In order to effectively promote the in-depth development of national fitness activities and enrich the cultural life of faculty and staff, the 8th "Champion Cup" Balloon Volleyball Competition, hosted by the Labor Union of the School of Life Science and Technology, kicked off on October 16 at the Air-Supported Dome Sports Center on the Minhang Campus. Zhang Yan, Dean of the School, and Gu Jianping, Secretary of the Party Committee, attended the event.

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In his speech at the opening ceremony, Gu Jianping emphasized that life lies in movement and hoped that the faculty and staff would seize the opportunity of this competition to cultivate a habit of exercising. At the same time, he encouraged them to inspire students in their teams to engage in physical exercise and strengthen their physical health, thereby preparing themselves with sufficient energy for the arduous daily scientific research work. Furthermore, he noted that sports events were conducive to strengthening communication among teams, fostering a vibrant and healthy team spirit, and unifying efforts to help the school's cause reach new heights.

This year's competition attracted a total of eight teams from the Biochemistry Department, Genetics Department, Microbiology Department, Biological Engineering Department, Bioinformatics Department, Experimental Teaching Center-Instrument Platform, BIO-X Research Institute, and the Administrative Office of the School. In addition, there were staff members and cheerleaders, bringing the total number of participants to over 100. The competition was divided into two stages: group matches and knockout rounds. After three hours of intense competition, the Administrative Office team successfully retained its championship title, while the Biological Engineering Department team and the Biochemistry Department team secured the second and third places respectively.

Balloon volleyball is a mass sports activity suitable for people of all ages. It is characterized by its soft ball, slow ball speed, and low risk of injury, making it highly adaptable to a wide range of participants. Since 2011, the School of Life Science and Technology has consecutively hosted eight balloon volleyball competitions involving the entire faculty. The "Champion Cup" balloon volleyball competition has become a traditional sports event of the School of Life Science and Technology. It serves as an effective means to enrich the cultural life of faculty members, strengthen their physical health, and practically promote the in-depth development of national fitness activities within the school.