EDITORIAL & OPINION: A tradition unlike any other

The 105th Penn Relays are in progress so head on over to Franklin Field and celebrate a Philadelphia institution. We can only speculate about how many traditions observed by students in 1895 are no longer remembered today. But for each of the last 105 years, Franklin Field has hosted the Relays. It is an athletic event unlike any other, attracting around 18,000 athletes from Jamaica, California and most points in between to West Philadelphia for a weekend of track and field competition. Some are household names, like Michael Johnson and Gail Devers, while others have simply waited all their lives for the chance to perform at the Relays. United by their passion for the oldest of sports, they will leave it all on the Franklin Field track before a packed crowd urging them to stretch for another inch, another second, another record. It would be a shame if Penn students stayed away. We've heard students rattle off their litany of concerns too many times. The Relays are no more dangerous than any other event bringing together tens of thousands of people. But the Relays are a lot more special than your average big-time athletic event. Just ask any of the athletes who came to perform without receiving performance fees or paid their own way to the Carnival. One hundred and seventy five Olympic gold medalists have performed at the Relays over the years, including 23 who took home gold at the 1996 Atlanta Games. That is the least part of the weekend's magic. At its core are the competitors. Some of the athletes will break records, others will leave with broken hearts, but for each of them -- and for those watching from the stands -- it will be a weekend to remember. So get a free ticket today or a discounted one tomorrow and head on over to Franklin Field. Cheer for Penn's own men's and women's teams, or cheer for the underdogs, record-setters and inspiring performances. But come out and cheer.