Medals Poll

In this blog's recent poll asking which country would win the most medals at the 2008 Olympic Games, voters were split, 50-50, between China and the USA. As it turned out, it was a split decision . . . sort of. The USA won the overall tally with 110 medals (its highest number ever, not counting the boycotted 1984 Los Angeles Games) to China's 100, but the host country handily beat the USA in gold medals, 51 to 38. In terms of the tally board, the Beijing Games set the stage for the next edition four years hence in London, which looks to be a showdown between the USA and China. My view is that the USA clearly has the tougher task, because it will be a lot easier for China to pick up another dozen or so medals across the 26 sports scheduled for London than it will be for the USA to mine a similar number of gold medals. Let the preparations begin!

Mission Accomplished!

What can I say? To repeat some of the adjectives overheard from the students to describe this trip, it was at once "awesome," "unbelieveable," "wicked fun," "unforgettable," "amazing," "freaking incredible," and the like. Many of them asked if they could stay a few days longer, and at least some said they definitely will visit China again sometime. I am proud of the 13 students from Western New England College who signed up to join me and Dr. Dan Covell on this "expedition" to China and the Olympic Games. I was impressed by their open mindedness and willingness to venture out of their comfort zone and try new things, whether navigating the subway system and getting around via taxi without speaking a lick of Mandarin (except for AJ), or trying different foods, such as scorpian, sea horse, and assorted other exotic delights. Despite the long days, occasional foul weather, and extensive walking/running/climbing/standing that tested our physical stamina -- and various ailments that afflicted nearly every one of us -- the students were exemplary troupers without exception! This being the "test case" of the Seminar Abroad program of the Center for International Sport Business, I think we passed with flying colors!

Home Sweet Home!

We arrived at Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C., this evening after our 13+ hour non-stop flight from Beijing and happily, everyone was present and accounted for! While everyone was thoroughly exhausted after our eight-day, non-stop, sleep-deprived adventure -- Seminar Abroad '08: Beijing Olympics -- I think the students' facial expressions sum up their feelings of this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Even Golden Bear is smiling!

Farewell, China!

Dr. Dan Covell and I pose with Grace Liang, our very friendly and exceptionally capable tour guide, without whom we would not have had the extraordinary experience that we enjoyed in China. Without question, Grace contributed mightily to the students' overwhelmingly positive experience.

Xie Xie, Grace!

Grace Liang, our tour guide extraordinaire, poses with Golden Bear and the rest of our crew prior to our departure at Beijing Capital Airport. In front: Marti, Jenn, and Whitney; and at back: AJ, Shaq, Bre, Mike, Jake, Ashley, Rob, Lauren, Amanda, and Jess.

Chinese Twins

Whitney DePrizio and Marti Blum sport their Chinaman's hat and identical "I Climbed the Great Wall" t-shirts!

Shaq and Friend

Shaq Walker poses at the entrance of our hotel with his newly acquired plush, "Mr. Blizzard" (won with a scratch ticket at Dairy Queen!) . . . a perfect pillow for the plane ride home!

Pearls, Pearls, Pearls!

Amanda, Ashley, and Bre check out the merchandise at the Pearl Market, which is a six-floor department store of . . . you guessed it!

Last Chance for . . . Shopping!

On our last day in Beijing, Sunday, August 17, several students decided to do some last-minute shopping at the Pearl Market right after our final morning seminar (I gave them a break today and started a half hour later at 7:30 a.m.!). Apparently, Jess, Jake, Jenn, Amanda, Bre, Lauren, Ashley, Shaq, and Mike still had Chinese money to "get rid of" before departing for the airport at 2 p.m.

Raising of the Flag

This morning at 5 a.m., Jake Roy and I jogged over to Tiananmen Square -- about 10 minutes from our hotel -- to watch the daily flag-raising ceremony at sunrise, which today occurred around 5:23 a.m.. We observed the one-minute spectacle that attracts literally thousands of people (mostly Chinese) everyday to the square. In the background is the Great Hall of the People.

Morning Crowd at Tiananmen

To give you an idea of the bustling activity beginning around 4 a.m. near Tiananmen Square, here's a photo of a section near the famous plaza of people immediately after the flag-raising ceremony concluded . . . at around 5:25 a.m.!

Temple of Heaven

This afternoon, we visited the Temple of Heaven, another popular tourist attraction in Beijing. Larger in area than the Forbidden City but smaller than the Summer Palace, the temple was built in 1420 during the Ming Dynasty to offer sacrifice to Heaven. Here we are -- attracting attention to our banner -- in front of the iconic structure.

Summer Palace

Today was another glorious clear-blue sky day in Beijing (two in a row!), and this morning, we visited the Summer Palace, an historic park about 9 miles from the city center. The Palace proper occupies 764 acres (an area four times the size of the Forbidden City), three fourths of which is a lake. Begun in the Jin Dynasty (1115-1234), it was continuously improved, and now consists of ancient structures, tree-lined walkways, dragon boats, and beautiful vistas from almost any location. Here, Lauren, Jess, Whitney, Jenn, and Ashley take in the view of the lake.

Bargaining at the Silk Market

Today, after sightseeing tours of the Summer Palace and Temple of Heaven, we took a two-hour break to do some shopping at Beijing's famous Silk Market. Here, Jess and Lauren check out the merchandise. The hallmark of this six-story, department store-sized bazaar is that you haggle over price . . . and from all appearances, our students did quite well!

Contrast

This photo of the Olympic Village and edge of the Bird's Nest was taken yesterday, in sharp contrast to the clear blue sky that we enjoyed today!

Multi-purpose ID Card

In addition to serving as an ID card to remind us who we are (in case we lapse into amnesia), our "badges" attract the attention of curious onlookers, who attempt to see what organization we are with. The lanyard is also a good place to display our lapel pins, which invites people to trade theirs for one of ours, or vice versa. Perhaps most importantly, the back side of the ID card has a map of the area around our hotel, the hotel's address in Chinese (to show to a taxi driver in case we get lost), and emergency mobile phone numbers. Here, Ashley obliges me with a photo showing the reverse side of her ID card.

All Present and Accounted For!

To reassure any nervous parents, here's a photo of everyone in front of the equestrian venue at the Olympic Green. Notice that after nearly a week of a hectic and exhausting dawn-to-dusk schedule, everyone still looks fresh . . . and even happy!

Statue

Mike Kuchno takes advantage of the clear sky to get a photo of himself "holding up" the torch at Olympic National Stadium.

Clear Night Sky

Not only was the sky so clear today that you could actually see the sun, but it remained so this evening, as evidenced by the clear shot of the moon taken from the baseball venue.

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

Tonight, our crew split up into two groups, with some going to watch softball and others to baseball. At the baseball game between Canada and Korea, I was intrigued by the Korean spectators' precision with which they cheered for their team. Here, you can see a guy with a whistle and white gloves, who is sort of the "cheer conductor," and uniformed cheerleaders behind him, who lead their partisans in a chorus of cheers, which amazingly, everyone seems to know!

Meeting with US Diplomats

This afternoon, Marti Blum, Jenn Ashley, and Whitney DePrizio joined me in a meeting with two representatives of the US Embassy in China (unfortunately, other students who wished to attend were misdirected in the taxi ride over to the meeting location), who briefed us on the purpose of embassies and consulates, and the role of career foreign service officers. The gentlemen were friendly and engaging, and freely shared some of their experiences in the US foreign service, including the advice that more Americans should really learn to speak Mandarin (hint, hint). Because the meeting was frank and off the record, no specific details can be provided here -- and no photographs were allowed -- but suffice to say that the students obtained a rare look-see at what our diplomats do abroad.

