Highlights from Taurenis: ISA President shares this year's memorable moments
Barbara Silva, President of the Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) International Student Association (ISA), shares her experiences and highlights from the recent Taurenis Sports Festival, an active recreation festival organised by the RSU Student Union (Studējošo pašpārvalde, SP) on 8 June this year. A team from ISA actively participated and enjoyed a weekend of sports and camaraderie.
‘The ISA team was composed of 12 members,’ Silva explained. ‘Eight of them were from the current ISA board, and the rest included previous ISA members, some RSU students who regularly assist us during events, and even a student from Rīga Technical University (RTU) joined us.’ This diverse group came together to represent ISA, showcasing their teamwork and spirit.
From the left: Vijan Perera (ISA student activist), Wafaa Valiyakathu (Head of Integration and Sports), Linda Vuong (former Medical Science Director)
The participants competed in several sports, including football, flag football, beach volleyball, streetball, and a team relay featuring a fun obstacle course. Silva noted, ‘I would say that beach volleyball and streetball were our best sports, but our team definitely needed some practice – but at least we had fun!’
The ISA team playing flag football
The festival kicked off with an opening ceremony where the RSU Rector and the SP Chairperson welcomed everyone. Silva detailed the schedule: ‘We spent Saturday and Sunday playing all the games I mentioned previously, and at night, ISA got together for a cozy barbeque by the lake - it's an ISA tradition!’ This mix of sports and social activities created a memorable weekend for the participants.
Reflecting on the team's performance, Silva mentioned,
‘ISA was able to reach the quarter-finals in streetball, but the only prizes we left with were good memories and a few scrapes and scratches!’
Despite not winning any major trophies, the experience and the memories made were invaluable.
The ISA team playing football
For Silva, the standout moment was a barbeque the students organised. ‘The best moment was definitely the barbeque we had Saturday evening!’ she exclaimed. ‘It's always fun to have some amazing food with your teammates at the end of a long day of strenuous physical activity and enjoy the sunset by the lake with a crackling fire lighting up our cold faces! This was my last opportunity to participate in Taurenis before I graduate, and it was definitely a great way to say goodbye!’
From the left: Karlīna Emīlija Melberga (SP Head of International Affairs ) and Bárbara Silva (ISA President)
Barbara Silva's reflections on the Taurenis Sports Festival highlight the importance of participation, teamwork, and making lasting memories, demonstrating the energy and team spirit of the University’s student community.
