Golden Glory: SGL/SRS and RDCY Make a Triumphant Debut at the 65th RUC Track & Field Games

The 65th RUC Track & Field Games were held on campus from April 11 to 12. The School of Global Leadership (Silk Road School, SGL/SRS) and the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies (RDCY) made their first joint appearance at a university-wide event. Their debut was remarkable, with the team winning the Male 1,500 m Gold Medal and receiving the University’s "Sportsmanship Award," marking a significant achievement from the outset.

（Group photo of students and faculty）

Students from Two Campuses, 17 Countries Gather in Beijing

The parade team consisted of over 50 faculty and students, including 2025 cohort students from the Zhongguancun campus, 2024 cohort students from the Suzhou campus, and faculty from both SGL/SRS and RDCY. Representing 17 countries spanning Asia, Africa, Europe, South America, and North America, the group embodied true global diversity.

The 2024 cohort (Suzhou campus) includes students from Russia, Pakistan, Ethiopia, Morocco, Brazil, Ghana, the Netherlands, Zambia, Kenya, and Bangladesh. The 2025 cohort (Zhongguancun campus) includes students from the United States, France, Morocco, Argentina, Greece, Zambia, and South Sudan. Young people from around the world came together in Beijing at the SGL/SRS, writing their own stories of youth on the sports field.

（Parade team entering the stadium）

Marching in Unity: Leadership and Students Forging Ahead Together

 The opening ceremony began at 8:00 a.m., with the traditional athletes’ march playing in the background.The joint SGL/SRS and RDCY parade team proceeded onto the track with disciplined, well-paced strides. Student representatives carried the school sign and flag at the front, while all participants held both Chinese flags and the flags of their home countries, demonstrating multicultural integration. The team performed coordinated exercises, showcasing days of preparation and dedication. As they marched, the team chanted: “We are the world, we are the future!”

(Parade team on the track)

（Dean Wang thoughtfully tying a tie for international students）

(Getting ready before the parade)

After the march, all team members performed the ninth set of radio setting-up exercises in perfect synchronization, following days of dedicated practice together. 

(Team performing radio setting-up exercises)

The full leadership team, including Dean Wang Wen (SGL and RDCY), Deputy Deans Jiang Xiaoli and Zhang Yibo (SGL), and Deputy Deans Yang Yuntao, Cai Tongjuan, and Zhuang Xuejiao (RDCY), marched alongside students and cheered from the stands, exemplifying leadership engagement and support.

(Leadership cheering from the stands)

Student Voices: A First Taste of Chinese Collective Spirit

For many international students, taking part in a Chinese university’s sports meet opening ceremony was a completely new experience. After the event, several shared their thoughts:

“From practicing early in the morning to the official performance, the dean and teachers stayed with us every step of the way. It never felt like a task — it felt like a shared honor.”

“I’m so proud to represent the Silk Road School in the parade. The radio setting-up exercise is uniquely Chinese; I’ll definitely share this experience with my friends back home.”

“The setting-up exercise to music was so much fun. Doing it together with everyone had such a great rhythm, and it gave me a much more vivid sense of Chinese culture.”

(Group photo of students)

A Dual Triumph: First Gold Medal and High Morality Prize

The flag bearer of the parade team was Chadi Marahi, a 2025 cohort student representative from Morocco. An experienced long-distance runner, Chadi has competed in various cross-country and long-distance races in France.

In the male 1,500m final, Chadi won the gold medal with a commanding performance. This gold marked the first-ever sports meet gold medal for the SGL, opening a new chapter in the school’s athletic history. He also placed fifth in the highly competitive male 5,000m final.

The sign bearer of the parade team was Agustina Beláustegui, a 2025 cohort student representative from Argentina. A former Argentine national rhythmic gymnast, she represented her country at the 2019 World University Games in Italy. In this year’s female 400m competition, she demonstrated outstanding explosive power and perseverance, finishing in fourth place.

From international arenas to the RUC track, Chadi and Agustina embodied the fighting spirit of Silk Road students, adding a brilliant chapter to the SGL/SRS and RDCY’s debut appearance at the university sports meet.

(Sign bearer Agustina Beláustegui (left); flag bearer Chadi Marahi (right)) 

Agustina Beláustegui finished 4th in the female 400m event. Agustina Beláustegui represented Argentina at the 2019 World University Games in Italy.

Ø Chadi Marahi won the championship in the male 1,500m event.

Ø  Chadi Marahi achieved an excellent 5th place in the male 5,000m event. 

Ø Chadi Marahi competing on the track

Student and faculty representatives cheering for the athletes

At the closing ceremony, Chadi received the “Sportsmanship Award” on behalf of SGL/SRS and RDCY. The honor reflects the collective efforts and dedication of all faculty and students, showcasing the unity and vibrant spirit of the team.

A New Starting Line, Sprinting Toward a Brighter Future 

This inaugural participation at the sports meet represents a milestone for SGL/SRS and RDCY. The dedication, discipline, and international collaboration displayed on the track will inform future academic, cultural, and global engagement initiatives. The schools will continue to foster mutual understanding between China and the world, promoting cross-cultural experiences and contributing to strategic national objectives.

 

About the School of Global Leadership (Silk Road School)

Founded in November 2024, SGL/SRS aims to cultivate high-level talent with a deep understanding of China and a global outlook. The school is dedicated to cultivating high-level talent with both a deep understanding of China and a genuine global outlook. Drawing on the global strategic resources of RUC and RDCY, it has built an international think tank network spanning over 100 countries and assembled a strong faculty of around 100 global mentors, practice mentors, and professors.

In 2025, SGL/SRS admitted 33 senior officials from ruling parties of six Southern African countries to its graduate programs, advancing its commitment to talent cultivation for the Global South. Since 2018, the Silk Road School has educated 235 students from 67 Belt and Road countries, with alumni contributing in government, international organizations, multinational corporations, and research institutions, serving as ambassadors of China’s story and cross-cultural understanding.