Senior Cup 2023
8. September 2023On Thursday, 18 May 2023, the 9th annual pétanque tournament took place in Luhačovice, with students from the Faculty of Humanities (FHS) once again participating. This year, 144 seniors—comprising 36 teams from across the Zlín Region— competed for the championship trophy.
For some, the trophy was the ultimate goal, while for others, as the participants themselves noted, the motivation was the excellent lunch or the opportunity to spend time with friends. “It was fantastic. We didn’t come to win but to take part and, most importantly, to enjoy ourselves,” remarked members of the Senior Club Tlumačov, praising the event. Participants and their supporters were also treated to a variety of accompanying activities. A photo booth offered the chance to capture group memories, and as usual, musical entertainment was provided by the band Pozdní sběr. Despite the competition, participants still had the energy to dance to well-known Czech songs after the tournament. The smooth running of the event was ensured by a dedicated 22-member team of students from the Institute of Health Sciences and the Institute of Educational Sciences. “We helped prepare the event from the early morning, assisted referees and organisers during the matches, and supported participants. I thoroughly enjoyed the entire day—it wouldn’t be a bad idea to organise a pétanque tournament for students as well,” shared one student from the Social Pedagogy programme. The Senior Cup demonstrates every year that sport is possible at any age, and even physical challenges don’t have to be a barrier. The tournament is organised annually by the Zlín Region in collaboration with the Faculty of Humanities at Tomáš Baťa University and Lázně Luhačovice, a.s. “Even though the weather wasn’t as beautiful as last year, the turnout was still high, and the event was a success. I’d like to especially thank all the students who provided invaluable help during the tournament,” said Helena Hýžová, the faculty coordinator for the Senior Cup. The event concluded with a speech from Radim Holiš, Governor of the Zlín Region, who, alongside Deputy Governor Hana Ančincová and other representatives of the organising institutions, presented the winners with well-deserved trophies and awards.