Taipei, June 11 (CNA) The national paintball challenge in Kinmen wrapped up amid much fanfare on Sunday, with about 500 players from more than 100 teams taking part in an activity that is fast gaining popularity in across the county.
The event, held at a former artillery base in Kinmen, was an effort to help raise youth awareness about the issues of bullying and the dangers of drugs in campuses.
It was also a way to help promote teamwork in a fun and interactive atmosphere.
According to enthusiasts, paintball is an exciting outdoor sport and much more realistic than playing video games at home.
"It is really hard to aim in paintball, but it's definitely more fun than playing video games. The outdoor experience is totally different because you have to run and hide in order not to get hit," said Kuan Cheng-hsiao, a student who participated in the event on Sunday.
Huang Chih-yang, a seventh grader from Jinhu Junior High School who led his four-person team, said despite playing paintball for the first time, their victory in the first round was a rewarding experience.
The organizers have gone to great lengths to make sure that contestants from all grades can take part in the paintball challenge in Kinmen, a two-day event that kicked off on Saturday.
The event brought together more than 100 teams, which were categorized into four different groups, including organizations, colleges, junior high schools and high schools.
After the games, Lin De-gong, secretary-general of Kinmen County government, invited the players to take time to visit tourist sites in Kinmen while on the island.
