The End of the Beginning

Welcome Home! (I suppose)

I know I only posted to the blog once on this entire trip but it is because I was enjoying myself way too much to pause for even a few minutes and write to people back home. This trip was the experience of a lifetime and I wish I could stop and replay every second again and again so I make sure that I don't forget any of it.

It feels kind of strange to be back in the States, in my little town, without 11 other kids within 15 feet of me at all times. It feels strange to talk to all my friends again and my family and realize that I have not spoken to most of them in over 3 weeks. But mostly, it feels strange to realize that I've grown so much in just the past 2 1/2 weeks. I owe that growth to Professors Ryan and Veley and to my classmates who took this trip with me.

I know that throughout our trip, we all thanked Prof. Ryan & Veley for the experience, and we all talked about how much fun we have had and our favorite memories. But we also grew together; we all experienced something that no one else in the world can share with us. That means something to me. That is something I don't want to forget- the feeling of being able to share this experience with 13 people I would have mostly considered just acquaintances and now consider friends, even family.

The places we got to see, the people we got to meet, the experiences we got to share with one another- from seeing the Eiffel Tower sparkling at night, the sun set behind Notre Dame, an unparalleled bonding experience on a rooftop in Athens, running the Olympic stade, eating dinner in Lausanne, and going out in LONDON- was incredible. No matter who comes on this trip in the coming years, or who else goes to visit any of these cities, they cannot have an experience that comes close to ours.

The students that went on this trip are people I hope to keep in touch with for years to come and I hope that we all keep these memories forever, and don't forget the things we experienced in Europe or how much that has changed us. Coming back to America was much harder than I thought it would be, and I am already planning my return trip to Greece.

For the final time, bon soir and kalispera to my chavs and wankers: the Original Olympic Gangsters, I love you.

Athans...Last day

To family and friends,

It is hard for me to put into words the experience we have been through over the past three weeks.  I have had the privilege of being able to watch 12 young men and woman explore four of the world’s great cultures and experience firsthand the subtle and at times dramatic differences in how they approach the sport industry and the impact the modern Olympic movement has made and will make in communities we have visited.  This has been more than a class on the Olympics, it has been for some an eye opening experience that will enrich industry and personal lives.  I am proud to have been part of this experience and only hope that you all have the opportunity to share in the memories with the students once they return.  Connection is slow but I will post more pictures over the next few weeks and I invite the students to continue to post thoughts, memories and pictures after they return.   See everyone back in the good old USofA

Prof Ryan

 

            This is Matt Grodd writing from you live in Athens, Greece.  I was given the honor of heading up the ladder end of these blogging entries, and I couldn’t be happier about it.  This trip has by far been the greatest experience of my life, and wrapping it up in Athens was the perfect idea.

            Today we met up with our tour guide Robert, who after spending four days with our crew, he’s now definitively one of us.  He is by far one of the funnier guys we have come across along our journey, and he is so bright as well.  Everywhere we have gone during our journey in Greece, Robert has just had a wealth of knowledge about each spot. 

            So Robert met us outside our hotel at 8:30, and we went on an early morning hike up to the peak of the Acropolis.  The Acropolis was absolutely gorgeous, and Robert obviously gave us the whole story behind the reasoning, history, and purpose of the sacred building.  We then moved on and saw the Parthenon, which was such a unique structure as well.  After we went through the Acropolis, we took an informational walk through Agra Square.  We then did another mini hike up to the Temple of Hopotholus, which was a fascinating sight.  We ended our Acropolis journey at Temple of Stoa, which has recently been turned in a mini museum.

            After we left the Acropolis, we journied off to the Theatre of Dionysus, to learn about how drama often was used as Competition in Ancient Greek times.  We saw a lot of different Tripod Monuments all around Dionysus that were still in very good shape compared to a lot of the other structures we’ve come across in Greece.  We ended our travels at the Modern Olympic Stadium, which was the perfect way to end our final day in Greece.  The Modern Olympic Stadium was the main sight for the first Olympics in Greece in 1896, and its structure is sill very in tact in nice looking.

            After today tour a lot of us went out for Soulvaki Lunches, and then did some last minute shopping for our friends and family.  At around 5:00 we met to determine the winner of the Scavenger hunt, which Rachel and John S. won by one point over the Will/Dave Tandem.  It’s now 6:30 and I am very excited for our final Farwell dinner tonight in Athens.  I’m looking forward to some great dialogue, some fantastic food, and one last great memory from this amazing journey in Europe.

Signing off from the greatest experience of my life,

Matt

The 2009 Olympiad of BPYAN (Brian): Day in Olympia

This post is relative to Monday in Olympia:

The 2004 ALCS will forever be remembered by Curt Schilling's bloody sock. The 2009 Olympiad will forever be remembered by my bloody toe...

Held in Olympia, Greece, the site of the original Olympic Games in 776 BC, we arrived Monday afternoon and after settling in at the beautiful Hotel Antonios (I think that's how it was spelled) we went into the town of Olympia to grab a quick bite to eat before heading off to the archaeological site. In town, I got my first real Greek meal of the trip and had a terrific Greek salad, except for in Greece, the Greek salads contain no lettuce, but merely of tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, olives, and feta cheese. It was absolutely great, I would call it a pleasant surprise. After eating, I found the greatest shirt of the trip as it has a Spartan helmet on it and the words below, those that I live by, "THIS IS SPARTA!" And I was so happy to find it that words cannot explain. We've quickly found that Greece is the least expensive destination point on our trip (thank God) and not soon enough as by this time our funds are all starting to become depleted.

