The 17th edition of the Notre Dame University-Louaize (NDU) Annual I.COMPETE School Games sports tournament for the year 2024-2025 concluded on the University’s main campus, under the patronage and attendance of the guest of honor, Minister of Youth and Sports, Dr. Nora Bayrakdarian.
The four-day event brought together 1,300 students representing nine districts from all across Lebanon. Among the people present were Dr. Michel Hayek, Vice President for Academic Affairs; Father Pierre Ghossoub, Acting Vice President for Finance; Dr. Charbel Zgheib, Dean of Students; Majed Bou Hadir, Director of the Office of Public Affairs and Protocol; Jihad Salameh, President of the Lebanese Fencing Federation; Alain Sayegh, Head of the Lebanese Tennis Federation; Paul Kaddissi, President of the Lebanese Aikido Federation; and school principals and parents. The ceremony opened with the Lebanese national anthem, followed by a welcome from Mr. Elias Boutros, Head of the Department of Athletics. He warmly greeted attendees and praised the presence of Minister Bayrakdarian, commending her leading role in fighting sports corruption and upholding integrity and transparency.
On behalf of NDU President Father Bechara El Khoury, Dr. Michel Hayek gave a speech after the welcome, highlighting the fact that sports are more than just medals; they are a reflection of virtues like integrity, perseverance, and collaboration. NDU, a modern university with roots in the Maronite Order of the Holy Virgin Mary’s 300-year mission, views athletics as crucial to student growth and academic success, he said. Dr. Hayek ended by expressing gratitude to Minister Bayrakdarian for attending, as well as to the participating federations, coaches, referees, instructors, and most importantly, the NDU team, for their crucial role in making the event a success.
Dr. Bayrakdarian praised the event as a “pioneering initiative,” saluting NDU for using sports to promote peace and empower youth. She emphasized the Ministry’s support for efforts that strengthen national unity and youth engagement, both on and off campus. She called for creating opportunities within Lebanon to prevent youth emigration and urged the development of modern national strategies to drive progress—aligned with the vision of President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Dr. Nawaf Salam. She concluded by highlighting the Ministry’s collaboration with NDU and UNICEF to build platforms that give young people a real voice in shaping Lebanon’s future.
At the end of the ceremony, Dr. Hayek presented a commemorative model to Her Excellency, followed by the distribution of trophies and medals to the winners.
The event results were as follows:
Cross-Country
Girls:
- 1st – Lucy Nehme (Collège Saint Joseph – Aintoura)
- 2nd – Alex Bejjani (Grand Lycée Franco-Libanais)
- 3rd – Reem Demian (Ecole Sainte Louise)
Boys:
- 1st – Kamal Salhab (Grand Lycée Franco-Libanais)
- 2nd – Mattieu Chebli (Grand Lycée Franco-Libanais)
- 3rd – Ossen El Ahmar (IC – Ras Beirut)
Chess
Mixed:
- 1st – Peter Chamoun (Collège des Frères Mont La Salle)
- 2nd – Hady Hijazi (Lycée Houssam Eddine Hariri)
Table Tennis
Girls:
- 1st – Myra El Baba (Lycée Houssam Eddine Hariri)
- 2nd – Helena Mekhael (Collège Saint Georges – Zalqa)
Boys:
- 1st – Marc Abou Nohra (Grand Lycée Franco-Libanais)
- 2nd – Christian Issa (Collège Saint Joseph – Aintoura)
Tennis
Girls:
- 1st – Marianne Berberian (Collège des Frères Mont La Salle)
- 2nd – Lama Naaman (IC – Ain Aar)
Boys:
- 1st – Elias Chrabieh (Brummana High School)
- 2nd – Alexandre Ghostine (IC – Ras Beirut)
E-Sports
NBA 2K:
- 1st – Rudy Jabbour (Collège Saint Georges – Zalqa)
- 2nd – Carlo Kochkarian (Collège Saint Georges – Zalqa)
FIFA
- 1st – Anthony Melkonian (Collège Saint Georges – Zalqa)
- 2nd – Ralph Boghossian (Collège des Saints Coeurs – Baouchrieh)
Volleyball
Girls:
- 1st – Monsif International School
- 2nd – Collège des Frères Maristes – Jbeil
Boys:
- 1st – Monsif International School
- 2nd – Saint Joseph School – Kornet Chehwan
Mini Football
Girls:
- 1st – Collège Notre Dame de Louaizeh
- 2nd – Collège Notre Dame de Nazareth – Achrafieh
Boys:
- 1st – Lycée Houssam Eddine Hariri
- 2nd – Don Bosco Technical Institute
Basketball
Girls:
- 1st – Saint Joseph School – Aintoura
- 2nd – Collège Mariste Champville
Boys:
- 1st – Collège des Frères Mont La Salle
- 2nd – Collège Mariste Champville
Individual Awards
- Best Basketball Player (MVP): Majd Nassar (Collège des Frères Mont La Salle)
- Best Female Basketball Player (MVP): Serena Salameh (Collège Saint Joseph – Aintoura)
- Best Mini Football Player (MVP): Omar Koblawi (Lycée Houssam Eddine Hariri)
- Best Female Mini Football Player (MVP): Elsa Korban (Collège Notre Dame de Louaizeh)
- Best Volleyball Player (MVP): Serge Chehab (Monsif International School)
- Best Female Volleyball Player (MVP): Dana Ghosn (Monsif International School)
Challenge Cup
- Top-scoring School Across All Sports: Collège Saint Joseph – Aintoura, with 61 points