攀岩場與運動文化 Rock-climbing Tower & Sport
Ladies and Gentlemen, we have now reached one of the most unique facilities on this campus, and this artificial rock-climbing tower is one of the first 3D climbing facilities in Taiwan. The development of rock climbing at National Central University had been sporadic and infrequent before the tower was built in 1994. But our school authorities had the foresight to be the first university to build a rock-climbing tower on campus. In the same year the tower was completed, the first professional climbing competition was held here, which attracted climbers 
from all over the country and greatly promoted the sport. Since then, the rock-climbing club on campus has continued to hold yearly competitions and regular training sessions. On weekdays, climbers come here to practice their skills in the evening. Forgetting all the anxieties related to school works, each climber strives, not in competition with others, but to reach higher grounds, both in body and mind. On weekends, they climb outdoors on limestone or granite.
Instead of the traditional team sports such as basketball or baseball, students at NCU seem to prefer alternative individual sports such as jogging, golfing, swimming and climbing. This is probably because it’s hard to find enough people to organize teams for traditional team sports in this day of individualism and in an environment that encourages competition against the self, rather than against others. In any case, the individual-oriented sports are good training for developing a sense of self-reliance. And the rise of the sport of rock climbing gives us a sign of what
today’s young people think of recreation in their leisure life. Besides, nowadays people who spend most of their time on the net yearn to get in touch with nature. What better method than rock-climbing outdoors to take in all the breathtaking views of nature! I think that is the main reason why National Central University has built this rock-climbing facility.
Ladies and Gentlemen, we have now reached one of the most unique facilities on this campus, and this artificial rock-climbing tower is one of the first 3D climbing facilities in Taiwan. The development of rock climbing at National Central University had been sporadic and infrequent before the tower was built in 1994. But our school authorities had the foresight to be the first university to build a rock-climbing tower on campus. In the same year the tower was completed, the first professional climbing competition was held here, which attracted climbers from all over the country and greatly promoted the sport. Since then, the rock-climbing club on campus has continued to hold yearly competitions and regular training sessions. On weekdays, climbers come here to practice their skills in the evening. Forgetting all the anxieties related to school works, each climber strives, not in competition with others, but to reach higher grounds, both in body and mind. On weekends, they climb outdoors on limestone or granite.Instead of the traditional team sports such as basketball or baseball, students at NCU seem to prefer alternative individual sports such as jogging, golfing, swimming and climbing. This is probably because it’s hard to find enough people to organize teams for traditional team sports in this day of individualism and in an environment that encourages competition against the self, rather than against others. In any case, the individual-oriented sports are good training for developing a sense of self-reliance. And the rise of the sport of rock climbing gives us a sign of what today’s young people think of recreation in their leisure life. Besides, nowadays people who spend most of their time on the net yearn to get in touch with nature. What better method than rock-climbing outdoors to take in all the breathtaking views of nature! I think that is the main reason why National Central University has built this rock-climbing facility.