Next up was the Mecca of Olympic sites, the place that started them all in 776 BC: the site at Olympia. Robert Pitt, Assistant Director of British Archaeology in Greece, led us around the site explaining the ins and outs of the site, and what each things once used to be and how it pertained to the Ancient Olympic games. We started at the original Temple of Zeus, later to be renamed the Temple of Hera after another temple was built to honor Zeus. We learned that this place, in addition to honoring the Gods, was a place of storage of wealth and almost like a treasury. Just outside this is also the location where the Olympic torch is lit each year before the Olympics before it leaves around the globe. The events that took place afterwards, I'll get to that in a moment. Our last few stops at the site included the Palaestra and the Gymnasium, 2 places used for training and education of the athletes about not only how to perform in the games, but general education as well learning grammar, religion, and other important things while also learning how to ready themselves for competition in the games.

Now, the main event. In the Ancient Olympics, the games were based around one main event, known as the Stade, which consisted of a sprint down the stadium floor of about 200 meters. Being the boys that we are, we decided that we needed to see who would be the champion of the class and have the games named after them as they did during ancient times. A few of us were not properly equipped with running footwear at the time and decided to run the games barefoot, just like the ancients did. The sad part is that the 2 people who came in first and second were both not wearing shoes and were able to beat all those that did. And being one of those without footwear, getting a stone stuck in the underside of my big toe, I emerged victorious from the race, and the games of this day will forever be known as the 2009 Olympia of BPYAN (Brian in Greek). Have no fear, the toe is in fine condition, and I will be ready to defend my crown and my name in 2013 to become the first ever Olympic Odyssey back-to-back Champion. Only one more day left to enjoy the Greek food and lifestyle, and our Eurotrip altogether. And to quote Mark Alken, which I never thought I'd do: Let's go out with a bang.

-One last time

-Ya boy

-I love Europe like for rizzay

-Lets get it

-Call me da champ like Nike but I run wit no shoes

-BMey

Fun with Veley

This is Mark Alken coming to you from Athens, Greece. I may be just 20 going on 21, but I've traveled to numerous locales in my lifetime. So far this entire Olympic Odyssey trip has been the trip of a life time. From London to Athens, this trip has been everything I expected and more. So much has transpired since our arrival in Athens, but I will fill you in on our group's activities from last night and today.

Last night we had an authentic Greek style dinner with both Professors Veley and Ryan. A good time was had by all. Myself, Matt Grodd, and everyone else at the table told some pretty amusing jokes and funny life stories. The restaurant's atmosphere was very relaxed and laid back. They had two vibrant guitar players entertaining patrons in the corner of the restaurant. From sitting next to Prof. Veley, I can tell he probably enjoyed it the most. Just being able to study with Professor Veley and Professor Ryan outside the classroom has been a truly enjoyable experience in and of itself. Since it was also a clear, starry night, we also went on the roof of our hotel and got a bird's eye view of the famous Acropolis. Afterwards, it was off to bed.

It was another early start for the group today. After an 8 AM breakfast, we took a bus to the 2004 Olympic site. What I saw was rather unfortunate. I was quite surprised at the disrepair the entire site has fallen under since the conclusion of the 2004 Games. The main stadium had some graffiti on the inside and looked nothing like the stunning facility back in 2004. The place where I saw the most visible signs of deterioration was on the basketball facility. There was rust growing on the steel supports and more signs of vandalization. Our own Carrier Dome has been around since 1980, but it is still very well taken care of and the most ironic is that it is located in one of the coldest regions in the United States. The facilities in Athens never have to face those kinds of harsh elements, but still we find them in disrepair. It stuns me that a place that is seen as the proud birth place of the Olympics would let the facilities fall into such disrepair. The trip to the 2004 site was a brief couple of hours.

We then hopped back on the bus and rejoined our friend and colleague Professor Robert Pitt at the Greek archeological museum. Since we've been in Greece, we have heavily immersed ourselves in Greek archeology. However, unlike the museums we visited in Olympia, the things we observed today focused more on ancient Greek society in general. It was amazing to see how ahead of their time the ancient Greeks were. Many of the tools they would use in everyday life were on display here. We saw funeral masks and other elegant forms of sculpture that would depict the Greek gods and certain powerful figures. It is from these that we get the idea of how they lived back during those times. To anyone outside the field, they may not see the connection. After visiting both the museum in Olympia and the one here in Athens we see how sport has evolved along with the society. This has been one of the more enlightening parts of this trip.

Well, tomorrow is our last day here in Europe. Let's go out with a bang.

Your's Truly,

Mark Alken 

Olympia Museums

                The first day in Olympia was very pristine, but yesterday morning the streets were filled with tourist buses and filled with people. It is pleasing to know that we were able to experience the ancient ruins before the crowds of people arrived. We went to 3 museums before heading back to Athens; the archeological museum, the ancient Olympics museum, and the modern Olympics museum.

                 It was evident from the start that the military was a major influence on the ancient Olympics. There was a lot of armor that was dedicated to the sanctuary as war prizes from victorious Greek battles. It was interesting to see the sculptures that were taken from the ruins. There was a horn and ear, which is all that is left from a giant bull statue that was directly in front of the Temple of Zeus. There were also statues of Zeus and Ganymede, Nike (the Goddess of victory), and Hermes (the messenger God). The Hermes statue is one of the best surviving statues from the ancient world. It was taken from the ruins of the Temple of Hera, which was like a museum at the time of the ancient Olympics. The statue told of the story where Zeus had a child, Dionysos (God of wine and dining), with another woman and charged Hermes to take Dionysos to the Nymphs, who were to nurse him, before Hera found and killed the child. We also saw artifacts from the building where the famous statue of Zeus was made. I was shocked to see how tiny the tools the artist used to sculpt this masterpiece. There were also molds that were used to shape and build the statue. We also saw all of the statues that were on the front and back side of the roof of the Temple of Zeus. Since the roof was a triangle they had to make the statues be larger in the middle and smaller on the outsides. They accomplished this by putting a God in the center because they were taller than ordinary men, then people standing, then horses or centaurs, then people sitting down, and finally people lying down. These groups of statues always showed a mythological scene, usually involving someone trying to get the girl.

