In the summer of 2008 I had the privilege of attending the HKIN Travel Study to Beijing, China for the Olympic Summer Games. The purpose of the trip was to take in 13-15 different Olympic events while experiencing Chinese culture.

The trip began with a 15-hour flight to Shanghai where we stayed for a week of shopping, touring and eating. We visited and dined in many extravagant venues, most notably the Oriental Pearl Tower. We also spent time in classes: “The Olympic Games Movement,” “Perspective in Global Sports Communication” and “Socio-Cultural and Philosophical Issues in Sport.”

The reason we were really there was for the Olympics, though. Every street corner had flags of the Olympic symbol waving from the streetlights and every person was happily welcoming us Canadians. The Chinese were showcasing their country to the world for all to view in awe of their accomplishments. Their “Bird’s Nest” stadium and “Cube” aquatic centre were arguably the most innovative venues in modern history. Says Human Kinetics professor Jack Reimer: “I learned that China was like the United States of Asia. It is highly nationalistic, with the economic and cultural dominance of the region.”

Going to the Olympic events was a surreal experience. We watched different events like gymnastics, water polo, basketball, swimming, handball, archery and softball. We also saw Usain Bolt in his first 100m heat which was as high of an adrenaline rush as one would ever need.

The experiences, friends, and memories of the Beijing Olympic travel study cannot be measured. Being in the middle of the Games added depth to our academic study of the Olympics. As Reimer points out, “Many of the concepts that we discussed in the courses were similar to our on-campus courses. However, rather than a purely theoretical exercise, the travel study makes it an immersion experience where the concepts come alive all
around you.”