17 students from Syracuse University, including several from the Falk College of Sport, traveled to Asia in May 2026 as part of an 18-day study abroad trip for the SPM440/SAL440 Themes in Sport and Its Global Impact: Korea, China, and Japan class. Associate Professor in the Department of Sport Management Jamie Kim and Professor in the Department of Sport Management John Wolohan led the trip.
Traveling to Seoul, Beijing, and Tokyo, students learned about the local sport ecosystems by visiting the Korean Sport and Olympic Committee, Korean Sport Promotion Foundation, K-league, Chinese Soccer League, Japanese baseball museum, and more; the globalization strategies of U.S. sport entities by meeting with NFL China, NBA China, MLB Asia, and PGA Tour; and the impact of mega sporting events by visiting Seoul’s Olympic Park, Beijing National Stadium (also known as the Bird’s Nest, which played host of the 2008 and 2022 Olympics), and Japan National Stadium.
“Days like this remind me why this study abroad program is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We're not just learning about sport management in a classroom, we're experiencing the culture firsthand," said sport analytics major Jeremy Shatzer.
Students visited the NBA Beijing Office.
There were joint classes with local students from Sungkyunkwan University and Chinese University of Political Science and Law. Students attended local events such as a Korean Baseball game at Jamsil Stadium, Chinese soccer at Worker’s stadium, Nike high school basketball at Wukesong Arena, and Japanese baseball at Tokyo Dome.
The trip provided opportunities for cultural immersion, including gaming and esports, screen golf, kung fu, and kendo, as well as sightseeing at the Korean National Palace, the Korean Demilitarized Zone, the Great Wall of China, the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and the Tokyo Samurai Museum.
“Taking in the beautiful grounds of Gyeongbokgung Palace was a one-of-a-kind experience that can’t be expressed in words,” said sport management major Zach Siegel. “You could feel the rich history and culture all around.”
The students kept a blog of their day-by-day experiences. Find it by clicking this link.
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