                 We next went to the ancient Olympic museum where the displays did a great job of walking people through different aspects of the ancient Olympics. The ancient Olympics are regarded as a revival of Games that had been interrupted for a long period of time similar to how the modern Olympics were founded. The Games were held from 776 B.C. to 393 A.D. (1169 years). It was interesting because it was held every four years without interruption and local wars between city states would be suspended until after the Games, unlike the modern Olympics which have been interrupted twice for World War 1 & 2. The athletes themselves had to be Greek citizens in order to compete. They would travel to Elis, which was where the organizers of the Games were headquartered, a month prior to the start of the Games. The athletes would train and have their character tested because athletes were not only supposed to be good athletes, but good people as well. Women were not allowed to be at the Olympics because the athletes would compete in the nude. There was a competition for women, but not at the Olympics. We found out the stadium was 192.28 meters long so Brian won the 192.28 dash when we raced in the stadium the other day. The winners of the different events would be rewarded with a crown of woven olive branches and enjoyed privileges at their city state for the rest of their lives such as free meals, exemption from taxes, and seats of honor at entertainment events. Along with a lot of descriptions of the Games they had many artifacts. My favorite room in the museum had a glass floor with a beautiful artistic tile floor underneath.

                 The modern Olympic museum was not as good as the Olympic museum in Lausanne, but it did have a lot of unique artifacts such as stamps, tickets, Olympic programs, pictures, newspaper clippings, medals, pins, figurines, and Olympic torches. The most interesting information that I learned was that Pierre De Coubertin’s heart was buried in ancient Olympia as per his final request.

 I know my blog was long and I hope I didn’t bore you,

 Jonathan Prinsell

You'll all be home soon

I for one can not wait until you all arrive back in the states. Although I realize this has been an experience of a lifetime, the mother in me (and wife) will be thrilled when you are home safe and sound.

I am sure you all will treasure the memories and learning experiences you have stock piled for a lifetime. This trip has been quite the experience. I trust you all will return as "Olympic Scholars."



Professor Ryan's wife.

Travel, travel, travel

Note: This blog is for yesterday (Sunday, May 24). It was a long travel day and there was no internet access at the hotel last night.

Oh, what an exhilarating day! I don't have a long-winded tale of a sightseeing adventure nor can I include any notes about extravagant meals and landscapes. Instead, this post is jam packed with copious amounts of travel news. The day started off well as the group congregated in the luxurious Hotel Aulac restaurant for our breakfast buffet in Switzerland. Before the bus picked us up, a gold medal was bestowed to Professor Ryan for surviving the first twelve days. Immediately following the ceremony, the driver bussed us over to Geneva Airport. Due to a mix-up, we had expected to take off around noon but indeed we were booked on a later flight. So, for approximately five hours, we perused around the airport and purchased lunches and last minute souvenirs. In terms of the food, the prices were exorbitant, especially considering that there was only one concession stand at our gate.

As we sat around awaiting our planes arrival, some watched the infamous Oliver tape and huddled around the effervescent duo of Matt and Will to hear their epic story from the night before. We finally departed at 3:30 PM (Lausanne time).

Once we landed in Paris (DeGaulle), we trekked over to another terminal to catch the connecting flight to Athens. That journey lasted about four hours. At long last, after a weary and toilsome day, we disembarked at our final destination.

Rhea, an employee of the Hellenic Education and Research Center, greeted us at the terminal. After bussing to our hotel (the immaculate Hotel Cecil), Rhea provided the fatigued group with a brief orientation that included an overview of some common Greek phrases/words.

Next up - a visit to the Games sanctuary, situated in the historic Olympia. Amazingly, only four full days remain in this Odyssey.

So for now,

Bon Soir

καλή νύχτα

Good night

Pictures:

At the Geneva Airport

At the DeGaulles Airport

Birthday Pictures

Sorry these are a little late but I finally have internet on my computer again.

Thank you

On behalf of the entire Ryan family we would like to thank you all for making Professor Ryan's birthday special.

Tomorrow it's on to Athens!


LKRyan

Soon ...on to Athans

Today is our last full day in Switzerland. On Sunday we will be leaving for Athans, and our final stop on our Olympic Odyssey. I am looking forward to being at Olympia and a first hand view of the ancient site. Lausanne was a terrific experience. All of the students may be moving to Switzerland after graduation. Train transportation is world class, the city is beautiful and the opportunity to study the Olympics was more than I asked for. Thanks to all of you for keeping up with our trip and we will be home soon with memories for a life time. Enjoy the photos...
Prof Ryan

Profs Veley and Ryan at the IOC

Laundry day

Ouchy, the waterfront town where the IOC is located

Group at IOC Headquarters

Updating the blog from the internet cafe in Lousanne

Presentation from WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency)

IOC Headquarters w Brian

The Swiss Rule

Spectacular. . . majestic. . . awe-inspiring. . . would describe this magnificant backdrop by which the world's sports capital is located here in Lausanne, Switzerland. The country is literally the world headquarters for sports with the IOC and 62 federated international sport agencies located here along Lake Geneva, coupled with FIFA headquarters in Zurich and FIBA located in Geneva.

