The International Student Association will host its first International Olympics today as part of International Week events promoting cultural diversity.Students will have the opportunity to participate in several popular world sports such as soccer, and several Eastern world board games such as bocce, mancala and dominoes in front of Sadler Hall.

The International Olympics occurs on the sixth day of International Week festivities. Following a theme of promoting different aspects of culture, the Olympics illustrate a sports theme, said Karen Estrada, International Week chair.

“In the past, events have always been the same,” said Estrada, a junior accounting and e-business major. “This year, we have very diverse and different events that target every student at TCU.”

Michelle Fabrega, ISA president, said she is excited about hosting the event and expects about 60 people to participate, but anticipates more students to come and go throughout the evening. Fabrega said she was excited about the turnout thus far at previous International Week events.

“We were overwhelmed with the turnout in the beginning because of the new direction we decided to go in this year,” said Fabrega, a junior advertising/public relations major.

There will be four teams of seven people for the soccer match.

Francois Piat, a graduate international management student, said he is participating in the soccer match because it will be a chance for him to be with other international students and meet new people.

The Olympics start at 5 p.m. and will begin with the game ice and spoons, a group icebreaker that involves teams racing to fill buckets with ice. Soccer matches will follow the icebreaker as well as the board games. Traditional snacks and drinks from Asian countries such as a Vietnamese coconut drinks will also be served.

Besides incorporating cultural themes such as art, music, dance and sports in events, Fabrega contacted and met with several student and intercultural organizations asking for their participation in international week. The result was a culmination of events co-sponsored by improvisational troupe Senseless Acts of Comedy, Students for Asian Indian Cultural Awareness, Center for International Education, International Student Services, Asian Student Association and Leadership Council.

Estrada stresses that International Week is not just for international students.

“International Week is a chance for TCU students to get out there and support other organizations,” Estrada said. “We all have things about our cultures we want to share.