Brazilian BBQ Lunch

Taking a break from standard Chinese fare (which, by the way, has been absolutely delicious!), Rob, Jake, Marti, Dr. Covell, Mike, Jenn, Whitney, Shaq, and I took in a Brazilian BBQ lunch at the Crowne Plaza Hotel (where Whitney spied Al Roker, Matt Lauer, and Meredith Vieira from NBC's Today Show) across the way from the Bird's Nest. As you can tell from the photo, no one was unhappy with the experience!

Clear Blue Sky

Today was the first day since we arrived in Beijing that we had a true-blue, clear-sky day . . . and it was all the more magnificent for the opening day of the track and field events at the National Olympic Stadium, which we attended.

Chinese Courtesy

After our transportation ordeal by bus to the track and field venue today, our frustration was compounded when we were met by queues of thousands -- if not tens of thousands -- of people waiting to go through the security clearance to enter the Olympic Green. Unexpectedly, however, we were pleasantly surprised when we were taken by hand by a volunteer to an "express" queue, where we were able to enter the Olympic Green in relatively short order. We could only surmise that this "courtesy" was due to our rather obvious appearance as foreigners. Of course, this kind gesture only further elevated our already high opinion of the Chinese Olympic volunteers.

Transportation Ordeal

Today was an adventure of a different sort to get to the National Olympic Stadium, where we saw the opening-day events of track and field. Departing our hotel at 7:30 a.m., it took us nearly two-and-a-half hours to get there, mainly because of a decision to take a shuttle bus instead of walking to the "Bird's Nest" after we arrived by subway at the Olympic Green perimeter. In addition, the subway was the most crowded that we've seen. The horrific traffic jam resulted in us taking an hour-and-a-half to travel the distance that we could have walked in about 20 minutes! Oh well . . . part of the learning experience!

Pedestrian Matters

I realized I had been remiss providing basic information about our trip to Beijing, such as my observations about our hotel, the weather, traffic, and smog . . . so let's see if I can give you a quick update. Our hotel is not fancy, but it is certainly adequate, and the staff are friendly and helpful. The rooms are very basic, but they contain the usual things one would expect and need: air conditioning, two beds, TV, bathroom, desk, closet, and clean linens. A welcome surprise was that the hotel not only has non-smoking rooms, but they actually do not smell of even a hint of smoke! The hotel is conveniently located in the Wangfujing Shopping District, a major commercial plaza that is bustling with people, day and night. The hotel is tucked behind another building and down an alley, so it is somewhat secluded . . . and very quiet. Traffic, even with the city's vehicle abatement program, is heavy and s-l-o-w. Fortunately, the subway and bus systems are quite efficient, and at about a quarter for a subway ticket and a nickel for the bus, the fares are cheap-cheap! The weather has been mostly pleasant, with periodic sprinkles-to-rain showers . . . but for the most part it has been agreeable for our activities. I think the smog has been contained, though not eliminated. Still, it has not made a discernible impact on anyone in our group, and perhaps in affirmation of the improved air quality, I have seen only a few people wearing any kind of face mask in the city.

Make Like a Model

Amanda strikes a pose with a sculpture on the pond outside the Olympic Sports Center Stadium on our way to the water polo matches at the Ying Tung Natatorium at the Olympic Green.

Unrequited Affection

Always keen to portray his sense of humor, Shaq Walker demonstrates with this hard-to-get friend at the Olympic Green (main venues cluster) that he gives as good as he gets!

A Word About the Weather

While the weather has been cooperating for the most part since our arrival last weekend, we got caught in a downpour while at the Olympic Green (main cluster of venues) this afternoon! Here's Marti Blum and some of our crew, wearing the latest in rain-gear fashion!

Students Visit USA High-Performance Center

This afternoon, the students received an executive briefing and tour of the US Olympic Committee's High-Performance Training Center located at Beijing Normal University (where US Olympic athletes can train, eat, and stay in a protected environment outside the Olympic Village). Managing Director Doug Ingram (center) welcomes the group and provides an overview of the facility's operational framework, after which they toured the various sport venues and watched several athletes going through their workouts, including the women's volleyball team, coached by the Chinese volleyball legend, Lang Ping.

Great View

Here, our designated bear keeper Bre Roche readies Golden Bear in our hotel lobby for the bus ride to the Great Wall.

High Maintenance?

While it has been said that women who wear large sunglasses are high maintenance, this Beijing Olympics volunteer doesn't for one minute believe that it applies to Jenn and Whitney!

Proof

As evidence that I really was at the Great Wall today, here's a photo of me taken by Shaq Walker (thanks, Shaq!).

Students Make Friends

The funny thing about this photo is that there are two things going on at once . . . while I am taking a photo of the Chinese policeman with Amanda, Rob, Shaq, Bre, and Ashley, a Chinese family tells its son to "jump in there with the Americans" (rough translation) so that they can get a simultaneous photo-op. Notice the subjects' distinct focal points. It's all good!

Oh! The People You'll Meet!

Just to prove that you never know who you will run into at the Great Wall of China, our students -- who previously met US beach volleyball sensation Misty May-Treanor earlier in the week at the Olympic competition at Chaoyang Beach Park (as if that wasn't a thrill of a lifetime in itself) -- ran into her again today of all places at . . . you guessed it! Here, the defending Olympic beach volleyball champion (with partner Kerri Walsh) graciously spent time chatting with our crew and having many, many pictures taken with our adoring and appreciative students.

Banner Day at the Great Wall

Here, our crew is shown proudly displaying the Western New England College banner at the Great Wall of China!

CISB at the Great Wall

The highlight of the day -- and for some, the entire trip -- was our visit to the Great Wall of China! Here we are, at a section of the wall called Mutianyu, about 50 miles from Beijing city center (note that Golden Bear made the hike up the 996 steps as well!).

Hat Trick

"Comrade" AJ Pappas tries one on for size.

Dr. Dan and Friends

On Wednesday, August 13, faculty chaperone Dr. Dan Covell, tour guide Grace Liang, and our trusty bus driver Mr. Soo, oblige me for a photo before the bus ride to the Great Wall.

Golden Bear . . . on the job!

Golden Bear is enjoying its visit to Beijing, and since the volunteer's high chair at the badminton venue was vacant, GB hopped right up to help direct spectators to where they need to go. Bre Roche is standing by to assist as needed.

Group Photo

Here's the crew on Wednesday, August 13
-- along with tour guide Grace Liang (bottom row at far left) and Golden Bear (on Bre's lap) -- outside the badminton venue at Beijing University of Technology Gymnasium.

Tete-a-Tete

Bre Roche engages a Chinese woman in conversation on a bus ride to a competition venue, at the end of which Bre presents her with a US-China lapel pin as a gesture of friendship.

Whitney Talks Badminton

Here, Whitney DePrizio tells a reporter for a TV camera crew that she thinks "badminton is a wonderful sport" and that she is "looking forward to seeing the best of the best in the world at the Olympics."

More Students on TV

This morning at the badminton venue at the Beijing University of Technology Gymnasium, two of our students -- Jake Roy and Whitney DePrizio -- were interviewed by a camera crew for their views on badminton. Jake, who readily professed his lack of expertise in the game, quickly added that "he was anxious to see the top badminton athletes in the world," and that "he loves Beijing!" Now, if that is not the makings of a future diplomat!

Students on NBC Broadcast

At Monday evening's tennis matches at the Olympic Green Tennis Center, not only did some of our crew meet Venus and Serena Williams' family in the stands, but Whitney, Bre, Jenn, and Marti were shown waving the American flag on NBC's telecast of Venus Williams' match against Timea Bacsinszky, after her 6-3, 6-2 victory over the Swiss athlete! This was confirmed stateside by Marti's mom. Now, how cool was that?!

Seminar Room Upgrade

Our "seminar room," which is really just an open floor space outside the hotel manager's office, was upgraded yesterday with the addition of 15 chairs and a coffee table! Previously, we all sat on the floor, campfire style, but now we're able to rest our arms (see various demonstrations by AJ, Jenn, Whitney, and Dr. Covell in photo), while listening to the students' presentations. Did I mention that seminar hour is at 7 a.m.?!