Our time in the Swiss Alps has been a terrific blend of education, liesure and recreation. We spend nearly six hours at the IOC Museum, complete with a guided private tour. The students were able to use the research library to obtain information for their written projects, view archieval footage and learn about the vast history of the Olympic games from Ancient times to the present. I was amazed at the number of ancient artifacts that are part of this rich museum.

We spent the day with "Grace" (Stacie Gertsel) being transported in a wheelchair while recoving from an ankle sprain after stepping off a curb in Paris. Why "Grace?" Because she has none, thus the softball sized ankle. She's doing much better and has retuned to walking, so no worries.
Safe to say the Okypic motto, "Citius Altius Fortius" (Bigger Stronger Faster) did not apply to Grace on this particular day.

"Those who wish to surpass yourself, fashion your body and spirit to discover the best of yourself, strive always to go one step further than that you were aiming for." --Pierre de Coubertin, Father of the Modern Olympics, 1894

Hopefully, the students learned that Nike is not simply a sneaker, but the Greek Goddess of Victory. More on that from Athens next week.

Thursday was a national holiday in Switzerland and the area where our hotel is located (Ouchy) was alive with music, a festival and lots of entertainment along the lakeshore. The students have been mezmerized by the sheer beauty of this region of the world. (Along with Prof. Ryan and I).

Friday's highlight was taking a walking tour of Olympic Park, going to the IOC headquarters and having a seminar at the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA). Use of illicit drugs and performance-enhancing drugs is such a major issue in the U.S. and internationally that this was a fascinating topic for the students. We learned first-hand about new standards and policies that WADA is working with sport agencies across the globe to "purify" the competiton. Great dialog took place amongst the students and our instructor, a Swiss native, who did her graduate work at Georgetown. Needless to say, some Hoya discourse erupted when we found this out.

We surprised Prof. Ryan with a birthday party that evening and he was very surprised. Prof. Ryan "walks on water" with the students after putting together this amazing experience. We had a joyous time and have learned to exist without a daily\hourly fix of American sports, although I'm aware that the SURGING Yankees have won nine straight games.

Today, Saturday, Prof. Ryan and I took a train to Vevey, through the Swiss Alps to get a slice of life outside of a city. It was everything we could have anticipated and more. Even spent some time at a flea market. This European lifestyle is going on me. My motto when shopping is "get in, find it and get out" -- now I'm making a purchase at a Swiss flea market.

The unemployment rate is less than one-percent in the country and crime is nearly non-existent. Heck, they don't even check to see if you actually purchased a ticket when riding the Metro or train system.

Can't get my daily exercise regime in, so I've resorted to finding Swiss chocolate and croussaints and then going for a "power walk" along the lake shore. I plan to do a study to see if rich Swiss chocolate can act as an exercise stimulate among middle-aged males. I learned at WADA that an alcoholic beverage made from grape skins was used by Zulu warriors in order to enhance their physical prowess in battle, so what to heck. . . stayed tuned.

Off for another "power walk" Departing bright and early tomorrow for Geneva and a flight to Athens, arriving about 8:00 p.m Until next blog. . .All the best to everyone. -- Prof. VEE-lay

At Olympic Museum "GOLD"

Olympic Museum

Blog update from Prof Ryan

As you can see we have been off the blog for a few days. We found an internet cafe and everyone wanted to log on and check email and add to the blog. Arrived in Lausanne on Wednesday evening and we have been running ever since. Early Thursday we spent most of the day at the Olympic Museum and I will attach some photos today. This AM we had the Opportunity to visit the Olympic walking park incluiding the Stade Pierre de Coubertin and the Head Quarters for the IOC. We then took a short walk to the Lauzerne Head Quarters off WADA (see the blog from Stacie) Although FUN is an important component of this Odyssey the opportunity to see first hand the Olympic structure has been first rate. I must say the Lake Geneva / Lausanne area is beautiful and the students have been taken by this town. Thanks to all of you who are following our ODYSSEY !...Prof Ryan

WADA

"The aim of education is the knowledge not of fact, but of value." - Dean William R. Inge

Today in beautiful Laussane we attended a meeting with WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) which is an independent, international agencz that coordinates and monitors the global fight against doping in sport. There we met withAmandine Bousiguse (who is most likely reading this right now) who provided a detailed overview of the role that WADA plays in the Olympics.

When people think of the word "doping" most Americans refer back to America´s greatest pastime, Baseball. WADA goes beyond that scope and looks at two categories: Deterence and Prevention. Under deterence is the different levels of the code, international standards, and models of best practice. The revised copy of the code focuses on flexibility of sanctions such as eligibility as well as a mandatory eduaction program. Although no one sport is known for doping, WADA has helped athletes "play true." By having an online database to document their every move helps them coincide with the code 365 days a year no matter where they are.

The most interesting thing I learned today was that their are 30 labs all over the world that test for prohibited drugs during, before and after competition. There is even one in Lake Placid.

Moving on, Grandma Grace also known as myself, is doing good today. I enjoyed my wheelchair ride yesterday around the museum as well as not having to walk. If anyone is wondering how I hurt my ankle, I fell off a curb, yes thats right. I said it, a curb. I was looking up at the Eiffel tower and before I knew it I was on the ground.

AND LASTLY.

TODAY IS PROFESSOR RYAN'S BIRTHDAY!

On behalf of all the students on the trip, I would like to thank him for his hardwork and dedication that he put into this trip. We are all having an amazing time and could not have been here without him!

And since I do not speak French or German, Tanti aguri! (Thats Italian)

Thats all for today.

