PROZAP Volleyball: An Unforgettable Tournament at the French International School of Hong Kong
The French International school in Hong Kong vibrated to the rhythm of the teams' war cries during PROZAP Volleyball, a thrilling event which brings together French secondary schools from all over Asia and those from Hong Kong for the second time. Students from Singapore, Bali, Kuala Lumpur, Cambodia and Kyoto traveled to participate in this volleyball tournament. This competition, which extends over three days, from Monday to Wednesday evening, offers a unique opportunity to meet other students, build relationships and, above all, progress together.
Six young reporters
To immortalize this event, six reporters were present to document the teams' journey and the highlights, thus sharing the news on Instagram. This allowed parents and students to follow the progress of the tournament closely. A live streaming system has also been installed, allowing each match to be followed in real time and the excitement of the tournament to be experienced, even from a distance.
Welcome to Hong Kong !
The foreign delegations arrived at their hotel on Sunday. On Monday morning, the Hong Kong teams met 30 minutes in advance to benefit from last-minute advice from their coaches. We then witnessed the arrival of the delegations, who entered through the East gate, each in turn, before lining up by country in the large courtyard, proudly holding their flags. At 9:30 a.m., the welcoming ceremony began with speeches from the principal, organizers and the director. Everyone expressed their enthusiasm for this event which celebrates sportsmanship and unity between French secondary schools in Asia, a traditional performance followed: a dragon dance, symbol of Chinese culture, was presented to introduce foreign teams to the cultural riches of Hong Kong.
Three days of pure sportsmanship and athletic spirit
Around 10 a.m., we were gathered at the Auditorium for a reminder of the rules of decorum and the conduct of the tournament. Then each team went to the gymnasium to start the matches. Each delegation participating in this event is made up of two girls' teams and two boys' teams. However, the Singapore and Hong Kong delegations, due to their high number of players, have three girls' teams and three boys' teams.
The matches began around 11 a.m., marking the start of this first day. Before each match, the teams benefit from a 10-minute warm-up time, a crucial moment to prepare both physically and mentally. To add energy and cohesion to their performances, each team developed a battle cry. We managed to interview a few of these students a few minutes before the first matches. “We are all very stressed and will try to do our best,” says Chloe Van, the captain of the team and one of the girls from Hong Kong.
These qualifying matches lasted the entire first day. The lunch took place at 1:15 p.m., with a special meal for the players. Even during the break, the players were training! Matches lasted up to 10 hours for some teams. It must have been intense! This first day allowed everyone to discover our school and meet many people for the first time.
On the second day of Prozap, we started our morning by going dragon boating. We split into two groups based on when our next matches were scheduled, allowing those with earlier games to play while the rest of us enjoyed the scenic views of Hong Kong and team-building activities. The dragon boating was very fun and was an important cultural activity to show the foreign players. It was an amazing opportunity to be able to meet new people and make friends. The matches were intense and full of suspense. The supporters were loud and supportive, their cheering created an electrifying atmosphere. Many classes came to watch the matches, supporting the Hong Kong teams as well as other countries. During the day, we interviewed a few teams and got to know the players better. As reporters, we made some friends and had lots of fun. At the end of the day, we headed to a delicious chinese restaurant and ate tasty local food. It was a great moment to socialise and try new things.
The third day, also the last, was marked by the highly anticipated semifinals and final of the Prozap volleyball tournament, perfectly concluding this event. In the morning, the remaining teams fought for a spot in the final. No team wanted this fantastic experience to end, but unfortunately, there can only be one winner. The top teams, Hong Kong 1 and Kuala Lumpur 1 for the boys and Hong Kong 1 and Singapore 1 for the girls, after overcoming tough challenges, finally reached the ultimate stage. On the court, the players from both teams had intense gazes, closely following the ball flying through the air. All players were extremely focused and determined. However, there was also incredible pressure. On the sidelines, the cheers of encouragement and applause from the spectators showed support for their country. Regardless of the final outcome, this match will remain etched in everyone's memory. After three very tight sets, the boys from Hong Kong 1 won first place, as did the girls from Singapore 1. Let's applaud all the players and thank the coaches as well as the supporters who gave this tournament a magnificent conclusion.
Well done to all the teams !
Afterward, we all headed to the auditorium for the awards ceremony, where Mrs. Coupat delivered an emotional speech about the tournament's proceedings and what it brings. Mr. Lassus then announced the team rankings: the girls' podium consisted of Singapore 1, Hong Kong 1, and Phnom Penh 1, and the boys' podium consisted of Hong Kong 1, Phnom Penh 1, and Bali 1. Following this, the wooden medals and trophies were awarded. Everyone thanked the organizers, coaches, and young reporters. There were also special prizes: an award for the best smasher, given to Julie from Hong Kong for the girls and Andi from Bali for the boys. Additionally, there was an award for the MVPs, won by Clémence from Phnom Penh for the girls and Kristian from Phnom Penh for the boys. After the final ceremony, we went out to enjoy the buffet set up in the courtyard. There was music playing in the background while the students played together.
This is how the Prozap volleyball tournament concluded, which brought together middle school students from all over Asia and formed unforgettable relationships. It's an event we will remember for the rest of our lives.
