Tartan Olympics: Another Big Success for SAAC

(PITTSBURGH, Pa.) – The Student-Athlete Advisory Council continued the tradition of the Tartan Olympics with the seventh annual showing on Saturday, January 17. A new team was crowned champions as Earth, Wind and Tartan, surpassed 19 other teams to win the event and a $500 first-place prize to an organization or charity of their choice. The campus-wide event is open to all students and offers contests in mental, physical and skill-related games.

During the 2008-09 academic year, the Carnegie Mellon Student-Athlete Advisory Council created the Tartan Olympics in an effort to integrate all members of the campus community. On Saturday, more than 200 students from the baseball club, water polo team, Quidditch Club, sororities, fraternities, exchange students and varsity teams competed for the top prize and second and third-place prizes of Noodles and Company coupons and coffee mugs from the University Store.

“Tartan Olympics is a really exciting event for SAAC,” said SAAC member Emily Newton. “This event brings light hearted competition to the campus community with silly and active events (such as karaoke or a splash contest). It is a fun and competitive way for the student athletes to interact and compete with a wide variety of students and student groups on campus.”

Seven different events were offered on Saturday – Trivia, Knockout, Scientific Discovery – Egg Drop, Eating Contest with Donuts, Karaoke and Splash Contest. A team relay included dizzy bat, egg on a spoon walking, push-ups, three-legged race, and balloon pop between two people. On Friday night, participants came together for a pizza party during the women’s basketball game against Brandeis University and competed in a three-point contest during halftime of the men’s game that evening.

“As a SAAC member, one of my personal initiatives is to get students involved in the athletic events and to get the athletes to support other community events,” added Newton. “The event this past weekend was a great success! I was excited to see a variety of people from different groups come together to laugh and compete. I am already excited for next year's Tartan Olympics.”