- Grandma Grace

Olympic Museé

What a morning! Although we had to wake up early it was amazing to walk out into the streets of Lausanne and enjoy the beautiful weather. We all had a meeting with a tour guide from the Olympic Museé and what we saw before we even got to the Museé was amazing. The sand sculptures still in development of Roger Federer and Mohammed Ali with an Olympic torch connecting the two, Michael Phelps and his 8 gold medals still being worked on. It was pretty cool to see that for everything there is an art to it and the people who were working on these sand sculptures were real artistic. Outside of the Museé there were Olympic records displayed in the High Jump, which was about 6m 14 and the Pole Vault which was around 60m, pretty serious jumping right there. What we saw inside the Museé was even more intense and probably one of the collest things I had seen inside of there were the torches of every Olympic games since the very beginning until Beijing. We took some really cool pics in there. Another memorable part was seeing a basketball signed by every player of the 1992 Dream Team in Barcelona, that was definitely a plus for me. Definitely the best part of the Museé had to be sight of Stacie being rolled around in a wheelchair becasue of her twisted ankle in London, she is getting better by the day so thats good. I am real pressed for time and to everyone reading this Luasanne is definitely a place you would want to visit, the Olympic Museé is real cool too.
By the way this was written by Gregory Frias and not Prof. Ryan, see everyone when I get back, just wanted to send some love to my family and my girlfriend :)
-Greg

Last Day in Paris (belated)

This post began the morning of May 20th for the day of May 19th:

Yesterday was our final day in Paris and what a day it was. Professor Veley arrived in the morning and we began the day discussing the beginning of the modern Olympic movement which started in Paris in 1896. We focused on rapping our heads around the context of the time period which the revival occurred and how much different the world was then globally.

We all then met a bit before noon to head off and see Notre Dame, the Arc and the Eiffel tower. Notre Dame was partically incredible considering it has been around for almost a thousand years and took over 130 years build. However, it looks as if it was constructed yesterday and the arcitechture would be impressive if designed today. It's incredible how much more impactful things are when seen in person. The Arc was built in honor of Napolean and is now the French military memorial for all past French soldiers who have sacrificed their lives. We then traveled to the Eiffel tower and what a perfect day to do so with blue skys and sunshine.

Later that night, most of us went on a boat tour around Paris with Professor Veley. Greg, Mark and myself barely made it on time due to having too much fun at the McDonalds by our hotel. The highlight of the boat tour was definitely seeing the sunset behind Notre Dame. Absolutely beautiful. Today we are taking a train to Lausanne, Switzerland and I am very excited to take in the scenery of the country.

Celebrate

Happy Birthday Professor Ryan! What a wonderful place to be on your birthday.

LK Ryan

I'm never leaving Switzerland

I'm officially staying in Switzerland for the rest of my life. Our hotel (thank you SU Abroad and SPM) is absolutely amazing overlooking Lake Geneva and it feels and looks like Southern California. The women are TRES BELLE (very beautiful) and the club last night was absolutely insane even though it was one of the most expensive nights ever. But oh was it worth it. I also just had some terrific chicken kabob sandwich with the boys along with some sangria and it was absolutely delectable. We enjoyed some dialogue before some decided to enter the water via bridge (HA) and now we're off to enjoy the night in beautiful Lausanne!

Lausanne is the MOST beautiful place I have ever seen. Good call on the 5-star resort we are staying in. If anyone happens to have $4,000 laying around, I suggest taking it all and heading to Switzerland. They have cows, attractive people, free transportation, and NICE locals. I'm loving every minute of it, definitely prettier and better than Paris. Much prettier than London. Plus the Olympic headquarters are here so what more can we, as SPM kids, ask for? Seriously.

Sorry parents, you may or may not have your student return from Lausanne! We all enjoyed the interactive Olympic Museum. Even Grandma Grace enjoyed her new wheels at the museum. We're busy planning what to do with our free time after our visit to the IOC headquarters and WADA tomorrow. So many choices, yet there is no bad choice in this gorgeous area!

-Keepin it fo realz

-Ya boy and ya girls

-3 love represent

-What up young boys and girls

-BMey, LenDog, RayRay

Tour guides

We all enjoyed the picture of the Olympic Odyessey "tour guides".

The adventures you all are sharing are once in a lifetime experiences. Continue to take a little sip of each experience and savor it for a lifetime.

The French Evolution

We are ready to depart France and begin our train sojourn to Switzerland. Paris was terrific -- filled with cultural, arts and history. I took 10 students on a boat tour of the city last evening on the Seine River which was mag-nee-feat. The Eiffel Tower light show was awesome. What wasn't mag-nee-feet was breaking in a new pair of shoes after walking about 10 miles yesterday. We saw all of the historical sites and enjoyed the French culture.

I went 42 hours without sleep and I'm not completely sure it's Wednesday, but I'm excited to take the students to the IOC headquarters and library tommorow. Should arrive in Lusanne about 5:00 this evening and have a group dinner planned for our first night in a new country. Prof. Ryan has done a mag-nee-feat job with the trip and the students continue to rave of their expereince. A few rolled ankles, but we're all doing well.

Time to check out and head to the train station. Love to all, Prof. VEE-lay

Time for a program update...

I have been told it was time for me to post to the blog. I hope all of you are enjoying the updates from your sons and daughters. This has been a truly amazing trip for them. London was a great opportunity to see the amount of construction and development that a city deals with to hold an Olympic games. Simple things like being able to watch sport on TV in a new country is an experence by its self. We will be leving Paris behind today and moving on to Lausanne, home of the IOC and the Modern Olympic movement. We will be traveling by train and I hope to see the French countryside for the first time. Everyone is well...although sleep is not considered a requirment of some. The food was great...the learning has been fantisque....and everyone is having a good time.

