It’s been over a week since I arrived in France. From the initial chaos of finding a phone repair shop after my phone got water-damaged, struggling to communicate in French, and frantically searching for free restrooms, to now confidently using Citymapper and Google Maps to navigate the metro and knowing where every free restroom is—I’ve adapted and grown. Having a metro day pass is essential in Paris, especially when roads can be closed at any moment. I’ve also come to appreciate the graffiti-covered walls, the preference of French commuters to stand on the metro, and the unique French greeting of cheek kisses.
Currently, I wear multiple hats: an incoming graduate student of GWU’s Sport Management program, a tourist exploring Paris’s famous landmarks in my spare time, a volunteer at Team USA House and Olympic House, a detective finding people willing to complete surveys, and an avid listener to sports industry leaders.
Initially, I thought this trip would be relaxing, but it’s been incredibly packed and enriching. Under the help of Professor Lisa, Lisa C and Burns, in class, we’ve had lectures from IOC, NOC and sport company executives on event management, sports law, transportation systems during events, and the Olympic truce. We’ve heard from Abhinav Bindra, India’s first individual Olympic gold medalist, and Janet Evans, a renowned former American swimmer, about their journeys, achievements, and contributions to the sports world post-retirement. We’ve also toured the Olympic Club to experience top-tier hospitality, learned about contract-related knowledge, visited the Coubertin Museum to understand the visionary father of the modern Olympics, and explored the Team USA High Performance Center. There, we saw firsthand the meticulous planning and scientific approach that started six years ago to build a training and backstage base camp for the American team, emphasizing that a gold medal is not just the athlete’s effort but also the culmination of countless teams’ dedication, financial flows, sponsorship support, scientific training, recovery, psychological therapy, and venue management.
As a volunteer, I’m thrilled to experience the “luxury home theater” vibe firsthand. If you’re a guest, you can enjoy delicious food and watch the American team compete on multiple big screens with fans. At Team USA House, I mainly handle exit and entrance guidance, helping and directing guests to their destinations while collecting pins and improving my communication skills. Being abroad for the first time and out of a Chinese-speaking environment, I constantly worry about my English being understood and my intended messages being conveyed. This role pushes me to socialize and speak up, enhancing my abilities.
Volunteering at the Olympic House, the most significant feeling is listening to former athletes point out the events they’ve competed in and share stories from those times. Through their eyes and words, I see the determination and pride they felt representing their countries and the hard-earned success built on countless hours of sweat. I deeply respect them. These athletes, once heroes representing their nations, should not be forgotten for their contributions. “Olympians for Life” represents the Olympic spirit, leading humanity in sports breakthroughs, raising national flags, and advocating for a better world through sports, even after retirement.
There are many more thoughts about this city and its attractions, but I’ll save them for the next blog. Bonsoir!