"Celebrity" at Olympic Celebration

Turning the pages of the national English language newspaper today, the China Daily, I saw a huge color photo of a familiar face laying a big smoocher on an attractive -- and smiling -- young Chinese woman! The young man in the photo was our very own AJ Pappas, who celebrated the August 8 Opening Ceremonies at Wangfujing (where our hotel is located), which the paper labeled a "cross-cultural kiss." None of the students -- including AJ -- were aware of the published photo and accompanying story about opening night at the Olympics, so I sprung it on them at this morning's seminar, which not unexpectedly made quite an impression! Check out AJ's photo and story -->

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/life/2008-08/12/content_6927837.htm

It Goes Like This

Here, Lauren and Jess practice their "Queen's wave" at the softball venue at Fengtai Stadium, just in case they get panned by the cameras and see themselves on the jumbotron!

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

AJ, Jake, and Marti enjoy a beautiful sunny day (see the hint of bluish sky in the distance?) at the softball venue, Fengtai Stadium. And a very pleasant surprise is that concession prices here are at pre-1970s levels that perhaps their parents paid at US ball parks and stadiums . . . back in the day!

Breakaway Tour

While the rest of the crew decided to remain at the softball venue to cheer for Team USA and help pitcher Jennie Finch achieve her no-hitter, 11-0 win over Venezuela, Dr. Dan Covell, Jenn Ashley, AJ Pappas, Whitney DePrizio, and Jake Roy joined me on a tour of Japan House, where we received a briefing on Tokyo's 2016 Olympic bid, in addition to meeting with officials of the Japanese Olympic Committee and one of its sponsors, Descente, a Japanese sports apparel company.

Animal Magnetism

The Fuwa -- this one being Jing Jing -- proved irresistable to our crew: left to right, back row: Jake Roy, Rob Horton, AJ Pappas, Bre Roche, Amanda Goldsmith, and Lauren Brouillette; and front row: Dr. Dan Covell, Shaq Walker, Mike Kuchno, Jess DiPietro, and Ashley Richard.

Heavy Hitters

After taking in a softball game at Fengtai Softball Stadium, Dr. Dan Covell and I were invited by Don Porter, president of the International Softball Association, to join him in his office for a brief visit and photo-op.

Bridging a Friendship

AJ is shown giving a young Chinese boy a US-China flag pin in a gesture of friendship and goodwill. The boy, who at first hesitated receiving something from a foreign-looking stranger, was coaxed by his parents to accept AJ's kind gesture and said "thank you."

Let the Pin Trading Begin!

The students have really picked up on the pin-trading tradition. Here, Jenn consummates a successful trade with a local Chinese woman on the subway, while Amanda looks on (wondering if that was a good deal . . . or not!).

China Costume Party

Memo to Jenn and Dr. Covell: When in China and invited to a costume party, do not "come as you are."

Student Blog

Readers of this blog should be aware that one of our Seminar Abroad '08 students -- Marti Blum -- is doing a BOG (Beijing Olympic Games) blog at a parallel site: www.wnecinchina.blogspot.com
You should check it out to get a student's perspective of our great China adventure!

Greetings to the People

The "new emperor of China," Shaq Walker, addresses his subjects below at the Forbidden City!

Professors on Tour

To reassure blog readers (especially nervous parents!) that the students are being watched over, here I am with Dr. Dan Covell . . . "on the job" at the Forbidden City.

Smiling in the Rain!

Not the slightest bit deterred by the rain, our crew on Sunday toured Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. Left to right: Ashley, Amanda, Lauren, and Jess take in some sightseeing on the largest public square in the world!

T-Shirts

For this trip, we had two specialty t-shirts made up for our crew (thanks, Deb Chappell!). One has the words "China Rocks! . . . Seminar Abroad '08" encircling a graphic of the Great Wall, and the other is shown here, modeled by Mike Kuchno. Both have a bit of shameless marketing on the back side: "Western New England College -- Springfield, Massachusetts USA -- http://www.wnec.edu/" along with a graphic of the Golden Bear's paw print!

Glamour Redux

Left to right: Ashley, Lauren, and Jess in their evening finery at the Truce reception and awards ceremony.

Class Acts

At Sunday's Truce reception and awards ceremony, our crew showed up in style (and no flip-flops!). Left to right, Jenn, Bre, Whitney, Amanda, and Marti pose for their glamor shot!

Seminar . . . at 7 a.m.!

Just to prove that we are also doing work on this trip -- hence the name, "Seminar Abroad '08: Beijing Olympics" -- here's a photo of Jake Roy (right) and AJ Pappas leading a discussion with everyone sitting around our make-shift seminar room . . . at 7 a.m. no less!

Can You Believe It?

What are the chances that a person from upstate New York traveling to China would run into a friend at the Olympics in Beijing? Well, a student from Western New England College -- Rob Horton -- did exactly that! Yesterday, at the Forbidden City, with an estimated million people milling about the expansive walled-in palace structures, Rob ran into a buddy from Saugerties who is stationed in the Air Force and is in Beijing on assignment. How's that for a coincidence? Photo is of Rob (at right) with fellow student Shaq Walker and tour guide Grace Liang.

A Funny Thing

On the way back to the hotel from USA House last evening, we decided to take in the Beijing taxi cab experience, and see if four groups of students could make it back safely. Of course, everyone eventually did, although no group was dropped precisely where we instructed the cabbies to take us! The good news is that the students familiarized themselves in advance with the area around our hotel -- the extremely busy Wangfujing Shopping District -- and the other good news is that cabs are really inexpensive . . . about $2 for a 15-minute fare (now try getting that in NYC!). Photo is of our crew awaiting taxis.

Sunday, August 10--Evening Dispatch

This evening, the students had an exceptional opportunity to "volunteer" to serve as hosts and hostesses at the awards ceremony and reception of the Truce Foundation of the USA, where they did a fantastic job -- and looked absolutely marvelous -- greeting and welcoming international VIPs to USA House, the US Olympic Committee's hospitality center. Truce Foundation President Hugh Dugan, who invited the students' involvement as a hands-on learning experience, is shown in the photo (third from left) with our entire crew.

Sunday, August 10

Today was our first full day in Beijing, and after a traditional Chinese breakfast of rice porridge, fermented eggs, pickled vegetables, fresh fruit, Chinese Spam, dumplings, and peach juice -- and following our 7 a.m. seminar by AJ and Jake on Olympic sponsorship and ambush marketing -- we took a fascinating -- though a bit soggy -- tour of Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, where the students were practically idolized by the Chinese, being asked to pose with them for numerous photo-ops!

Saturday, August 9

On our departure from Hartford/Springfield, the United Airlines purser announced over the P.A. system that "a group of 13 students from Western New England College were on board and on their way to Beijing for the Olympics" . . . now how sweet was that?! After a 13-hour flight from Chicago, we arrived in Beijing Saturday afternoon . . . and all traveling delegation members were present and accounted for! Photo taken at Beijing Capital International Airport (left to right): Shaq Walker, Bre Roche, Rob Horton, Amanda Goldsmith, Mike Kuchno, Whitney DePrizio, Ashley Richard, Jenn Ashley, Jess DiPietro, Lauren Brouillette, Dan Covell, Jake Roy, and Marti Blum.

Friday, August 8

Today -- at 8 p.m. on the eighth day of the eighth month of the eighth year of the millenium-- marked the start of the Opening Ceremonies of the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing. At precisely the same time (8 a.m. Eastern), 13 students and two faculty members from Western New England College in Springfield, Massachusetts, held their own opening ceremony at Bradley International Airport (Hartford/Springfield) before boarding the airplane bound for Beijing via Chicago. There is plenty of excitement and anticipation of more to come among our crew. We are now enroute and I will post again after we get there . . . tomorrow (Saturday) evening!

