Athletics at NYU Shanghai: Building Connections Through Sports

Whether you’re a seasoned competitive athlete or just looking for a fun way to stay active and connect with your peers, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to get involved in sports at NYU Shanghai. 

More than one hundred students from countries across the globe come together as proud Qilins to play tennis, badminton, volleyball, soccer, basketball, and ping-pong in the campus’s state-of-the-art athletic facilities. From friendly matches at open gyms to varsity-level competitions, students of all athletic abilities join in!  

“Our athletic facilities are home to our intercollegiate sports teams as well as any student looking to maintain a healthy, balanced lifestyle,” says volleyball captain and Global China Studies senior Cathy Li. “At 4,000 square meters, there’s plenty of room for students, faculty, and staff. You might even run into one of your professors playing a quick badminton game during their lunch break!”

In addition to ongoing athletic competitions, students from universities across Southern China gather at NYU Shanghai to compete in the Qilin Cup each year. This joyful, high-energy event includes a mix of friendly and competitive matches. It offers students a unique chance to build intercultural connections rooted in a shared love of sports.

“The Qilin Cup is a great opportunity for athletes from all over China, internationally, or elsewhere to come and establish a nice connection through sports,” says Cathy.

Watch Cathy and fellow student athlete Mattis Nurit share their experience participating in sports at NYU Shanghai in the video above.