Students from the 3rd edition of the UPRM/FPF/FIFA/CIES International Programme in Sports Management, run by the University of Puerto Rico - Mayagüez Campus (UPRM) - joined forces to organise a special sports competition as part of the event organisation module.
This was a major first and, with the help of Prof. Luis O. Del Río and Manuel Silva, the group of students designed, coordinated and organised a five-kilometre "5K" foot race across the university campus.
"We are very proud of the extraordinary efforts made by the students. They set to work with motivation as soon as we gave them this task as part of the event organisation module. We wanted them to have the opportunity and experience to put into practice what they had learned in class. They rose to the challenge perfectly", said Prof. David F. Muñoz González, Director of the FIFA/CIES International Programme in Puerto Rico.
The competition was a great success, with both the university community and general public in attendance. Dr. Agustín Rullán Toro, Rector of UPRM, blew the starting whistle before running the required 5,000 metres with the other participants.
After crossing the finish line, the UPRM Rector commented, "It is a success. We have brought our community together and given a new dimension to the FIFA/CIES International Programme. I have supported the '5K' since my first meeting with the organisers in my office. I hope that we will continue to offer this sporting event. It allows us to enjoy the campus in a different way. Actually, this is the first time I have taken part in such a competition. But I achieved what I set out to do - start and finish the race. And what is more, I really enjoyed it!", explained Mr Rullán Toro.
In view of this positive experience, it has been decided that the organisation of the "5K" will form an integral part of the curriculum for future editions of the Programme in Puerto Rico.
Congratulations to our pioneering students for laying the foundations for this competition, and which is now destined to continue. Also, special thanks to the UPRM authorities and teachers for their support and involvement in the project.