Olympic Sponsorship Revisited

Just like beauty, the payback for Olympic sponsors lies in the eyes of the beholder. Worldwide Olympic sponsors -- of which there are only 12 -- paid an average of $72 million in sponsorship fees for the four-year period culminating with the Beijing Games, but two (Lenovo and Kodak) have already signaled their discontinuation going forward, and two others (Johnson & Johnson and Manulife), have yet to commit for the upcoming four-year cycle leading to the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Lenovo and Kodak are studies in contrast: the Chinese computer maker that in 2005 bought IBM's PC division is a one-time-only sponsor, while Kodak's sponsorship dates back to founding of the "Modern" Olympic Games in 1896. Kodak CEO Antonio Perez said about its continuing Olympic sponsorship: "At this point in time, it doesn't make sense." Meanwhile, eight global sponsors have already renewed their Olympic sponsorships, and Coca-Cola has inked its deal through 2020. While business reasons for spending tens of millions on sport sponsorship vary -- from enhancing brand awareness to preventing corporate rivals from treading on Olympic turf -- the clutter of national, team and individual sponsors makes it increasingly difficult for the consumer to discern official Olympic sponsors from the those that are not. For example, in a survey of Beijingers, only 15% could name two out of the dozen global sponsors . . . although in a city of 16 million, that still accounts for a lot of people!

Article-->
http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/jul2008/gb20080731_125602.htm

Beijing Bound: WWLP-22 TV News Video

Olympic Truce Event

On Sunday, August 10, students from Western New England College traveling to Beijing through the Seminar Abroad '08 program will have a hands-on opportunity to "work" a major social event at the Olympic Games, where they will serve as official greeters, photographers, and possibly even interviewers of VIPs at the awards ceremony and reception of the Truce Foundation of the USA (where the principal honoree will be Juan Antonio Samaranch, former president of the International Olympic Committee). The students were invited by Foundation President Hugh Dugan -- senior counselor to the US Representative to the UN -- to ensure that the guests, including high-ranking government officials and Olympic dignitaries, feel welcome and experience an enjoyable evening. This special opportunity will provide students not only with access to this restricted, invitation-only function, but also with the experience of actually being part of event execution at the Olympics.

Articles-->

http://www.bjreview.com/report/txt/2008-08/02/content_137732.htm

http://www.trucefoundation.us/

Bon Voyage!

As the Western New England College "Seminar Abroad '08: Beijing Olympics" delegation prepares to depart for China this week, School of Business Dean Julie Siciliano wishes the 13 students great success in their unique classroom experience at the Olympic Games. At left, Center for International Sport Business Director Curt Hamakawa presents Dr. Siciliano with the delegation's "China Rocks!" t-shirt.

China's Olympic Legacy

With the wind down to the Beijing Olympics' Opening Ceremonies this Friday, handicappers are already speculating about the legacy imprint that the Games of the XXIX Olympiad will leave for China. Former IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch has already proclaimed that this edition of the games "will be the best ever in Olympic history." For their herculean efforts and resource commitment of unprecedented proportion, Chinese government and Olympic officials certainly hope that Samaranch's benediction will ring true. Notwithstanding the various protestations over Darfur, Tibet, and Myanmar; the lingering Taiwan question; the still-festering fallout from the victims' families over the Sichuan earthquake; vacillation over media freedom and Internet censorship; and the fertile domestic human rights movement, the real risk facing Beijing is that it will forever more be known as the "Pollution Olympics." Lets hope that this is not the case.

Article-->
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121750797983500643.html?mod=2_1339_leftbox

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/01/sports/olympics/01china.html?ref=olympics

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121769525318907505.html?mod=sports

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121758515310004209.html?mod=2_1339_leftbox

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/04/sports/olympics/04vecsey.html?ref=olympics

IMG-CCTV Ink 20-Year Deal

Global sports entertainment giant IMG and state-controlled China Central Television (CCTV) today announced a 20-year partnership that will feed off China's growing appetite for sports and deliver sport programming to the largest single television market in the world, with an estimated reach of 370 million households. IMG's involvement will fast track the commercialization of sport in China, first by cultivating marketable athletes and creating new sport properties, and then by selling advertising and sponsorships that leverage CCTV's colossal market share. The timing of this deal could not have been more propitious, with nearly universal optimism among Chinese people -- 96%, according to the Pew Global Attitudes Project -- about the upcoming Olympic Games.

Article-->
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121747364814599837.html?mod=sports

http://pewglobal.org/reports/pdf/261.pdf

Team Effort

On the eve of our departure, the 13 Western New England College students who comprise "Seminar Abroad '08: Beijing Olympics," the first summer sport-travel course of the Center for International Sport Business, have developed a true esprit de corps, and have come together well as a team. From the beginning, going back to our half dozen or so meetings this past spring, students have volunteered to take the lead in various projects. Whitney coordinated the on-campus raffle of Red Sox tickets, while Jess and Jake provided ideas and designs for our t-shirts. Meanwhile, Jake, Bre, and AJ sourced vendors to screen the t-shirts, and AJ located a company in China to produce our very own lapel pins for trading at the Olympics. AJ also designed the graphics for our good-looking identity cards, and Jake researched teddy bear vendors to find the perfect "Golden Bear" mascot for our trip. To help with fundraising, Marti organized a sale of items on eBay, and she also volunteered to coordinate the BOG (Beijing Olympic Games) Blog. Over spring break, Mike went up to Chicago and brought back "Chicago 2016" Olympic pins for everyone, to use as possible trading fodder in Beijing. Lauren and Marti sought donations of sporting goods to auction, and Jess solicited local restaurants about doing a cause-related donation program. AJ spearheaded the letter-solicitation drive directed at business establishments in students' home towns, as well as to friends and family members. Mike wrote and submitted a grant application to the Alumni Association, and Mike and Marti worked on a brochure to market this trip to potential donors. While I am certain that I have overlooked other examples, every student has demonstrated enthusiasm and initiative in contributing to the planning and organization effort, and I am confident that this kind of team spirit will ensure that our trip is an unmitigated success.

Euro 2008 Record Profit

The 2008 European Football Championship -- the quadrennial soccer tournament for European countries -- netted a record $394 million despite poor weather at the start of the three-week tournament, and the cancellation of over 1.7 million ticket applications due to a huge problem over ticket re-selling on the black market. Spain emerged as the Euro 2008 champion on June 29, beating Germany 1-0 in the final of the 16-team competition. Meanwhile, the 14-club, North American MLS, founded in 1993, is still hoping to turn its first net profit . . . by 2010. What is it about stateside sports fans when it comes to soccer, anyway?

Article-->
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/feedarticle/7685768

http://www.nypost.com/seven/07182008/sports/soccer/a_new_galaxy_120406.htm

Olympic Pin Trading

One of the longest-standing traditions at the Olympic Games -- for athletes and nonathletes alike -- is pin trading, whereby people swap their lapel pins (also called badges) with other like-minded attendees, and in the process acquire an interesting collection of pins from around the world. I provided an assortment of pins to each of the 13 Western New England College students who are traveling to the Beijing Olympics through the College's Center for International Sport Business Seminar Abroad program. In addition, in order that each of the students would have a starter set of at least a couple dozen pins as trade fodder to approach and engage other pin-trading citizens of the world, one of my students who has been in Beijing since early June -- AJ Pappas -- was commissioned to source a pin factory there to create our very own Western New England College pin collection. As expected, AJ came through and the students now have these handsome and highly coveted dime-sized WNEC pins to trade . . . perhaps for other, equally coveted, pins!

