When Dutch speed skater Stefan Groothuis hit the ice to compete for Olympic gold two weeks ago, second-year M.B.A. student Amy Watson watched as his family nervously clutched each other’s hands in anticipation. His father wrung his hat in jittery excitement. After each skater had crossed the finish line, it was announced Mr. Groothuis had dominated the 1,000-meter race and brought the Netherlands to a first-place victory. Ms. Watson looked on as the champion’s family burst into tears and hugged him, wearing T-shirts that read “Stefan the Gold.”
Unlike most Winter Games spectators, Ms. Watson wasn’t tuning into the tender moment on TV. She was sitting directly behind Mr. Groothuis’s family in Sochi’s Adler Arena Stadium—a literal front-row seat to one of the biggest sports productions in history.
Ms. Watson was one of 27 George Washington University students who boarded a plane to Sochi this month as part of the School of Business course “International Experience: Behind the Scenes at the Winter Olympic Games.” Led by Lisa Delpy Neirotti, associate professor of tourism and sports management, the group witnessed the world’s most talented athletes duke it out, all while learning about the business aspects associated with the monumental event.
“It’s tough to encapsulate what an amazing display Sochi was—it’s just this moment of nationalism and patriotism that you don’t see ever. It was people coming together to support these incredible athletes who are so young and have worked so hard,” Ms. Watson said.
The students left for Sochi on Feb. 6 and launched into 11 days of nonstop meetings, lectures and activities. The class had a focus on sports management and marketing, but the plethora of topics Dr. Neirotti exposed her group to covered much more territory. Dr. Neirotti arranged sessions with producers involved in the opening ceremony, broadcasters, hospitality directors and the heads of corporate sponsorships. The agenda also boasted visits from athletes, agents, coaches and more. One group of students even got quality face time at the Olympic Village with GW alumna Elana Meyers, B.A. ’06, M.T.A. ’11, whose bobsledding performance won the U.S. a silver medal.
First-year graduate student Katie Carpenter was the only person in the group from the Elliott School of International Affairs. She was more interested in the Olympics program itself, and a conversation with American politician Deedee Corradini gave her insight into how the former Salt Lake City mayor fought to add women’s ski jumping to the Games.
“Talking to her was fascinating—I heard about everything from the International Olympics Committee review process all the way to her legal battle with the Canadian Supreme Court to get this sport included,” Ms. Carpenter said.
While staying in the town of Adler about two miles outside of the main park, the students enjoyed cultural events offered in tandem with the sporting competitions. Ms. Watson, who had never been to Russia, said the experience gave her a chance to meet some of the thousands of young Russian volunteers who had taken trains from all over the country to help at the Olympics.
“That’s what really struck me most—the sense of coming together. Every barrier and every country just melted away, and instead, there was this really big sense of camaraderie, support and love,” Ms. Watson said.
She explained each country had a house set up for people to immerse themselves in different cultures. The group stopped by the Austrian, German and Swiss houses, and volunteered at the U.S. house, which had both corporate and Olympian visitors. Ms. Watson met many athletes she’d admired in past Games, including members of the U.S. hockey team.
Dr. Neirotti said she was impressed with how engaged the students were with all of the activities in the jam-packed schedule.
“A key success factor is being flexible, and this group adapted well. We all did not know what to expect before traveling but were pleasantly surprised by how smooth the security, transportation and overall event went. Not only were some close friendships made between the students but also some valuable professional contacts,” Dr. Neirotti said.
Ms. Watson urged any students who plan on taking the class in future years to embrace the trip’s myriad cultural and academic benefits.
“If you go in with an open mind and focus on being a sponge and soaking in everything going on around you, you’ll have the experience of a lifetime,” she said.
