ETH to enter sports duel against the University of Zurich

The pressure is on: During the coming week, the ASVZ will be measuring how athletic Zurich’s two universities are. The stakes are high, because the university that loses the duel has to pay for the equipment of the new, third workout room at the Fluntern sports centre, which will offer facilities for bodyweight exercises and free weights. The new room at the Fluntern university sports centre will complement the two existing rooms and create new possibilities in the fitness, weight and cardio domain. «We are very happy about the competition between ETH and UZH. It will help realise our unique three-floor concept with a functional arena, a weight training and cardio room and a barbell level, which will fulfil the growing demand of ASVZ members for individualised training programmes,» says ASVZ project leader Marilen Matter Graf.

The competition is held to mark the external page75-year anniversarycall_made of the academic sports association. In the 1939/40 winter semester, the newly founded ASVZ presented its first training programme: for male students, a 90-minute endurance training programme every Tuesday and Thursday and two hours of team sports on Fridays; for female students, one hour of general physical education and team sports at the gymnasium every Friday. The membership fee per semester was just one franc.

Employees participate for free

On the occasion of the ASVZ anniversary, every member of ETH can help win the duel and do something good for their own health at the same time. During the week of the duel from 4 to 10 May, the ASVZ will count each entry into its sports facilities and lessons. Each entry will be counted as one hour of sport activity. Upon entering, participants can state which university they want to support. Members of other universities as well as alumni can choose whether they want their time to count for the University of Zurich or for ETH.

It doesn’t matter whether you have ASVZ membership, because during the week of the duel, participation is free for all members of ETH Zurich, the University of Zurich and the Zurich Universities of Applied Sciences (ZHAW, PHZ, ZHdK). This is the perfect opportunity to try out something new from among the wide range of sports on offer. How about a boot camp, a dance course or kickboxing? Just remember that you still need to sign up for any courses that require registration.

Since the two universities have different numbers of students and employees, the total score will be a percentage of the total number of members. The factor is 1.2 in favour of ETH.

The ASVZ will report the current score daily on its external pageanniversary websitecall_made.

Take part in a survey and win prizes

During the week of the duel, the ASVZ will carry out a survey on participants’ sport activities. «It will be interesting to find out more about our participants,» says Matter Graf.

Everyone who takes part in the survey will receive a voucher for the external pageSports Cafécall_made and can enter the draw for the main prize. In addition, there are sweepstakes every day to wine one prize worth about CHF 250. «This can be, for example, a day pass for two people for the European Athletics Championships that will take place in Zurich in August,» says Matter Graf.

After the competition ends, the participants won’t have to wait long for the duel loser’s promise to be fulfilled: the third workout room at the Fluntern sports centre is already being built and will open sometime near the end of the semester – regardless whether it is ETH or the University of Zurich that loses the duel.