Identity Card

Someone asked about the identity card seen on the photo of Golden Bear in an earlier post, and what that was all about. You see, these identity cards have been in vogue for many years now at the Olympics (as well as at many other large-scale international gatherings) and serve as an accreditation badge for official delegates to the event. Typically, the cards are embedded with a silicon chip or scannable bar code to permit the bearer entry to certain restricted-access venues. Of course, our Seminar Abroad '08 delegation's identity cards are not for any purpose other than to give our students a place to keep their trading pins (although these official-looking cards have been known to unexpectedly open doors from time to time), and to serve as a nice souvenir of their attendance at the Beijing Olympics.

Russian Sport on the Rise

Not since the glory days of the old Soviet Union have sport fans in the Russian Federation had much to celebrate. But now, thanks to economic reforms and significant investment by both the government and private sector, Russian athletes and teams are regaining some of the luster that they enjoyed during the period of the Cold War. Perhaps irrationally optimistic, the head of the Russian Olympic Committee yesterday predicted that Russia would finish atop the medal board . . . and one gold medal ahead of China. Top Russian soccer clubs' budgets now top $100 million, and while still anemic by Western European standards, continued success will fuel even more aggressive spending on sporting talent and infrastructure. What do you think of Russia's medal chances at the Beijing Olympics (you can vote in the column at left).

Articles-->
http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/jun2008/gb20080620_384956.htm?chan=search

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-07/26/content_8773136.htm

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/07/15/europe/EU-Russia-Olympic-Bonuses.php

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/29/sports/olympics/29russia.html?hp

Last Call on Olympic Tix

Yesterday's chaotic sell off in Beijing of the remaining 820,000 tickets to events at next month's Olympic Games demonstrated the frenzied interest of Chinese people to witness history-in-the-making over China's first hosting of this international multi-sport extravaganza. An estimated 500,000 Chinese, joined by another half million foreigners, are expected to fill the Olympic competition venues like never before. This, in contrast to the early years of the Olympics, which were not a major attraction and hence, were only sparsely attended. For the Beijing Olympics, some 7 million tickets have now been sold, with approximately 70% going to the domestic public, and generating $140 million in revenue. Olympic ticket demand and sales have never been so high, and might not attain this level again for some time to come (thankfully, the Western New England College delegation has secured its ticket allotment in advance of departure!).

Article-->
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121698461762484357.html?mod=2_1338_topbox

Pre-Departure Recap

In two weeks, 13 Western New England College students, fellow sport management professor Dan Covell, and I will depart for Beijing and the Olympic Games, which will mark the inaugural program of the "Seminar Abroad" series of the Center for International Sport Business (next up: World Cup 2010).

Since we will be traveling on August 8, we will miss the Opening Ceremonies (spectacular as it promises to be, the high-priced tickets to attend in person would have been a budget buster!). We will, however, see and experience two or three weeks' worth of exciting events jam packed into just eight days! But I'm getting ahead of myself . . . .

This whole adventure came about as an idea to introduce students to the Olympic Games, which made all the more sense since I spent 16 years with the US Olympic Committee, the last six as its director of international relations. Still, not knowing what level of interest there might be, I emailed a flyer in late fall 2007 to all students on campus, informing them of this "once-in-a-lifetime" opportunity . . . and to my delight the response was swift and overwhelming!

While this trip would not have been possible without the help of so many people, I am especially grateful to my colleague and Management Department chair, Dr. Jeanie Forray -- who is a staunch proponent and veteran of many foreign-travel study courses -- for her insight and guidance from the conceptual beginning through the planning stages and beyond. I thank my friend and colleague, Dr. Bruce Clemens -- who has taken scores of students to Guatemala over many summers -- for his inspiration through his can-do attitude and infectious enthusiasm, and also Sport Management Department chair, Dr. Sharianne Walker, for her tireless devotion to our students, her unwavering personal support, and for always reminding me of the importance of having fun along the way!

Originally, I had intended to take a small group of only eight students, which subsequently grew to ten, then 12, before I finally settled on a baker's dozen . . . all of whom are visa-approved and passport ready! This past spring, we met about a half dozen times for students to get acquainted with one another, to meet the representatives from International Study Programs (the outfit that set up the cultural aspects of our trip), to discuss fund-raising ideas, and generally to get hyped up about going to the Olympics . . . in China!

Among the reasons cited by students for wanting to go on this trip were:

“Being exposed to one of the greatest events in history”
“Experiencing this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity”
“Gaining a knowledge of different cultures”
“Building my resume while growing as a person"
“Learning about the Chinese culture and seeing the Olympics live”
“To learn, meet new people, and have fun”

Speaking of seeing the Olympics live, one early challenge was getting tickets to events, since the entire inventory available for the US market was sold out more than a year in advance of the games. Not to be deterred, however (and resorting to methods that shall not be disclosed), we managed to obtain tickets to basketball, track & field, soccer, boxing, beach volleyball, tennis, softball, baseball, badminton, and water polo.

Of course, we will take in the must-see cultural icons of the Great Wall, Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Temple of Heaven, and Summer Palace. Students also will have time to shop, walk through some of the city's fast-disappearing hutongs, pay a visit to the US Embassy, sample exotic delicacies rarely found in the West, and meet with fellow college students at Beijing Sports University. The real value-added proposition of this program, however, is that the students will have the opportunity to experience several out-of-the-ordinary events; for example, having a private audience with the presidents of the international sport federations for baseball and softball, being co-opted to "work" a private reception and awards presentation ceremony of the Truce Foundation at USA House, visiting the US Olympic Committee's high-performance training facility at Beijing Normal University, attending an invitation-only function at Japan House, visiting the by-invitation-only Visa Olympic Reunion Center, getting a cook's tour of the Olympics' Main Press Center, meeting the head of the sports department of the Xinhua News Agency, and being briefed by officials of Olympic sponsors Samsung and Adidas, among other possibilities.

Probably most fascinating for the students will be the chance to spend eight days in this most ancient of Asian countries, with a very different political -- yet quite familiar capitalist -- system, in a city of some 16 million people being descended upon by hundreds of thousands of visitors from every nation on the planet. It also will be interesting to see how successful the organizers' best-laid plans are in terms of games management, operations, and logistics, dealing with protest demonstrations, and the impact of the air quality on athletes' performance. No doubt, social commentators and historians will let us know whether -- and if so to what extent -- the Olympics changed China.

Speaking for myself, it will be an extraordinary treat to witness what certainly will be a watershed moment in China's history. Stay tuned . . . .

Olympic Mascots' Fate

It is an interesting phenomenon, but Olympic mascots rarely, if ever, receive the popular embrace that their sports-team cousins seem to enjoy. More often, Olympic mascots are forgotten and nevermore invoked once the flame of an Olympic Games is extinguished. So here's the question: Does it have more to do with the power of institutional affinity, where mascots have come to symbolize a team or school (versus an event, such as the Olympics), or is it simply a case of marketing, and the lack of mascot designs that resonate with consumers?

Article-->

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121677560339275779.html?mod=sports

Athletes as Citizen Free Agents

While an athlete's change in nationality has long permitted a citizen of one country to subsequently represent another in international competition, two recent cases have heightened the dialogue about citizen-based eligibility. Earlier this year, American-born soccer player Edgar Castillo decided to play for the Mexican national team, and this past spring San Antonio Silver Stars standout and WNBA most-valuable player runner up, Becky Hammon -- who holds a Russian passport and plays for CSKA Moscow in the off season -- announced that she will play for Russia at the Beijing Olympics. Apparently, neither athlete drew much interest or attention from the US teams, and thus -- as dual citizens -- opted to play for their adoptive countries. Taken to its extreme, countries bent on a poaching strategy to build formidible sport teams can offer susceptible athletes all manner of inducements, coupled with instant citizenship, and voilà . . . a contender is born!

Articles-->
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/23/sports/soccer/23soccer.html?ref=sports

http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/olybb/news/story?id=3336490

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/27/sports/soccer/27soccer.html?_r=1&ref=sports&oref=slogin

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/news?slug=ap-whereareyoufrom&prov=ap&type=lgns

Jail Time for Scalpers?

