Day 1 – London (Posted Sunday AM)

Day 1 – London (Posted Sunday AM) Our Olympic Journey Begins We arrived at the Hotel, and all came together at our Kick-Off meeting. Everyone had a story to tell regarding there journey… a few delayed flights and airport experiences but with only one minor delay we all made it on time for Professor Kim to welcome the group and provide an overview of what was to come. The students were excited to see what awaited them.

Prof. Kim had everyone introduce them self’s and provided an overview of the 3-week program. Our schedule includes a few lectures in London to provide a background to the Olympics starting with the Ancient World and the Olympic Games starting in 776 B.C.E. Our Second city stop is Paris so we would be providing a lecture of the world from mid-1800’s, the beginning of the IOC in Paris and the first games in Athens. Our Kick-off meeting also explained the use of public transportation in London and our use of “oyster” cards. The tap-in and tap-out card for use on the Tube and busses. This program has been offered through SUAbroad and our Sport Management Department since 2009 and we have a few Do’s and Don’ts to offer the Students. Including personal safety and other European expectations. And then we introduced the famous Scavenger Hunt, a few academic, a few touristy but mostly fun items to collect or take a personal selfie with the item. Students added a few last-minute items to the list. The Hotel accommodations are outstanding. Very comfortable and with a daily breakfast and central location to catch the “Tube” and bus. With a long flight and 5-hour time difference from Syracuse everyone wanted to freshen up and sneak in a power-nap. Off to dinner, but first a stop at Piccadilly Circus (London’s answer to Times Sq. in NYC). Our first coming together was surprisingly a conga-line (looks like no need for any ice-breakers for this group). Then a few more picture taking opportunities at Trafalgar Square and a walk-through Covent Garden. Finally, dinner… “Waiter please bring us 14 Fish and chips and 1 Chicken Dinner.” Time to head back to the hotel and get ready for our first full day in London. A few personal comments… Our department has made it our mission to provide our students with a rich academic environment as well as experiential opportunities. This program has been a way to experience firsthand the plans for future Olympic sites, current management of the Olympic program and the historic foundations of the Ancient Olympics and the beginning of the Modern Olympic movement. I am grateful to have had an opportunity to meet this outstanding group of students and I look forward to future blog posts. Professor Kim is an accomplished Olympic Academic and a is a great group leader. I thank her of the extensive time it takes to put together this course. I want to thank her for allowing me the opportunity to participate and wish all of you the best over the next few weeks. Prof. Ryan