Prof Ryan

"ah parie"

The Grand Palais

Your tour guides at the site of the 1900 Universal Exhibition and the 1900 Paris Olympics

I'm On A Boat!

A couple of us went on a river tour tonight and here are some of the pictures I took:

Big Brother

Greetings from Paris...

It is astonishing around here that there are cameras everywhere. In the subway, at the train stop, in the churches, cafes...you name it and there is a camera there to record your every move. I dont think that would fly in the US.

About to go on the river tour near the Eiffel tower. Hopefully the tower will be lit up by the time we arrive back at the dock.

Au Revoir for now.

Has Prof Veley Arrived?

Has Prof Veley arrived safe & sound?

Enjoy your day to explore in Paris!

Let's hear from Pat

Have you seen anything in Paris you haven't seen before? Katie says that when you were in London with her you guys saw everything you could possibly see.

LRyan

Place St Michel

Start of out historic tour of Paris

Paris and the start of the Modern Olympics

On the Seine in Paris

Ahhhhhh Parie

Bonjour Blog Stalkers.

This is my first blog since arriving to Europe. I have been a busy little student. London was fantastic, as I am sure you can see from my classmates blogs earlier. We arrived in Paris yesterday and it still feels like we are going home after this, not heading to TWO MORE COUNTRIES.... we are incredibly lucky kids.

So today we went sightseeing around Paris. We saw the Louvre, including the Mona Lisa which was cool, and some other sweet artsy things. Then we walked around Champs de Elysee, or something like that. Earlier in the morning we toured the Left Bank. It is in Paris. Tonight we are headed back to Central Paris to explore some more.

That is enough for my blog, I hope you guys are keeping up with us on a daily basis because believe me.... we are doing big things. Keep checking our blog and stalking our pictures. We love you all.

And we know you love us =)

Au Revoir Stalkers.

P.S. Hi Mom. Hi G.A.I.T. Hi Chris.

American Diner in Paris

While in Paris - If you just have to have an "American" meal, head to "Breakfast in America," a diner that has two Paris locations: one on the left bank, 17, rue des Ecoles in the 5th Arrondisement (Metro: Cardinal LeMoine or Jussieu) and one on the right, 4, rue Malher in the 4th Arrondisement (Metro: St Paul). They serve great breakfasts (pancakes, bacon, bagels, etc) or lunches of cheeseburgers, milkshakes, etc. Open 8:30 am to 11 pm - breakfast served all day. My daughter and I used to head their after she had exhausted me vintage clothes shopping in the 4th.

http://www.breakfast-in-america.com/main/

Keep the pictures coming!

Love the pictures - can't wait to see more!

L Ryan

A Walk in the Park

2012 Olympic Site

Buckingham

Train London to Paris

Arrival of Professor Veley

Pat , let us know when Professor Veley arrives to share in yet another journey with you!

Lu Ann

Fantastique

We just arrived in Paris, wonderful rainy Paris. After a three hour Eurostar train ride and a legit nap, we all (for the most part) are refreshed. After dragging our luggage up 30 steps, walking up and down the block we finally found our hotel.

The room is odd. There is a large bed, a pull out bed, and a single bed behind the door. The room came equipped with a radio and a small kitchen along with a pleasant yet interesting aroma.

On tap for tonight is some French cuisine and hopefully a good night sleep. Bz the weaz the kezboard is quite different. It consists on random kezs in various places and the shift button is no where in sight. In order to get the explanation point zou need zo hold alt, control and some other odd known button for it to appear. FANTASTIQUE+

The plus sign indicates where the explanation mark should be and the z^s since there is no commas should be y`s, I do not know where that apostrophe came from.

I am done with this so called "technology"

Tata, Stacie =)

Last Day in London

Being that today is our last day in London, I decided that it was best to recap some of the highlights. Today, some of us met at 7am to visit the Portobello Market, which was a street market that had numerous clothing and food options for all. It allowed those who went to get numerous items for the savenger hunt. Later, everyone met up for a tour of the British Museum where we walked around looking at artifacts from the ancient Olympics, which was comprised mostly of items from Greece. The day ended with some final sight seeing of London with one of the most common stops being at Harrods, a huge department store. Other common stops were Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Parliment, and Westminster Abbey. Fellow students said that Westminster Abbey was truly beautiful and a one of kind church.

Next stop, Paris.   

Can't wait for Paris

Sounds like the journey is going well. I am certainly enjoying reading the comments posted each day. The aire of excitement is certainly evident in each word you all share. Although we will miss Professor Ryan on his birthday, all of us at home are excited for him and the rest of the group for having the opportunity to share in such a wonderful experience.

Lu Ann Ryan

Here's to Jetlag

How can I describe London in one word!? FABULOUS

No worries Theresa, we got a great group shot today in front of the Olympic building site and Prof. Ryan is without a doubt in that. Our tour guide Martin took the picture so I will make sure he uploads tomorrow from the Faraday House.

Well to sum up the trip it is going amazing. I know a lot our parents are reading this daily esp. my mom as well as the SPM staff. The past two days have been amazing as well as exhausted. The jetlag is killing me but I am doing my best to try and sleep at normal hours.

This is only the beginning and I am positive more great times are about to come. We leave for Paris Sunday morning on the Eurostar which should be thrilling. Anyway it is 2:36am in London and I am exhausted and need to be up at 6:30am to meet Prof. Ryan at 7 so we can go to the market and all that fun stuff.

Cheers!
Stacie

London Day

Greetings from London!