While ticket scalping -- the practice of re-selling tickets to in-demand events at a premium -- is not uncommon, laws regulating this practice seldom amount to much beyond a cease-and-desist order, seizure, and perhaps a fine. Today, Chinese authorities have issued a warning that scalpers who re-sell tickets to the Beijing Olympics for profit would be subject to jail terms of 10-15 days. Not to be deterred, however, online re-sellers apparently are hawking hard-to-get tickets to the Opening Ceremonies for as much as $30,000!

Article-->
http://www.politicalgateway.com/news/read/160624

Trading in Brazilian Soccer

A Brazilian investment company that trades in that country's soccer-rich talent -- appropriately called Traffic -- signs players to its stable and then loans them out to Brazilian clubs that pay their salaries and exhibit their skills. The payoff comes when the players are recruited by European clubs, which could pay millions -- and even tens of millions -- of dollars in transfer fees. The problem with this model is roster instability because the Brazilian clubs cannot control the players' longevity with their teams, and also creates the potential for collusion, because the investment firm could strengthen or weaken clubs simply by reassigning players. Still unanswered is whether these investment firms run afoul of soccer rules prohibiting third-party ownership. But for the moment, this model is working for Brazilian soccer, because most clubs cannot afford to carry the full burden of acquisition costs, salaries, and bonuses that they would otherwise incur.

Article-->

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/19/business/19soccer.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&adxnnl=1&ref=sports&adxnnlx=1216469120-au29S3JWfgvade8RyWftIA

Olympic Baseball

Two quintessential American sports -- baseball and softball -- will be dropped from the Olympic Games after 2008 for different and various reasons, and will not be contested at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. It is possible, however, that one or both sports could win reinstatement in a vote of IOC members in 2009, and be played at the 2016 Olympic Games. In the case of baseball, the strikes against continued inclusion were over its chronic doping problem and the lack of participation by the sport's top players, owing to the refusal of MLB to suspend its season and club owners to release its players for the Olympic tournament. This week, a glimmer of hope was raised when MLB vice president and USA Baseball general manager Bob Watson suggested that the league might suspend its season if either Chicago or Tokyo -- two professional baseball cities in baseball-crazed countries -- won the right to host the 2016 Olympic Games. On this basis alone, however, the glimmer might as well be extinguished, because the IOC is unlikely to condition the inclusion of sports on a particular city's hosting of the Olympic Games. Your thoughts?

Articles-->
http://mlb.mlb.com/content/printer_friendly/mlb/y2008/m07/d16/c3142921.jsp

http://www.sportbusiness.com/news/167503/mlb-to-allow-top-players-to-participate-in-olympics

http://www.china.org.cn/sports/news/2008-07/18/content_16030965.htm

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/17/sports/olympics/17baseball.html?ref=sports

Sporting Davos

Years from now, when the Games of the XXIX Olympiad are long in the books, and whatever may have been written about the watershed moment in China's history, the visitors from every corner of the world and locals alike who attended the Olympic Games in Beijing can say that they were there, alongside the rich, powerful, and famous. Thirteen students from Western New England College can lay claim to the fact that they, too, were at the "Sporting Davos."

Article-->
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121615369621055709.html?mod=sports

Dominican Nectar?

The Domincan Republic is so rich in baseball talent that every MLB club has a presence there to keep lookout for the next young prodigy, such as 16-year-old Michael Inoa, signed last week by the Oakland A's for $4.25 million. Outside the US, no other country has supplied the Major Leagues with as many players over the past half century as has the DR, including tonight's starting NL pitcher in the All-Star Game, Edinson Volquez of the Cincinnati Reds. While historical and sociological factors may explain this phenomenon, has anyone checked the Domincan water lately?

Article-->
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121573942686244721.html?mod=sports

Conflict of Interest or Corporate Screw Up?

Today's Wall Street Journal (see article, below) reported that a global advertising firm's handiwork has been found on both sides of the Olympic fence for the upcoming games in Beijing. TBWA Worldwide's China office produced an ad campaign for Olympic sponsor Adidas, which gloriously portrays Chinese people in support of its athletes in an unambiguous show of national unity. At the same time, its Paris office created an ad for Amnesty International depicting a person in front of an archery target with the caption: "After the Olympic Games, the fight for human rights must go on." Although Amnesty decided weeks ago to pull its ad, it is astounding that a leading multinational ad agency could find itself on both sides of a very public and delicate issue, especially considering the recent -- and white-hot -- attention given to China's ongoing human rights controversies.

Article-->
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121598805607649301.html?mod=hps_us_inside_today

What Recession?

Brazilian soccer star Ronaldinho, who had been toiling for Barcelona, will be acquired by Milan AC this week for nearly $24 million in transfer fees, after which Milan will have the privilege of picking up Ronaldinho's $10 million annual salary. Professional soccer's transfer system is akin to a contract buyout, whereby the acquiring club pays a fee to the club that owns the rights to the player's services, in order to effectuate the transfer prior to the expiration of his contract. While this practice of compensating a player's previous club is not peculiar to soccer (recall the Boston Red Sox paid the Seibu Lions a $51.1 million posting fee for the right to negotiate with pitching sensation Daisuke Matsuzaka), it is a time-honored tradition in soccer, dating back over a century. In theory, this system could wreak havoc on team stability, because so long as the acquiring club is able and willing to pay the asking price, summer-time transfers could resemble a Turkish bazaar. Fortunately, the law of economics imposes a dose of self restraint, because nobody -- not even the New York Yankees -- truly has unlimited funds to spend on player acquisition and payroll.

Article-->
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/07/13/sports/SOCCER.php

http://online.wsj.com/page/sport_national.html?mod=Sports_Stats_National&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwallstreetjournal.stats.com%2Fmultisport%2Fstory.asp%3Fi%3D20080715230410190000101

Tour de France

France's biggest sporting event of the year -- the Tour de France -- has been in progress since July 5 and will continue through July 27, and the good news, despite continuing incidents of doping that have plagued the Tour for many years (including yesterday's report of Manuel Beltran's positive test for EPO), is that corporate sponsorship is making a cautious comeback. The black eye of doping undoubtedly contributed to companies like T-Mobile and The Discovery Channel opting out after the last season. Recently, however, Columbia Sportswear and GPS maker Garmin International have signed on to be title sponsors of separate U.S. teams. Cycling's doping problem presents a calculated risk but ironically, a possibly attractive proposition for would-be sponsors. Title sponsorships, which reportedly have gone for anywhere between $3-$9 million, seemingly could be had for bargain right now. Columbia president and CEO Tim Boyle said "Now we could afford it. Maybe a year ago, we couldn't."

Articles-->

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121571232545543125.html

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-tour4-2008jul04,0,7866668,print.story

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/07/06/business/wbtour07.php

http://www.oregonlive.com/printer/printer.ssf?/base/business/121367490949530.xml&coll=7

China Marketing Crackdown

According to the New York Times, the Chinese government today imposed new restrictions on commercial advertisements in Beijing, a move that undoubtedly is welcomed by official Olympic sponsors, and chagrined by so-called ambush marketers. For certain non-sponsor companies intent on crashing the party, it is something of a game to steal the spotlight given to mega events such as the Olympic Games, but without having to pay a dime in sponsorship fees. For example, at the 2006 Torino Winter Olympics, American big-box department store and non-Olympic sponsor, Target -- which did not even do business in Italy -- managed to get its red-and-white bull's eye logo plastered all over the sides of the trains that ferried locals and tourists alike to and from the competition venues (see photo). It remains to be seen whether things will be different in China, given the state-controlled economy and the government's notorious no-nonsense manner.

