Attending the MBAT Tournament: an experience beyond games (2024)

Teresa Gomes, Full-Time MBA student shines a light on her experience attending the MBA Tournament (MBAT) at HEC Paris. The MBAT offers – an exciting multi-sport event that brings together MBA candidates from top business schools across Europe and beyond.

Hosted annually at the HEC Paris Business School campus, MBAT is a celebration of sportsmanship, diversity, and friendly competition. This year, Imperial’s MBA cohort participated in the tournament for the first time.

“The whole experience was about much more than just winning medals. It was a truly immersive experience that started even before the tournament began. As the competitions unfolded, our Imperial candidates poured their hearts into every event, showcasing their skills, determination, and teamwork.”

With over 100 different events spanning physical sports, e-sports, cultural showcases, and intellectual challenges, MBAT caters to a wide array of interests and talents. From traditional sports such as football, rugby, and cricket to gaming competitions such as Mario Kart and FIFA, there was something for everyone to encourage maximum participation from students of diverse backgrounds. Not just that, art lovers could showcase their skills in dance competitions and fashion shows, while musicians could battle it out in the Battle of the Bands.

Our cohort embraced this diverse range of events with enthusiasm, competing against some of the finest athletes and artists from prestigious institutions such as London Business School, HEC Paris, Cambridge Judge Business School and Oxford Said Business School.

Our journey kicked off with a delightful Eurostar train ride to the enchanting city of Paris, where we had the opportunity to explore iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, and the Arc de Triomphe. Upon arrival at the HEC Paris campus, we were immediately captivated by the lush, green surroundings and the breath-taking lakeside chateau. We registered for the event, collected our wristbands, and downloaded the MBAT app, which provided a comprehensive schedule, transportation details, and even a "connect" feature that facilitated networking with students from other schools based on shared career interests and preferred markets.

“The best part about MBAT was that it presented a celebration of diversity and inclusivity.”

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Throughout those 3 eventful days, the air was filled with competitive spirit, with the top three schools receiving coveted awards based on their cumulative performance across all events. But the whole experience was about much more than just winning medals. It was a truly immersive experience that started even before the tournament began. As the competitions unfolded, our Imperial candidates poured their hearts into every event, showcasing their skills, determination, and teamwork.

While some battled on the fields and courts, others served as esteemed jury members, judging events like the dance competition and fashion show. The best part about MBAT was that it presented a celebration of diversity and inclusivity. Our students proudly participated in the PRIDE parade, demonstrating their support for the LGBTQ+ community and promoting a spirit of acceptance and unity.

“While winning is always gratifying, we realised that true victory lies in pushing ourselves beyond our limits, embracing new challenges, and cultivating lasting connections with our peers from around the world.”

After three exhilarating days of competitions, the time came to celebrate our achievements. Team Imperial emerged victorious in events - Mahjong and Paintball, while the overall top three schools were London Business School, HEC Paris, and Oxford Said Business School. The culmination of the event was a truly unforgettable masquerade ball held at the luxurious La Felicita venue in the heart of Paris. Adorned in the party attire, our students danced the night away, revelling in the camaraderie and shared experiences that had forged unbreakable bonds.

As we bid farewell to Paris and headed towards our next adventure – the Global Experience Week in Rio/Kenya – we couldn't help but reflect on the invaluable lessons learned during MBAT. While winning is always gratifying, we realised that true victory lies in pushing ourselves beyond our limits, embracing new challenges, and cultivating lasting connections with our peers from around the world.

MBAT marked a journey that reminded us of the importance of balance, perseverance, and cultural exchange. We are deeply grateful to Imperial College Business School for providing us with this extraordinary opportunity, and we look forward to passing on the legacy of MBAT to future cohorts, inspiring them to embrace the spirit of friendly competition, personal growth, and global camaraderie.

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