and the group of participants narrowed down. The new students are a constant source of inspiration. There are no limits to their creativity, but it does have to be realised.

A ‘high-rise run’ itself as a fun competition is so specific that it took several rounds of consultation among the ‘experts’ to clarify the individual competitions, the starting order, the route, the timekeeping and so on.

In consultation with the co-organiser, the Magdeburg Student Union, the university's first high-rise run took place on 20 January 1999. The timing proved successful, so that in the following years, in mid-January, with increasing numbers of participants, an illustrious field of die-hards gathered to tackle 14 floors, approx. 230 steps and approx. 60 m of flat terrain. 

International participation with world record holders and ‘ultra-high-rise runners’ who are at home in all the world's major skyscrapers did not deter our local starters. Records were continuously broken.

A skyscraper run in tranquil Magdeburg, in the flat Börde region? The media's curiosity was piqued. The press, radio and television – even from outside the region – turned up. Prominent athletes consider it a matter of course to enliven the event with their presence.

The organisers reap the rewards of their efforts when the participants gratefully accept the prizes and gifts from the numerous sponsors at the festive closing ceremony and it is clear that the start of the new competition year has been a success.

 

Jürgen Gläser
Leiter des Hochschulsportzentrums i.R.
Universität Magdeburg