Colors of the rainbow representing the flags of different nations filled the stands as international students cheered their teams on at the 20th annual International Student Council Soccer tournament Sunday.

The tournament’s 10 teams consist of 11 to 18 players who play against each other in three weekends of competition. The games began Sunday and end Oct. 18. All games are played in Stehr Field near Wham Education Building.

This is our biggest international student event of the year, said Ruth Saborio, a junior in finance from Honduras and vice president of International Student Council. Everyone who plays is very passionate and wants to win.

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The ISC sponsors this event during the fall of every school year, and the event is the highlight of the year for the council and the students involved.

The goal of this tournament is to bring all the international students together and to have fun, Saborio said. The objective of the games are to reach a better understanding among each other.

Wan Kamal Wan Napi, graduate student from Malaysia and ISC president, said the games are very serious.

Everyone looks forward to playing, he said. Soccer is a very big deal in our home countries, and we make it a big deal here. Those who compete give it their all.

Saborio said the completion is the thrill of the year for those involved in international soccer.

It is 100 percent excitement and adrenaline, Saborio said. Everyone is singing their country’s song. Some bring instruments, and they all are waving their flags and balloons.

Coonlab Ali, a graduate student in geography from the Ivory Coast and the chairman of the soccer tournament, said the soccer tournament means a lot to him and to his country.

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We call soccer the king sport,’ he said. It doesn’t matter what else is going on in our country, just as long as there is soccer, we are happy. It is the best form of entertainment for the population.

This was the first year there was a pre-season, which enabled teams to play non-competitively and practice.

Wan Napi said the ISC tries to do things for the international students as a whole and had only one goal for the year.

We always try to bring students together, Wan Napi said. The power of this event proves the quality of leadership that we have. We are teaching everyone to learn about other backgrounds and cultures. That’s our goal in every event that we hold.

Team Greek Original is the three-time defending champion. The team’s manager, Polys Polycarpou, a senior in management from Cyprus, said he is sure it will win again this year.

We are more sure of ourselves this year, he said. The team is stronger, and our confidence is very high.

But Ali said it is hard to say who might be the winner this year.

Players on the teams come and go. And each year, each team has the same potential to win, and all the players are confident, he said. Just as long as everyone is having fun and has a good spirit, everyone should leave with a great memory.

Saborio said an international student alumnus who came to visit reminded her of how important the tournament is.

The first thing he asked about was the soccer tournament, she said. This is the biggest memory of college for these students. That just reminds me about how important it can be.