Today, we got a walking tour of the London 2012 sites under construction. When I say walking, I mean a lot of walking!  The Olympic Village is going to be the East End of London, which has been the industry side of London for 1000 years. When the 2012 Games come around, it is going to be exciting to see how successful the clean-up and rejuvenation of the area is. We walked along a transporation canel for most of the tour, able to catch views of the Olympic Stadium and the Aquadrome, along with the massive of soil clean-up. 

After our tour, we ventured out to Hackney and had lunch. Part of our group enjoyed a Turkish meal so much that Mark paid twice. We then met with Charlie Forman, a top executive for Hackney 2012 committee.  Hackney is one of 4 boroughs that the Olympic Village falls on. Charlie gave us a overview of the benefits of the Olympics for the citizens of Hackney. He also discussed the issues currently happening with the Olympics, affecting Hackney. I think we all very much enjoyed his insight.

We then hustled down to Tower of London, transferring trains several times without losing anyone (big success!). Unfortunately, we got there 2 minutes too late to go into the Tower of London. But we got a lot of pictures that hopefully Professor Ryan should be putting up soon. And I know that he is in at least one of them, Theresa. 

Let's hope for no rain tomorrow as some of the early birds are getting up to go the Portobello Market tomorrow morning and all of us will be busy trying to see all the sights we've missed thus far!

Rachel 

Great Photos!!

Thanks for posting the photos Pat!! We need some of YOU in them. Okay, Stacie, get to work on some shots of Prof. Ryan.

Did you eat at Wagamama yet?? Yum, noodles!

How about the London Eye? Nice views... Enjoy your time in London!
Theresa :)

Amazing

The size of the stadium must have been amazing! Pictures are great - keep them coming.

Lu Ann Ryan

Wembley 2

Wembley 1

Leaving from JFK

"The Cathedral of Futbol"

Today, the group visited the 90,000 (three Carrier Domes!) seat Wembley Stadium. A couple of quick facts about the outstanding facility:

-6,000 paid staff members work on event day
-Each concession stands commemorates an historical England futbol moment
-A 1 km concourse surrounds the top tier
-166 private boxes that includes an exclusive suite for the Queen

What a stadium! Surprisingly, only the gold medal round will be conducted in the stadium. It would be a thrilling experience to be an intern for a summer.

May 14, 2009

Dear All,

Hope all is well. It is currently 5:15 pm here in London, so it's 12:15 pm back home. Today was a very eventful and insightful day. We all met at the Faraday House, the building for SU Abroad, and took multiple trains to Wembley Stadium. We took a wonderful tour of the entire stadium, which included seeing the stadium from the top tier seats and from the actual field, going into the British team's locker room, and getting our picture with the FA Cup while sitting in the Royal Box. After some shopping in the gift shop, we took the many trains back to the Faraday House to listen to a lecture by Mike Gillespie, a Sport Management professor in London. Mike gave a very interesting and exciting lecture on the 2012 Olympic Games in London, including extensive information on budgeting, broadcasting, and organization. We are now all planning to go out to dinner and then see what happens. Until then, I'll see ya when I see ya in London.

Jonathan Stahler

Olympic Odyssey Friends

The journey has just begun! We are all waiting for pictures!

LK Ryan

"You sound like you're from LONDON"

Yesterday was a long day. A very long day. After 2 flights and a lot of time zones we finally arrived and immediately made our mark upon London. Yesterday was highlighted by Mark's rumbling, bumbling, stumbling down the steps to the tube, but we won't talk about that. Before dinner, we checked out a local pub called Waxy O'Connor's and enjoyed the culture of London inside of a tree. Group dinner at the Sports Cafe was very good including the the soccer match on TV rooting against the locals. Up next today: Wembley stadium

-Ya boy

-B Mey on the fo rizz

-Holler @ me

Greetings from SU Abroad

We here are SU Abroad are glad to hear that you have safely arrived in London and have started your Olympic Odyssey. This program has been several years in the making, and we are thrilled to be following your experiences now. We wish you a safe and fulfilling journey, and look forward to reading about your travels and seeing the photos you'll post. If you need any support, please don't hesitate to contact us. We are here for you throughout your time abroad and beyond. Warm wishes from SU Abroad!

-Nell Bartkowiak, Assistant Director, SU Abroad

At JFK

AF not open till 1pm. I'm at Tuscany cafe. ...Pat

The day before

Hi all,

I just finished up my year-long internship this past Sunday and then I drove home for five hours that day. So, I have not had a lot of time to think about this trip. But, now that it is only a day away, I have started to scramble around and pack.

I have been to Europe once when I flew over to Barcelona, Spain with my father. That was in 2005 (it was a high school graduation gift). It was spectacular over there. It is definitely more of a laid back atmosphere as opposed to the bustling of a city we are probably used to. While I was there, I was able to visit the Olympic venues from the 1992 games. The sheer magnitude of the facilities and the stunning architecture impressed me the most. It has been 17 years since those games so I am anxious to see how much has changed in terms of the facility construction aspect.

The place that I am most looking forward to visit is Greece. Although we only spend a couple of days there, I think it is the ideal location to study the Olympic movement. I'm not sure if we are visiting the most recent Olympic sites in Athens but it would be compelling to compare the modern site to the ancient ones.

The one worry that I have is that, with the exception of I believe one other person, I did not take the Olympic course this past spring. I do not think it will hinder my enjoyment of the trip but I certainly don't have the breadth of knowledge that most of you do.

I can't wait. This will be the trip of a lifetime.

I'll see you all tomorrow.

David McIsaac

Tuesday!

Hey,

Hope everyone is having a good break from Syracuse and schoolwork. Tuesday is coming upon us quickly. I don't know about anyone else, but I'll be scrambling to finish packing tomorrow. Very excited though, so it's worth it. Safe travels and see you all tuesday!!!

