UD students arrive in China to study abroad at the Olympics

Forty-five University of Delaware students and three faculty members arrived in China this week for a four-week study abroad program at the 2008 Olympic games in Beijing.

The program, run by the Department of Health, Nutrition and Exercise Sciences, will focus on the roles of women in sport, Chinese traditional sports and leisure practices, and the modern history of the Olympic games, including the more recent involvement of China in the international event.

In addition to the academic component, the students will visit Olympic venue sites during the Games and enjoy excursions to historical, cultural and scenic areas, including the Great Wall at Badaling, Temple of Heaven, Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Tianamen Square, Ming Tombs, BeiHai Park and Chinese opera.

Students also will interact with leading Chinese faculty, grand masters in various traditional Chinese sports, athletes and college students in areas that include gymnastics, martial arts, table tennis and badminton.

The students are accompanied by: Zhen Kang Sun, faculty director and supplemental faculty in the Department of Health, Nutrition and Exercise Sciences; David Barlow, faculty director and associate professor of health, nutrition and exercise sciences; and Stephen Goodwin, faculty director and associate professor of health, nutrition and exercise sciences.

The program is supported by Beijing Sport University, Tianjin University, and the Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee