The crowd roared as the gladiators tussled in the sand. Blood-caked armour and weapons draped with flesh clash; only one of them gets to walk away from here. Money rattles in people’s bags as they bet on who wins, and the cacophony rises to a crescendo. You would observe that sporting spectacles have not changed much since then, as you watch Manticore and Opinicus glare at each other from across the field. The balmy, pleasant evening and the people lounging on the grass watching the games would make you think that Shakespeare in the Park is happening, but no, blood is being spilt. Sports bring out the heroes, as well as the animals, and the opening ceremony demonstrated nothing else.

The Monash Cup is officially 10 years old as of 2025, and CNS made sure that this fact was celebrated with their Decennium theme. This 35-day event spans almost all of the sports you can imagine, with a newly thriving e-sports division as well, and the opening ceremony does well to acknowledge the pure grandeur. The Monash Chamber Orchestra plays their own rendition of sports anthems like Waka Waka, and the crowd couldn’t help but be swept away by the immense feeling. The houses were then introduced to much fanfare; Manticore captains were asked to strike poses, and Leviathan came in with a slightly corny “blue is not a colour but a mentality”. Culebre was mostly disembodied screaming, and Opinicus delivered a speech about respect and family. That about sums up how the houses are, and anyone with a slight knowledge of Harry Potter can draw the similarities. 

The crew moves to the grass field to play Tug of War and Capture the Flag, classic games you play at summer camp, but that didn’t reduce the severity of competition. The inclusion of field games in the opening ceremony is novel, and it was clearly a good decision, as this drove up crowd engagement and got everyone that much more excited. You can see the feral slip of a canine in a smile, and the flexing of muscles as people yell counts, and you are reminded of the animalistic nature of competition. Many of the players were barefoot and bare-handed, ready to bear the rope burn for a competitive advantage, reminiscent of Ancient Greece and their naked athletes. It is also interesting to note that some players were in jeans (the Leviathan captain was in Levi jeans) and hoodies, which again represents the two extremes of competition. You are reminded of the fact that this whole extravaganza is organised by university students, especially with the sight of someone sitting near the field lines and applying for short extensions through the website, softening the ruthlessness of the games. 

Manticore and Opinicus had the most obvious rivalry, with Opinicus being 2024’s Cup champions and Manticore hungry for the same victory. Their Capture the Flag game gets ugly as it drags into a draw, and you can almost see the red flash in Manticore’s eyes. “Sports is war minus the shooting” (George Orwell). Even for a few measly points, teams are willing to push the limits and toe the line between sportsmanship and savagery. The CNS staff were admirable in their efforts to shepherd the bloodthirsty players into following the rules, coming up with solutions on the spot to unique situations like a dead draw in Capture the Flag (Respect the Whistle!). The events were scored by a strictly 2000s playlist, making it feel like you were watching a high school game straight out of an American sitcom. 

There is a tonal shift with the crowd moving into the Sports Hall for musical chairs, the unserious “Shake It Off” serving as a death bell to those left without chairs. Manticore wins yet again, sweeping all 3 games under their belt, but Opinicus is close enough to be nipping at their ankles. Prizes are distributed for the winners, which are mostly first aid kits and muscle ache ointments, apt considering how much violence had been promised during the games. Speeches are delivered, Leviathan talks smack despite losing terribly and Opinicus doubles down on their “we’re all a family” schtick. All in all, the opening ceremony did its job of invigorating the crowd, and the script is clearly already written for what would play out to be an interesting and dramatic season of sport.

written by Sanjana Rajagopal

Photos by Rida, Yuto and Irin