It's War time!

While BOSM excites those who dare to push the limits within the sporting arena, there are those who are watching and observing everything. These are the ones who prefer trivia crunching to actually playing on the field. These are the ones who can’t shoot a hoop but can surely tell you who the only person in NBA history to have scored 100 points in a single game is. (Psst it’s Wilt Chamberlain)

This Friday (12th September) the auditorium will play host to the sports trivia maniacs on campus at 5.30 PM to win the coveted title of the BOSM Sports Quiz.
Teams of upto 3 members are allowed.

The quiz is going to be a colossal 5 hour mega event. Rumours that it’s a “never-ending-quiz-till-you-drop-dead” event have also surfaced in the recent couple of days.

And what if you don’t make it on stage? Don’t worry! Do stay behind, for our men at BOSM Sponz have done a wonderful job of getting companies to sponsor loads of goodies which shall be given as audience prizes.

Issue 2 editorial

After months of planning, BOSM has finally started. We are playing host to the largest number of participants so far. We have the highest sponsorship so far. I am sure you’ve heard these statements a lot of times earlier with reference to this fest. However, even after meticulous planning and care in implementation, there are always so many things that come down to last minute decisions, split second choices and in the face deadlines. Only the people who have been closely involved with the fest will know what went on behind the scenes. The chaos that was inside. The calm that is projected outside. But somehow things always happen. They fall into place. This is so characteristic of student fests and probably the reason why we leave every edition of the fest with more experience to make the next one even better.

The inauguration ceremony was a well managed affair. The crowds turned up in huge numbers. This was in sync with the rising importance that sports are getting in BITS. First it was the football league and then its basketball version that ensured that Gym G sees some activity through out the year. How tomorrow will shape up remains unknown. The scheduling is going on, changes will still be made. But then we are students – ready for anything, anywhere, anytime. Even with all this uncertainty, once on the field order will prevail. With this belief and spirit, things will always fall into place. But whatever happens tomorrow, you can be sure that the Third Base team will be there to cover it. So keep reading.

Monkeying Around

With BOSM finally underway, the soaring enthusiasm levels have reached sky high. Hoping to capitalise on this mounting frenzy is the department of Informalz, that has planned plenty of fun events this BOSM. We spoke to the Informalz co-ord, Anviksha Khare, who gave us a round-up of all the events in store. First up is Monkey Kick-off. A game in which you kick the ball as far as you can, it is the humanoid version of a highly popular flash game that had the campus crazed last sem. Scrabble, the battle of words, and human foosball are the two other new introductions this year. Anti-chess, where you “lose to win” and tug of war, the ultimate test of brawn are the events continuing from last time. There will also be crosswords and quizzes available at major hang-outs like Gym g and SAC that people can solve and drop in at the Informalz booth. Anviksha said that plenty of experimentation has gone in this BOSM and she hopes that it will pull crowds of BITSians and outstis alike to the Informalz booth.

Hearsay

EPC sounded a few outstation participants out to gauge the general response to BOSM. Here is a selection of their responses.

Ritu and Mansi, both first-timers at BOSM from the MITS volleyball team, expressed satisfaction with the place and barring the temperature, their stay (so far) has been comfortable. They added that their team was hopeful about their medal chances.

In the words of the football team captain of RGIT, Mumbai, “The atmosphere here is thrilling and it feels great to be here. We are overwhelmed with the welcome we have received.”“Looking at the amazing turnout for the meet we look forward to have some intense competition. We are very well prepared and will give our best. The facilities provided are very satisfactory”, said the Cricket Captain, JGJ College.

Overall, the organizers can take heart from the participants’ positive responses to the arrangements made, though accommodation has remained a long-standing sore point with the outstation teams.

Inauguration

It was 8 in the morning, and he was sleeping as usual. And a minute later, his eyes lit up, he had got it. He had got THE IDEA. Add a few more of those ‘eye-illuminating’ ideas and a month later it culminated into the 23rd BITS Open Sports Meet (BOSM).

BOSM 2008 was given a kick start this 9th September, with the inaugural ceremony commencing at 7 PM, at the Gym Grounds. Teams from all over India had assembled at the grounds, and we could all feel the thrill and excitement in the air. The ceremony began with the distribution of mementos by the sports secretary to the Vice-Chancellor, and other dignitaries. The teams were then introduced, after which all 25 of them assembled on the basketball court. The oath-taking ceremony began and vows to play fair and to play well were taken.

At around 7:35 PM, the inaugural basketball match between BITS and IP College, Delhi began with loud cheers and roars from the crowd, the excitement indeed was infectious. Every failed attempt was lamented; every point scored was clapped and cheered for. The match was as exciting as it should have been. At half time, the scoreboard read 10-6, us in the lead. After play resumed the match just got more one sided, with BITS scoring 8 more points. By the end of the match BITS emerged victorious, with the score line saying 18-8.

With four days to go, and many more matches yet to be held, our teams will surely make us proud.

Rec 'n' Acc

Rec' and Acc' is going all out this BOSM to ensure that everyone who comes to Pilani spends a comfortable four days here. Commitment levels are on an incredible high and the enthusiasm was evident as work began last night, with the first arrivals of outstation participants. The EPC spoke to Vandana, the COSSACN of the department about the fest, and some of the major changes that Rec' and Acc' have made for this BOSM.

The entire registration procedure has been revamped and made an online one, with use of efficient software that will make the whole process more convenient and accurate. Rec' and Acc' has also arranged for a shuttle of sorts to ferry outstation participants from the Rec' and Acc' booth or the main gate to their respective accommodation. "The routes will be operable all day and prove to be especially helpful to participants given accommodation in staff quarters at the far end of campus" Vandana emphasized.

This department of 30 volunteers and 25 core members has also been seriously working on smoothing out last year's wrinkles. BOSM 2007 was witness to many complaints regarding cleanliness of the rooms provided to participants and in order to ensure a better response this year, special care has been taken to ensure cleanliness. Problems faced last year with respect to congestion are also a distant memory this year, with the upper common rooms in the boys' bhavans also being given as accommodation. Twenty out of thirty coaches have also been provided with single room accommodation.

Vandana also stressed on how supportive the Dean SWD, Prof N V Muralidhar Rao and the Chief Warden, Prof S K Varma have been over the past one month, saying that their cooperation has helped them infintely. And to sum it up, in the words of the COSSACN, Rec and Acc for BOSM 2008, "Ultimately, all of us want every outstation participant to leave BOSM wanting to come back next year."