AISTS CANAVAN CUP WRAP-UP

The fourth edition of the AISTS Canavan Cup continued the tradition of being a fun, entertaining sports event for the AISTS Alumni that raises funds for the June Canavan Foundation. This year, the participants of the MAS 2018 were successful in raising more than 3000 CHF for this charity. The unique event was held at the Brillantmont International School in the Olympic Capital of Lausanne, on the evening of November 16, 2017.

The AISTS Canavan Cup has come to be known as one of the first milestone moments for each batch of the MAS and this year was no different. Within just a few weeks and with a limited budget, each year the MAS participants plan, organise and host a top class sports event for the AISTS Alumni family. This year, the batch of 2018 picked 3X3 Basketball as the showcase sport for the evening – a sport that will be a new Olympic discipline at Tokyo 2020 – attracting a huge number of guests and participants.

“It’s amazing,” said Nikki Symmons, President of the AISTS Alumni Committee. “We have so many alumni here tonight, really getting involved and it’s great to see basketball on the menu.”

It surely was a popular choice of sport. With nine teams, thirty-six competitors and dozens of VIP guests, the atmosphere was electric and energy was high in the venue. The event also received a vote of confidence from the International Basketball Federation, who endorsed this year’s Canavan Cup with official FIBA referees, tons of FIBA merchandise and the presence of a FIBA team participating.

Annie O’Shea, AISTS alumna and Senior Associate at FIBA 3X3 was thrilled with the event. “As an alumna, and a FIBA 3X3 representative, I couldn’t have asked for better,” she said. “The execution and the camaraderie… everyone is having fun.”

What added to the fun were the many entertaining activities like a mannequin challenge and a cheerleading performance, that kept the crowds engaged in between matches. A shootout contest that was open to everyone brought the best out of the guests and hosts alike, with Mota Elb from the AISTS 2014 batch winning the contest. It was double delight by the end of the evening for Mota as his team, FIBA Cocus, also comprising Gustavo Arellano, Gil Cruz and Marta Fernandes, won the keenly contested tournament, beating ‘The Strangers’ team in the final.

While the on-court action was firmly under the spotlight, it was the tombola raffle that really got everyone excited as there were some unbelievable prizes on offer. ‘His & Hers’ watches from Longines, vintage luxury wine from Charles Bonvin wine house, green fees for two from the Crans-Sur-Sierre Golf Club, an exquisite dinner for two at Chateau de Villa in Sierre, two tickets for the ‘Weekend au Bord de l’Eau’ music festival and an autographed tennis kit bag from Swiss tennis star Timea Bacsinszky, who graced the occasion as the Special Guest for the evening. Impressed with the event, Ms Bacsinszky offered a few tips to future AISTS MAS participants, saying “In the years ahead, Canavan Cups should be with the same spirit as what you guys created this time. I think it’s an amazing class, you bonded so well together.”

It was indeed quite apparent that there was a positive vibe in the arena and the AISTS family thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the event. As the evening came to a close, an impromptu wine auction raised the stakes and spirits even further. After a heated tussle between Timea Bacsinszky and Dr Claude Stricker, Executive Director of AISTS, Dr Stricker walked away with the honours, generously offering 280 CHF for the bottle of wine. That tipped the scales past the 3000 CHF mark for the first time in Canavan Cup’s history, making the batch of 2018 proud that they were able to do so for such a good cause. Dr Stricker too was very pleased with the way the event turned out.

“This is great,” he said. “It is also great to see the alumni attending every year, supporting the event. It is a good get together, driven by a passion for sport.”

For the class of 2018, the fourth edition of the Canavan Cup was an excellent exercise in learning and team building, one that will be remembered for years to come. All proceeds are committed to the June Canavan Foundation and the cheque was presented by Dr Claude Stricker and Timea Bacsinszky during the closing ceremony.   

Article written by Tina Sharma, 2018 MAS participant, and edited by Liz Fulton, AISTS Marketing Team.