On October 12, 2025, the 2025 Bay Area University Youth Frisbee Invitational and the Frisbee Joy Bay Area · Youth Rising Bay Area Youth Exchange were successfully held on the sports field of the Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School. A total of eight Frisbee teams from ten institutions, including Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, The University of Hong Kong, Sun Yat-sen University (Shenzhen), Shenzhen University, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen Technology University, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen MSU-BIT University, and The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen), competed and connected through the disc, interpreting the Spirit of the Game on the green field and writing a chapter of sporting passion and growth memories for the Bay Area youth.
Opening ceremony of the Frisbee competition
Grassroots Competition, Spirit of Freedom: A Field Without Referees
The event was jointly organized by the Taoyuan Street Office, the University Town Operation Management Preparatory Working Group, and the Youth League Committee of Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, and hosted by the Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School Frisbee Association. Different from professional competitions, this was a contest full of grassroots characteristics — without the halo of professional athletes or the training of full-time coaches, it attracted hundreds of university students to participate based solely on their love for the sport.
We have no referees, but we have the Spirit of the Game.This was the consensus among all participants. Ultimate Frisbee, with self-officiating by the athletes as its core rule, requires players on the field to negotiate and resolve foul disputes autonomously, highly relying on the Spirit of the Game built on integrity, respect, and communication. This spirit is not only a competitive principle but also a practical carrier for character education and team building, echoing Peking University's philosophy that A Sound Character is Paramount, with Physical Education as its Foundation.
Start of the match
Around 8:00 AM on the day, the competition officially began. The Tsinghua-PKU Joint Team first faced the Southern University of Science and Technology Team, while the Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen) Team competed simultaneously against the Shenzhen University Team. On the green field, players ran, passed, and vied fiercely for the disc.
A close encounter on the field
Captains from both teams leading players in a circle discussion
After each game, the opposing teams would sit together in a circle, led by their captains for a friendly exchange, followed by shouting the opponent's cheer — beyond wins and losses, inter-university friendships grew stronger. Everyone enjoyed themselves harmoniously, hearts connecting to form an even larger circle. At the center of this circle lay the small, yet significant, 175-gram Frisbee.
Gathered around the Frisbee, forming a circle of unity
Bay Area Bond, Youth Resonance: From the Green Field to the Exchange Circle
The event extended beyond competition, building a platform for cultural exchange among Bay Area university youth. At noon, the Frisbee Joy Bay Area · Youth Rising Youth Exchange was held in Conference Room 105, Building C, PKU Shenzhen, hosted by Li Mingming, Deputy Secretary of the PKU Shenzhen Youth League Committee and Student Affairs Teacher at the HSBC Business School. Li Mingming expressed deep gratitude to the organizers for their strong support, sincere respect to the teams from various universities for coming to PKU to compete, and special thanks to Coach Chen, with former national team coaching experience, for his deep involvement in all stages of the event's planning, preparation, and execution. Li Mingming also mentioned that in the future, they hope to include other Bay Area universities in the Frisbee network, promoting Campus Frisbee together. Secretary Li also participated in the competition, becoming an important member of the Tsinghua-PKU Joint Team.
Frisbee is More Than a Sport, It's a Social Vehicle
Frisbee is becoming a new social model for young people, Li Mingming pointed out, noting that Frisbee is becoming a link connecting the three universities in the University Town, and even universities across the Greater Bay Area. As Deputy Secretary of the PKU Shenzhen Youth League Committee and a Frisbee instructor, he has witnessed many students stepping out of their dorms, onto the sports field, and into a broader world because of Frisbee. We hope that through such events, we can promote complete personality education, paramount in physical education. Li Mingming emphasized Frisbee's role in cultivating leadership and building platforms, beyond just physical and mental exercise.
Teammates encouraging each other
Huang, a student from the SMBU-CUHK(SZ) Joint Team, also expressed that Frisbee promotes field sharing, training mutual assistance, and participation of international friends between the two universities. Because SMBU and CUHK(SZ) are very close, we often borrow each other's fields. This exchange among enthusiasts has also allowed us to meet more students from surrounding universities, breaking inter-school barriers and gaining lifelong partners.
Persisting in the Rain, Spirit Unyielding
In the afternoon, drizzling rain began to fall, but the matches did not stop. The players ran, passed, and scored on the slippery field, sweat mingling with rain, their enthusiasm not diminishing but growing. As a student from Southern University of Science and Technology said, Frisbee runs on passion.