Article-->
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/11/business/media/11adco.html?sq=olympic%20sponsor,%20marketing&st=nyt&scp=1&pagewanted=print

Fact File: Beijing Olympics

Name: People’s Republic of China
PRC Founded: October 1, 1949
Land Mass: 3.7 million square miles (fourth in size, after Russia, Canada, and US)
Border Countries: Mongolia, Russia, North Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, India, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan
Per Capita Income: $1,251
Language: Mandarin, Cantonese, and other dialects
Currency: Yuan (CNY), currently trading at approximately $0.145 (or $1 = 6.86 CNY)
China Population: 1.3 billion
Beijing Population: 16.3 million
No. Cars in Beijing: 3.3 million

Games of the XXIX Olympiad: August 8-24, 2008

Expected Tourists During Olympics: 2.5 million

No. Sports: 28

No. Medal Events: 302
No. Athletes: 10,500
No. Athletes and Officials in Olympic Village: 16,000
No. Participating Countries/Territories: 205
No. Accredited Journalists: 21,600
No. Tickets Sold: 7 million
Seating Capacity of National Olympic Stadium (“Bird’s Nest”): 91,000

NBA's Global Design

While much of the world's commercial attention has been focused on China because of its most-populous nation status, rapidly growing economy, and vast middle class; inexplicably, the only other member of the billion-people club on the planet -- India -- goes virtually without notice. Recently, however, the NBA took its Basketball Without Borders program to Delhi, where it is seeking to replicate the professional game's popularity in India that was first spawned in China a couple decades ago. With an 8.5% annual growth rate and an educated middle class (some 300-million strong), India would seem ripe for new capital ventures. But basketball -- and any upstart sport for that matter -- faces a steep climb in displacing Indians' fervent loyalty to cricket, which is akin to a national religion in that country. Still, there is a glimmer of hope . . . if only India could produce its own Yao Ming or two out of its 1.1 billion people.

Article-->
http://online.wsj.com/article_print/SB121544177641632601.html

Must-Get Souvenir

Beginning today, the Chinese government will issue a 10-yuan note (about $1.45) in commemoration of the upcoming Olympic Games in Beijing. As you can see, it features the Games' official "dancing seal" logo above China's National Stadium (referred to as the "Bird's Nest"), site of the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as competition events for athletics (track & field) and football (soccer).

Training Locales for Hire

As evidenced by a growing number of cities that have taken to attracting athletes and teams for short-term training at locations in close geographic proximity and prior to major international competitions -- such as the Olympic Games -- a cottage industry of sorts is emerging in the world of global sport. Cities that for whatever reason are not hosting the events themselves increasingly are putting out welcome mats, especially for athletes from far-flung countries, for training and acclimatization purposes. As an extension of hosting big-time sporting events, the same question must be asked: whether such hosting is motivated by prospects of an economic return on investment, the opportunity to bask in the celebrity of visiting athletes and teams, or something else.

Article-->
http://online.wsj.com/article_print/SB121520789826329305.html

Adidas Goes Big in Beijing

As further evidence that the latest battleground in the Adidas-Nike "shoe wars" is being waged in China, Adidas will open its biggest retail store in the world in Beijing this Friday. China is already Nike's second-largest market after the US, and is set to achieve that status for Adidas by the end of 2008. It remains to be seen if Adidas' Olympic sponsorship and its mega-super store will give it any competitive advantage in overtaking its arch rival, Nike, in the China market.

Articles-->
http://online.wsj.com/article_print/SB121502808513023827.html

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121502881464123819.html?mod=Media-Marketing

Medal Predictions

Today, the Wall Street Journal reported that a Colorado College economics professor has predicted that while the US will win the most medals overall (103) at this summer's Beijing Olympics, China will win the most gold medals (44). Dr. Dan Johnson, whose previous predictions have been amazingly accurate, uses only five data variables -- GDP, population, political structure, climate, and home-nation bias -- to arrive at his numbers. PricewaterhouseCoopers, on the other hand, last week predicted that China will will the most overall medals (88), followed by the US (87), and Russia (79). (PwC's report did not separate out medals by color.) You can vote for the country you think will win the most medals overall in the margin at left.

Articles-->
http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2008/07/02/want-to-predict-olympic-champs-look-at-gdp/

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121424967379097499.html

http://www.pwc.com/servlet/pwcPrintPreview?LNLoc=/extweb/ncpressrelease.nsf/docid/46A6BBB9F92BCBE5852574710001C528

http://www.pwc.com/extweb/ncpressrelease.nsf/42e3ba9660db98bc80257148004ee49a/46a6bbb9f92bcbe5852574710001c528/$FILE/Olympic%20modelling%20paper%20-%202008.pdf

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/07/13/sports/OLY.php

http://faculty1.coloradocollege.edu/~djohnson/Olympics/Beijing2008predictions.pdf

Olympic Sponsorship

Twelve global companies have ponied up a prince's ransom -- upwards of $80 million for 2005-08 -- to occupy the rarefied air that is The Olympic Program (TOP), and enjoy worldwide marketing rights relative to the Olympic rings, Olympic imagery, and the upcoming Olympic Games in Beijing. But while longtime sponsors Coca-Cola, Kodak, McDonald's, and Visa are virtually synonymous with the Olympics, and General Electric, Panasonic, Samsung, Omega, and Johnson & Johnson are well-known global brands, others -- such as Lenovo and Atos Origin -- are not so well known. (The 12th TOP partner is Manulife, which acquired John Hancock Insurance in 2004 and assumed its sponsorship category.) As you can read in the accompanying article, Lenovo is a Chinese company that bought IBM's PC business in 2005, and is fourth in market share behind H-P, Dell, and Acer. Interestingly, Lenovo did not renew its TOP sponsorship for 2009-2012, making its splash at the Beijing Olympic Games a one-time affair. This begs the question what return on investment companies like Lenovo are realizing on their top-line sponsorship of the Olympics.

Article--> http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/20/business/media/20adco.html?_r=1&sq=lenovo&st=cse&oref=slogin&scp=1&pagewanted=print

http://www.forbes.com/video/?video=fvn/sportsmoney/mo_sm050808

http://www.forbes.com/video/?video=fvn/sportsmoney/mo_sm012408

http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/jul2008/gb20080731_125602.htm?chan=search

Faculty Chaperone

Dr. Dan is a proud son of Maine, but currently lives in Concord, MA (well known for its role in the American Revolutionary War and immortalized in Emerson's "shot heard round the world"). He has traveled to the UK, Canada, Italy, Russia, France, and the Netherlands, and as an accomplished artist, his motto is "will paint for pizza." From a sociological point of view, Dr. Dan is quite curious to see whether these Olympics can serve to change China, and if so, to what extent.

Shaq is from Leominster, MA (west of Boston), and counting the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, China will be his second international trip. A lover of music and dancing, Shaq is a DJ at WNEK-FM. Shaq practices martial arts, and is particularly interested in seeing wushu (Chinese martial art) demonstrations while in Beijing.

Jake is from Plymouth, NH, and going to the Olympics is a dream-come-true. Having been to the Turks and Caicos Islands, Jake is interested in seeing and experiencing a different country and culture in China. Jake's motto is "if it's meat, I'll eat it," so we will put that to the test every day in Wangfujing Snack Street near our hotel!

Most people do not know that Bre, who is from Amherst, NH, is a twin sister (whaaaat?!). Her greatest fear on this trip is that she will get lost (memo to Jenn: do not buddy up with Bre!), but she is anxious to experience both a new culture and the Olympics. This will be Bre's second foreign trip, after Bermuda.

Ashley is from South Hadley, MA, and will be making her first trip abroad . . . to Beijing, China! As a political science major, Ashley is particularly interested in the role of the Chinese government in the organization of these Olympic Games. A closet cut up, Ashley is expected to keep the group entertained with her jokes based on famous Chinese fortune-cookie sayings!

