The 2001 annual Aggie Olympics, held on Sunday May 6 at the AUB farm, organized by the AUB Athletics Department in conjunction with the Agricultural Research and Education Center students, proved to be "the best for three years in terms of the organization, participation, and weather conditions," according to Ghaleb Halimi, director of the Athletics Department. Many students, athletes, and team guests, as well as members from the Lebanese University-Bekaa branches participated in a wide range of activities, resulting in an astonishing AUB lead in 11 out of around 16 events. Following a short Lebanese breakfast, the Aggie Olympics 2001 began with the 100 meter race for men and women. Ibrahim Hariri, an AUB agriculture student on the varsity team, came in first place in the 100 meter dash and went on to achieve a further three victories in other events. Mohammed Abdul-Razzak of the Lebanese University of Zahle followed Hariri in second place and Mohammed El-Sayyed, also an LU student came third. Surprisingly, the female participants for the 100 meter race were few in number, with only three competing , all of whom were from AUB. Maya Abuzeid, who came in first in the women's 100 meter race, was also able to do well later in the day, securing places in the top three positions of several events. Karyl Akilian and Rayya Younis came in second and third place respectively. Women did not take part in the 400 meter race in which the AUBites Toufic El-Bawab and Wissam Zaher placed first and second. The tables were turned in the shotput competition as LU showed its strength. Ali Mokdad and Bilal Yazbeck, both LU participants, shocked the audience with their power, throwing over 13 meters. Even in the girl's shotput competition, where only five participated, LU was able to take the lead with Oumaya Ali in first place followed by two AUB students, Rayya Younes and Maya Abuzeid. The 800 and 300 meter races revealed AUB superiority once more, where Nadim Kaakoush and Toufic El-Bawab came in first and third respectively in the 800 meter race. Furthermore, AUB was able to dominate in the 300 meter race with Ibrahim Hariri once more winning first place followed by Elie Baaklini and Wissam Zaher. The next part of the day was distinguished by several new activities including the milk-drinking competition, the treasure hunt and the chicken catching competition. Perhaps some of the most interesting activities were the sack and egg tossing races, in which many couples gathered to take part. In fact, the egg tossing competition had 24 couples throwing eggs back and forth, taking care not to break them. However, the last three couples broke their eggs simultaneously; hence, all won the competition jointly. The sack race was also won by AUB in the top two positions, with Ibrahim and Manal Kassab in first and Jihad Ashkar and Rania Bu Mosleh in second. In the meantime, chess and table tennis competitions took place. AUB again snatched the lead in the men's and women's table tennis with Maen Shaka in first for men and Maya Abuzeid again in the women's competition. However, LU proved to be more strategic in the chess games, winning the first two positions. Following the lunch break, a friendly tug of war competition took place with the faculty surprisingly defeating their students for both LU and AUB. Charles Diab, the only USJ student achieving a victory in the Olympics, won the new and interesting milk-drinking event. The last part of the day was characterized by further victories for AUB. The first soccer game between the AUB junior varsity and the FAFS students resulted in a a 5-2 victory for the varsity team. The second match between the AUB varsity men and the LU team was characterized by a strong offensive for the AUB players in the second half, who won 3-1. Basketball, an important part of sports life at AUB, also resulted in an AUB victory over the LU teams. Following around eight hours of sports and games, the distribution of medals and trophies took place in the presence of the dean of agriculture of LU and the dean of FAFS. A surprise ended the Olympics as a brief water balloon fight broke out before the contestants return from the farm to Beirut.