UVic Vikes experience is for everyone
- Paul Zehr
There is something about going to live games that I have always found very appealing. I think it is a kind of complex mixture of the sounds, sights and smells that all come together to provide an exciting multi-sensory experience. Years ago TSN had an operating slogan of "real life, real drama, real TV" to define their sports programming. Maybe that's the piece that is so entrancing about watching sport and particularly watching live sporting events. It's gratifying to know that if we want these experiences, if we want to see and feel the passion that is part of the magic of sport, we have a full menu of options to choose from literally right in our own backyard. I actually mean our work backyard and Vikes athletics right here at the UVic campus. These athletes play their games for the love of the game, and their efforts are even more honorable and worthy of support.
Recently, I took my two young daughters along with several other families from both of their schools to see Vikes women's and men's basketball action on a Friday night. The Vikes athletics experience is great value for money. It also represents a truly accessible and informal event that speaks to the intimacy of the experience. One of the parents in our group bumped into a friend who works with Vikes Athletics and suggested the girls come down after the game and get autographs from the players. We then purchased many of the Vikes "game day" shirts—which were only $6—and the kids had them signed by the players. My children in particular commented on how much they enjoyed the entire experience. They were impressed with the level of skill of the Vikes women's and men's teams and felt very much a real part of the action.
During and after the games, I was reminded again of the power of sport and the power of support. The thrill of the live athletic event comes from the interaction between the good and sporting play of the athletes and the response of the crowd. I have watched many professional and amateur games in many sports. I remember vividly key games I attended which were punctuated by emotional responses of the spectators—like the palpable tension, expectancy and joy found in the roaring crowd at Pacific Coliseum when Canada won short-track speed skating gold at the 2010 Olympics.
These events stand out in my memory because of the good play and the environment in which the play took place. I caught a bit of a sense of that here at UVic on that Friday night. I think we can do better, though, and can support the Vikes much more strongly. For those looking for a feel-good live entertainment experience right in our town, I encourage attendance at Vikes athletics events. They really are positive feedback experiences—the more support we give, the more the athletes feel the support, and the more we can all feed off each other.
In Canada especially, there is always a kind of uncomfortable pairing of our sensibilities and our support for amateur sport. Supporting the Vikes means more than just supporting athletics and amateur sport. It means supporting the environment we all share on and off campus at the University of Victoria. I take pride in the accomplishments of the Vikes and I hope the athletes also gain something from the academic and scholarly achievements of the faculty. While we don't all play the games and we don't all do the same things, we really are all on the same team.
Dr. E. Paul Zehr is a faculty member in the School of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education, and director of the Centre for Biomedical Research.
Editor's note: Views expressed in this Viewpoint are the author's and do not necessarily reflect those of The Ring or the University of Victoria.