Jess has been to the UK and Ireland, and can't wait to visit China to personally witness the Olympics, which she has been watching on TV since childhood. Jess is from Bethlehem, CT (west of Hartford), loves to cook and eat, and says she will try almost anything . . . so we will see if that includes starfish, seahorse, and cicada!

AJ has been in Beijing since June 6, doing an internship with Club Football Ltd, a grassroots soccer program for adults and juniors. In his spare time, AJ is studying Mandarin so that he can order our meals when we get to China! He is from Northboro, MA, and has visited Canada, which he reports is quite different from China!

Rob loves to play sports and is anxious to see the best athletes in the world at the Olympic Games. Rob is from Saugerties, NY (south of Albany), and is looking forward to adding China to his list of foreign destinations outside of Canada, as he begins his campaign to see the world and learn about different cultures.

Since visiting France, Whitney caught the travel bug and now wants to see the the rest of the world. Even though she believes going to the Olympics in China will be an amazing experience, Whitney is a bit nervous about the plane ride over to Beijing. Whitney is from East Falmouth, MA, or simply "the Cape," as they say in New England.

Mike is from Colonia, NJ, and has for many years wanted to go to the Olympic Games. Having previously traveled to Canada, Mike is eager to venture beyond North America, and is ready to experience China's culture and the excitement of the Olympics. Mike's next big event on his to-do list is to attend a Super Bowl.

Amanda is from Stamford, CT (also home to other notable people such as Benny Goodman, Bob Crane, Christopher Lloyd, and Bobby Valentine), and is anxious to experience the Olympic Games and China up close and personal. She has been to Mexico and Aruba, and hopes to get a job that will allow her to travel the world.

Lauren has been to Italy, Germany, and Costa Rica, and with the addition of China, will be well on her way to achieving her travel goal of visiting every continent. She is from Wolcott, CT (west of Hartford), and is passionate about travel, soccer, and food (though not necessarily in that order!).

Marti is a veteran globetrotter, having traveled to France, Germany, Mexico, Canada, Switzerland, and Israel; and being from the Philly area, she is a big-time fan of the NHL Flyers. Since she is a prolific texter, Marti volunteered to head up the student BOG (Beijing Olympic Games) blog!

Jenn has traveled to Fiji, New Zealand, and Australia, and is excited to add a fourth country to her passport! Her greatest fear about going to the Olympics is that she might get lost among Beijing's 15+ million people, all the while not being able to speak Mandarin! Jenn is from Rensselaer, NY (near Albany).

Cool People

This next series of posts will introduce readers to the group of eager learners and intrepid travelers to the Beijing Olympics, who signed up for this seminar abroad program last fall and filled the roster within days of the announcement. Although competition tickets have been sold out for US tourists for nearly a year, we managed to score tickets to soccer, track & field, beach volleyball, tennis, softball, boxing, basketball, baseball, water polo, and badminton. In addition, we will visit the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, and Great Wall of China, as well as meet with top officials of sport, business, government, and academia throughout our eight days in China.

Nike vs. Adidas

Reminiscent of the cola wars between Coca-Cola and Pepsi, the titans of sports footwear, Nike and Adidas, have been waging a high-stakes campaign in China against the backdrop of the coming Olympic Games. While Adidas is an Olympic Games sponsor and Nike is not, they appear evenly matched with some 3,000 stores each throughout the country. The leading athletic shoemakers are pitted in a marketing frenzy to gain a stronger foothold (no pun intended!) in China and a greater share of the $27.5 billion industry. Combined, Nike and Adidas account for nearly 60% of the worldwide athletic footwear market, though Chinese sportswear maker Li Ning (see previous blog) and Italian shoemaker, Geox (see article, below), among others, are throwing their pebbles in the pond in hopes of generating something of a ripple. Question: do you think Adidas' Olympic sponsorship gives it an edge in this latest battle in the global shoe war?

Articles--> http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_15/b4079058287126.htm?chan=search

http://www.forbes.com/markets/2008/06/23/beijing-olympics-sponsorship-markets-equity-cx_jc_0623markets02.html

http://www.forbes.com/opinions/2008/04/23/china-olympics-sponsors-oped-cx_sre_0424olympics.html

http://articles.latimes.com/2007/oct/08/business/ft-olympics8

http://www.businessweek.com/print/globalbiz/content/jun2008/gb20080620_447605.htm
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121520521471229245.html?mod=sports

Hosting the Olympics: Investment or Insanity?

A recent Worth Magazine article ("Fool's Gold," 3/1/08) asserted that at a whopping $34 billion, this summer's Olympics in Beijing "are going to be the most expensive games in history." To put this in perspective, the most recent Olympic Games just four years ago in Athens -- with its massive cost overruns and security expense -- carried a then-hefty price tag of $8 billion, while the last summer games in the U.S. (Atlanta in 1996), came in at a mere $1.8 billion. Of course, the paradigm shift attributable to the events of 9/11 has driven some of the budget inflation, such that the security line item alone for the 2004 Athens Olympics was pegged at $1.5 billion. But with the uncertain economic return on investment, why is it that Beijing in 2008 and other cities at other times trip over themselves to pay exorbitant sums for the "privilege" of hosting an Olympics or even a World Cup?

Articles-->
http://www.worth.com/Editorial/Thought-Leaders/Politics-Policy/World-Marketplace-Fools-Gold-Print.asp

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121614671139755287.html

Olympic "Ambush" Marketing: Fair or Foul?

Today's Wall Street Journal reported that Chinese sportswear company Li Ning, which is not an Olympic sponsor but which has an exclusive contract to outfit sportscasters of China's CCTV (broadcaster of the Olympics in China), withdrew a provision in its agreement that would have seen the company's logo -- a stylized "L" -- prominently displayed on apparel worn by sportcasters during studio broadcasts. Olympic officials jealously guard the intellectual property rights of official sponsors and publicly scorn companies that seek to benefit by implying a relationship to the Olympics, a tactic known as ambush marketing. With worldwide Olympic sponsorships approaching $100 million for the next four-year period, however, it is no surprise that some companies that are unwilling or unable to fork over the price of admission still try to piggyback on the marketing juggernaut that is the Olympic Games. So the question is whether these so-called ambushers are ethically challenged or simply entrepreneurial in their outlook.

Article --> http://online.wsj.com/article_print/SB121433185767600541.html

Golden Bear

I should mention that we will be taking our mascot to China with us! Here's "Golden Bear" in its cozy backpack perch, from where it will take in all the sights, sounds, and aromas of Beijing's attractions, traffic, people, restaurants, and more!

Delegation Roster

I will post more about each student later, but for now . . . here's the crew:

JENN ASHLEY, Rensselaer, NY
MARTI BLUM, Huntingdon Valley, PA
LAUREN BROUILLETTE, Wolcott, CT
WHITNEY DePRIZIO, East Falmouth, MA
JESSICA DiPIETRO, Bethlehem, CT
AMANDA GOLDSMITH, Stamford, CT
ROB HORTON, Saugerties, NY
MIKE KUCHNO, Colonia, NJ
AJ PAPPAS, Northboro, MA
ASHLEY RICHARD, South Hadley, MA
BREANNE ROCHE, Amherst, NH
JAKE ROY, Plymouth, NH
SHAQIM WALKER, Leominster, MA

Seminar Abroad '08

This summer, my faculty colleague, Dr. Dan Covell, and I will be taking a group of 13 Western New England College students to Beijing August 8-17 during the Olympic Games, which undoubtedly will be an experience-of-a-lifetime. I am looking forward to seeing some of my friends from the international sporting community (I was the director of International Relations for the US Olympic Committee from 2000 to 2006), and I know our students are giddy with excitement about going to the Olympics, seeing some of China's ancient and iconic cultural attractions, and sampling exotic Chinese cuisine . . . perhaps even daring to try scorpion-on-a-stick!