Alyssa

A note from Professor Ryan's Wife

I am trusting that you all will take good care of Patrick. Also , I am looking forward to hearing about the wonderful things you all will be adding to your "life experience check list". As Patrick always has told me - Life is the journey not the destination. ---Lu Ann Ryan

I was born ready

Dear all,

Hope all is well with everyone since finals are done.  I have been just getting everything together for the big trip each day.  I'm sure I speak for all of the students that I am truly excited and anxious for the trip.  I have never been to Europe, so I am ready to see so many different countries and their cultures.  I am also happy to be going with all of you and am glad it is a small group of us.  I hope the weather is decent for the most part in all the countries throughout the trip.  I am looking forward to seeing all of the Olympic venues as well as the bars and pubs with both Professor Ryan and Professor Veley.  Well, I'm going to go and finish up packing and spend time with the #1 woman in my life, my mom.  Have safe trips to the airport, take care, and I'll see you all very soon.

Sincerely,

Jonathan

Ready to Go!

Hey All,

It's Saturday night and I'm looking forward to get over to Europe, but I still have some packing to do. Hope everyone's short break is going great and I'll see you in New York on Tuesday!

Jonathan

3 Days!

Hope everyone is having a nice break. Good luck on the last scramble to get all the little items you'll need for the trip. See you all on Tuesday, all pumped and ready for the long flight and amazing trip!

Rachel

Europe Here We Come

Its like 3 in the morning and I'm over here thinking about Europe and how crazy it's going to be. Its my first time to Europe and the only other continent I will have been on besides North America. Stacie, I would be down to participate in anyone of those activities so count me in when the time comes. I have not packed yet so tomorrow I will start working on that and getting last minute necessities. I hope everyone is doing well and this trip should be one for the ages. See everybody Tuesday.

-Greg

Let's Get It

I don't know about you guys, but I haven't started packing yet...and we leave on Tuesday. It is Friday night. It should also be noted that, again, I'm not carrying Stacie or Lena's things when their bags are 100 lbs. I'm going to love when we show up and mine is actually heavier than theirs. Haha anyway in response to Stacie, hell yeah I'm down for anything we're going to be in Europe! So yeah lets all do something fun like that out in Switzerland. I know a bunch of us know people in the different spots so lets definitely utilize those contacts and have some locals show us a good time haha. I also know that we're going to be in Paris at the same time as UTampa/Cortland so hopefully we can meet up with some Americans and ball out on Europa. The best part of the trip, hopefully, is that we won't have to hear about Manny Ramirez, or Brett Favre for over 2 weeks (tear)

See you all Tuesday, hopefully I'll be packed by then.

Let's get it.

-Ya boy

-Fresh2Death

-One Love

BMey

Eurobound

Hi everyone! It is Friday morning and we leave in 4 days! I am so excited to get the show on the road. I have been attempting to pack but of course I have no idea what I want to wear for the next three weeks so I need to downsize so my luggage makes it through security.

Also, I was doing some research online about what there is to do in Switzerland since that is when we have our day/night off. Is anyone up for going hot air-ballooning or white water rafting? I have some information if anyone is interested.

Cannot wait to see everyone! See you Tuesday!

Your Favorite Abroad Member,

Stacie

EUROPE IN 5

Hello classmates and fellow blog-followers,

We leave for Europe in just 5 days and I cannot wait. It's going to be the best time of our lives. So get packed, get ready, get set, and let's head to Europe. Oh yeah, and let's not get Swine Flu while we're over there.

Be excited, see you soon.

Love, Lena

Live webcast: The Forum on Sport, Peace & Development

On 7 and 8 May 2009, the first-ever International Forum on Sport, Peace and Development will be broadcast live in its entirety on www.olympic.org/forum from the Olympic Museum in Lausanne.Impressive themes
The Forum’s discussions will centre on how sport can contribute to development, peace and national cohesion. There are six main themes on the programme for the participants and web visitors:
- The potential of sport in the search for peace and development,
- Promoting a culture of peace among young people
- Sport for community and youth development
- Promotion of education and healthy life-styles through sport
- The Olympic Games: legacy for education, development and peace
- Capitalising on partnerships and networking

The Forum begins on 7 May 2009 at 9 a.m. CET

Be on your toes, students! Prof. V. will be joining you in the French Capitol very soon.

Safe Travels...And Don't Forget to Send Photos

We look forward to hearing about your experiences on this Olympic journey. Have a safe, enjoyable and exciting trip, and don't forget to share your photos with us!

Paris Metro Link

Here is a good link for the Paris Metro
http://www.ratp.info/orienter/cv/cv_en/carteparis.php

Olympic Park Flythrough

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVWtT_nN93o

Trip Highlights Include...

• Wembley Stadium
• London 2012 Olympic Site
• British Museum
• Tour of Paris
• Olympic Sites in Paris
• IOC Olympic Museum
• IOC Olympic Studies Centre
• Ancient Olympia & Archeaological Museum
• Modern Olympic Games Academy
• National Archaeological Museum Athens
• Athens Olympic Stadium Complex
• Acropolis
• Ancient Athenian Agora and Museum

Invitation to post to Olympic Odyssey Blog

Open invitation to post
I would like to welcome you to the SU Olympic Odyssey Blog! Please feel free to pass along the web address to family, friends and collogues. I will work on the look of the site…but for now…go for it…!!! Please remember this is a site that may be viewed by anyone …so please keep the conversation directed to the Olympic Odyssey and remember to focus on the academic experience (OK, and a bit of fun).