🏆 Shanghai Lions Make History with Third Straight “Team of the Year” Award at That’s Shanghai Sports Awards 2012
The Shanghai Lions have done it again — and this time, it’s legendary.
At the That’s Shanghai Sports Awards 2012, the Lions were crowned “Team of the Year” for the third time in a row, winning the first three editions of this now-iconic citywide event. This time, we were especially honored to receive the People’s Choice Award — voted by the community itself.
“It meant that many people recognized us as the best club in Shanghai and voted for us.”
— Freek Boelen, President of the Shanghai Lions
⚽ A Club Victory — Every Lion Counts
This wasn’t just a win for the Saturday team. It was a collective award for the entire Lions organization:
- 🦁 From the U18 youth team to the Veterans
- 🦁 From Saturday warriors to the Sunday stylists
- 🦁 From those on the pitch to those behind the scenes
“Magic is the word!”
Our presence at The Camel Bar that night proved it — the room echoed with our club spirit. And in one of the most epic moments in Lions history, our President Freek Boelen arrived just two minutes before the award was announced… after a 12-hour marathon journey.
✈️ Freek’s Wild Journey to the Camel: A 12-Hour Lions Dash
Here’s how it unfolded:
- 8:00 AM – Qinhuangdao: Freek wakes up, aiming to catch an 11:30 flight to Shanghai.
- 9:00 AM – Surprise: His CEO schedules a last-minute 5:00 PM meeting in Shanghai.
- 10:00 AM – Fog: The flight is stuck in Shanghai. No take-off in sight.
- 12:00 PM – Cancelled: The plane will never leave. Plan B needed.
- 1:00 PM – Train station: He cancels the meeting and heads for Beijing by rail.
- 3:30 PM – Beijing chaos: Swarms of CNY commuters at the station. No taxis stop.
- 4:15 PM – Subway detour: His colleague guides him… the wrong way.
- 4:45 PM – Beijing Airport: Makes it just in time for the 5:30 PM flight.
- 5:30–7:30 PM – On the plane: Still not taking off. Only water served — no beer!
- 9:30 PM – Landing: Sprinting through Hongqiao Terminal shouting “MOVE!”
- 9:35 PM – Lost driver: Miscommunication in dialect. No clue where he is.
- 9:40 PM – Found him: Another sprint. Full speed to The Camel.
- 9:58 PM – Arrival: Two minutes before showtime.
- 10:00 PM – “And the People’s Choice is…”
👉 “The Shanghai Lions!”
👉 Freek jumps on stage, “so happy!”
“To me, we are on a long journey together — and this is just the beginning. If you really want to make something happen, you can. That’s why we are the best team in Shanghai.”
🏅 3 Years. 3 Awards. 1 Message.
- 🏆 2010 – Historic first win
- 🏆 2011 – Back-to-back champions
- 🏆 2012 – People’s Choice Victory
No other team had ever pulled off such a feat — three in a row, each one earned with heart, hustle, and unity.
