On May 19, Sias International University officially opened its Intramural Games involving students and foreign faculty members. Intramural sports are a fairly new concept in China, especially in Central China, however, Sias International University is working on changing things in Henan. The sports included volleyball, basketball, and ultimate Frisbee.

The movement for intramurals was started by students Jonathan Xin and Kevin Zhu, and foreign teachers Chris Bernhardt and Jim Riordan. Jonathan Xin and Kevin Zhu are part of the International Culture and Sports Association. "It's a little different because the students just normally play for fun and don't know the rules," Xin said. Zhu added, "It's like we said in our advertisements - intramurals are to meet someone, to improve your sportsmanship, and to exercise for a healthy life." Nearly 150 students signed up to participate in the basketball, volleyball, or ultimate Frisbee teams. The basketball brackets filled quickly and organizers even had to turn teams away. This first series will include three weekends of play, followed by a tournament. "I was so sleep deprived from putting things together, but I think it went well," Riordan said. "The refs were good, reliable; all the teams but one showed up; the teams even played together after their games. They were exchanging phone numbers. There was a lot of camaraderie."

Traditional Chinese sports program forms teams based on what grade they are in. Intramurals encourage students from different classes and majors to get together. "I helped start a program, and even though I didn't play, I'm so proud of being here and cooperating with others," Kevin Zhu said. "If this activity continues, I will be very, very proud." Jonathan Xin said, "This is an inheritance that we can pass on to other students."