Moments of students' hard work
After multiple rounds of competition throughout the day, four teams — The University of Hong Kong, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen University, and Sun Yat-sen University (Shenzhen) — advanced to the placement matches. The championship final was contested between the Sun Yat-sen University (Shenzhen) Team and the Southern University of Science and Technology Team. Early in the match, SUSTech players #90 and #27 scored first, gaining an advantage, but Sun Yat-sen University (Shenzhen) quickly adjusted their form, soon tying the score. At the 17-minute mark, the teams were tied 3-3. Subsequently, Sun Yat-sen University (Shenzhen) scored four consecutive points, pulling ahead to 7-3, and ultimately sealed the victory with a 9-4 score, claiming the championship.
Wonderful moments of the students
Fighting Until the Last Moment!
The match for third place featured an overtime battle. The Shenzhen University Team and The University of Hong Kong Team were tied 8-8 after the regular 50 minutes. Entering overtime, the teams remained evenly matched,keep stalemated until the 14th minute of extra time. By then, the players were nearing their physical and mental limits, yet they never gave up — finally, Shenzhen University player #2 "Tian Bang" threw a disc across two-thirds of the field, which was steadily caught by player #22 "Xiao Cao". Shenzhen University secured third place with this crucial score.
The tense and exciting final contest
After the long match, everyone breathed a sigh of relief
Players from both teams communicating and sharing
Thrilling Awards Ceremony
At 6:00 PM, the awards ceremony was held as scheduled. Li Mingming first thanked the students for persevering through the rare weekend, enduring the morning sun and afternoon rain, to complete the competition, praising their admirable spirit! Then, everyone applauded again for Observer Coach Chen, who worked tirelessly to accompany everyone through the high-level competition.
The third-place winner was the Shenzhen University Team. They fell down time and again, only to stand up again, perfectly interpreting the unyielding spirit. Through Frisbee, they built bonds and connections, becoming unique partners to each other. We look forward to Shenzhen University students frequently visiting the University Town to share the Frisbee feast with students here!
SZU winning third place
The second-place winner was the Southern University of Science and Technology Team. Everyone shouted their cheer, BOUGA BOOM!. The captain explained that BOUGA is taken from the English name Bougainvillea of Shenzhen's city flower, the Bougainvillea, symbolizing identification with Shenzhen's inclusive culture; BOOM represents the explosive power and vitality of youth. The SUSTech students said, We look forward to exchanging with more university teams. We also came to PKU last December, and it feels especially familiar to be here again!
SusTech winning second place
The University of Hong Kong Team, with their outstanding Spirit of the Game, won the Best Spirit Team award. As Captain Oscar said, winning in Frisbee isn't about whether the score makes you champion, but about whether the Spirit of the Game is passed on and continued. We look forward to HKU students coming to the PKU campus again to learn from each other, improve together, and pass on the Spirit of the Game throughout the Greater Bay Area.
HKU winning the Best Spirit Team Award
The Sun Yat-sen University (Shenzhen) Team won the championship. The team members shouted their cheer, Sun Yat-sen, Yes we can!, celebrating this victory belonging to a grassroots team — this team, led voluntarily by senior students, stood on the highest podium based on passion and perseverance.
When asked about their feelings upon winning the championship, Captain Lu said, All my teammates performed at their best; the honor of this victory belongs to every striving SYSU member! The captain also thanked the organizers for their strong support and expressed hope to come to PKU again to compete with outstanding players.
Sun Yat-sen University winning the championship
After the awards ceremony, all participating teams gathered for a group photo. The evening glow illuminated the green field and the smiling faces of the youth, drawing a perfect close to the event.
Group photo of all participating teams
Flying Farther: From Campus to Community, From the Bay Area to the World
Although the competition has concluded, the Frisbee story continues. Deputy Secretary Li Mingming stated in the closing speech that they plan to expand the scale of the event in the future, inviting more universities from Macao and Guangdong, continuing to build the Elite University Invitational IP, and even introducing Frisbee culture into primary and secondary schools, promoting the combination of sports and community service.
Frisbee connecting the friendships of Bay Area universities
The 175-gram Frisbee carries the youthful ideals and urban warmth of the Bay Area youth. Its arc over Shenzhen Bay not only connects the two ends of the field but also links the friendships between universities, the emotions among young people, and the cultures between cities. As the event organizers anticipate, this time next year, Bay Area youth will once again gather, making friends through the disc, allowing youth and passion to continue soaring.
