One of the most impressive buildings at the new UIC Jintong road campus is the enormous gymnasium. This gymnasium, referred to as the Sports Complex, is a huge step up from what was offered in terms of sports equipment at the old campus on Jinfeng road. Many students enrolled in various Whole Person Education (WPE) courses, from golfing to yoga to swimming, have already had the chance to use this top notch facility, with the gymnasium primarily functioning as an active classroom for students.
Heated indoor swimming pool
This new Sports Complex has five floors and a rooftop, which are all used as classrooms for fitness and sports training. There is a weight training zone with a 360 multi-function training station in place, a warm up stretching room, several training rooms as well as a fitness and health room. On the first floor is a heated indoor swimming pool, a fencing room and a boxing room. The second floor offers a table tennis room as well as housing the entire gymnasium's offices and a medical room. A multi-purpose court for badminton and basketball, a dancing room and the referees' lounge are provided on the third floor. The fourth floor has a judo and kendo dojo in addition to a multi-media classroom while the roof of the Sports Complex holds the tennis courts.
A fantastic weights room that boasts a 360 multi-function training station
Since the Sports Complex only recently opened and classes have begun, there is a schedule in place to ensure students and staff can share the gym when classes are not in session. On Monday, Tuesday and Thursday the hours available to use the gym are 7:00 to 8:00 and 10:00 to 12:00 in the morning, then 18:00 to 21:30 in the evening. On Wednesday the gym is closed due to classes, however the gym is available for students and staff to use on Friday from 7:00 to 12:00 in the morning, and 14:00 to 21:30 in the afternoon and evening. During the weekend, the sports complex is open from 10:00 to 12:00 in the morning, and from 14:00 until closing time at 21:30.
There is no excuse not to stay in shape this semester
A UIC ID card (staff and students) should be brought to the gymnasium, as the facilities are only open to members of UIC. The current payment methods are Alipay or by bank card. If UIC staff and students wish to book the badminton courts, basketball courts or some of the other rooms, they need to book ahead of time via the reception desk. The heated indoor swimming pool will be open all year round at the times mentioned for the small price of 20 yuan per visit.
The badminton and basketball courts can be easily booked at the reception desk
Due to the recent string of typhoons, construction of the gym has fallen behind, but it will have more available facilities, such as use of the rooftop tennis courts, in the future. The gymnasium at the moment is being used by the PEC for teaching during the class time.
The service fees
Anyone who wishes to use the gym needs to complete a 45-minute orientation in either Chinese or English. The orientation will be given by Senior Sports Supervisor, Mr Christopher Robin Dockstader, and is divided into three parts with 15 minutes dedicated to safety, 15 minutes highlighting the correct usage of the equipment and the final 15 minutes about gymnasium etiquette.
Reporter: Samuel Burgess
Photographer: Cheryl Chen, Samuel Burgess
Editor: Samantha Burns, Deen He
(from MPRO)
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