CISB named Hoop Fest champion

The champions from the Canadian International School of Beijing celebrate their victory. Photo: The Global Times

A Serbian Embassy player attempts to get past the defense. Photo: The Global Times

The Lithuanian Embassy team poses with their national flag. Photo: The Global Times

The Estonian Embassy team joins Toomas Lukk (third from left), the Estonian Ambassador to China and the team captain, on the basketball court. Photo: The Global Times

A player from the Thai Embassy team prepares to make a basket. Photo: The Global Times

After about seven hours of competition, the Third Global Times Embassy Hoop Fest declared a basketball champion at the Canadian International School of Beijing (CISB) on June 13. Although all the players of the 16 participating teams showed remarkable skills and fought bravely throughout the day, there could only be one winner: the Canadian International School of Beijing.

Organized by the Global Times and sponsored by Peak Sport, this is the third installment of this annual basketball activity, which has drawn the participation of dozens of embassies in Beijing since its launch in 2013.

This time, there were some old faces in addition to new ones. There were nine embassy teams - Serbia, Cuba, Poland, the Czech Republic, Canada, Thailand, Montenegro, Estonia and Lithuania. The seven non-embassy teams consisted of players from the Department of European Affairs in the Foreign Ministry (DEAFM), the Exit-Entry Administration (EEA) under the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau, Peak Sport, Marriott Group, CISB, Tianan Life Insurance Company and the Global Times. The participation of DEAFM and EEA, two new teams this year, added excitement to the hoop fest.

While the teams played in the school's indoor basketball court, there was entertainment for family and friends of the players outside on the lawn. Family and friends were invited to join in activities, such as martial art classes and yoga lessons. 

An exhibition was also included in the festivities featuring the products and services of American-Sino OB/GYN/Pediatrics Services, Hawaiian Airlines, air-purifier provider Blueair, and Wi-Fi service provider Skyroam. American-Sino OB/GYN/Pediatrics Services was also responsible for providing emergency medical aid for players. Tube Station provided pizza at the event.