5/27 - Travel Day!

Today was all about travel. We were downstairs by 7:15 to catch our train to the Geneva Airport, and it was clear that most of us weren't fully awake. Basically everyone slept on the train, trying to get a little more sleep before the rest of our day. Once we arrived at the airport, we checked our bags pretty easily and got through security with plenty of time to spare. There was some confusion about our gate, as there were two flights at 11:30 going to Athens and they switched our gate, but we found our plane and boarded right on time. The flight was quick, but the views were amazing. There were very few clouds in the sky, meaning we could see what we were flying over the whole time. In the beginning, we got some incredible views of the Swiss Alps, and it was one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. As we got closer to Athens, we had some amazing views of the different islands that make up the country. The air was so clear, and the Mediterranean was even clearer, which made the views all that more impressive.

 

 

 

Once we landed, we met with our travel guides, who brought us to the bus. We had a whole coach bus to ourselves, meaning we had plenty of space to lay out. We then departed from the airport to our first destination, Olympia. The home of the ancient Olympics was about a four-hour drive from Athens, so I got some work done on the outline we had to complete for our research paper. My paper focuses on sportswashing, a term that describes countries attempting to cover up their faults by manipulating public perception through sports. The issues these countries are dealing with harm their image and impede their interests, so they invest in sports to distract audiences from their faults. Some historical examples of sportswashing taking place are the 1934 World Cup (hosted by Fascist Italy) and the 1936 Olympics (hosted by Nazi Germany). Both these countries tried to confuse audiences by manipulating information to make themselves look better than they were. Recently, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and China have all been suspected of sportswashing to cover up various human rights issues, which I plan to explore heavily in my paper.

I completed most of my outline before we reached our first stop, the Corinth Canal. Built in the 1890s, the canal cuts through the Isthmus (a word I didn't know existed before today) of Corinth and connects the Peloponnese Peninsula with mainland Greece.
 

After this, we drove a bit more before stopping at a restaurant. I cannot tell you what the place was called (because it was super Greek, and I have no clue), but the food was super tasty and very filling. It was very traditional Greek cuisine, with chicken skewers and pork platters, and it was all so amazing. After dinner, most people fell asleep for the final part of the bus ride before we finally arrived at our hotel in Olympia. It was a long and exhausting travel day, but the views were incredible, the food fantastic, and the sites will be well worth it tomorrow. I can't wait to see what Olympia has in store! 

May 26 - World Aquatics, CAS, & IOC!!!!

Another business casual day started off hectic as our fearless leader Dr. Kim gave us the wrong wakeup time the night before and then at 6am in the morning she texted us saying we needed to be ready an hour earlier than what we were told! Somehow it was the one day we were all on time shockingly, but some of us did have to scarf down our breakfast to make it out on time. We took a long uphill walk to World Aquatics which is in this beautiful house which I thought was pretty cool. We had a discussion with Executive Director Brent Nowicki, Sport Director Pere Miro, and Senior Manager of Digital Content and Events Luca Fasani. We discussed various things such as the difference between sports in America and Europe, the workings of World Aquatics, and their upcoming championships in North America in a few months. Nowicki was also an upstate native which was fun to make that connection to all of us since he is from Buffalo, New York.

Our meeting with World Aquatics did run over from what we expected so we were running late to our next meeting with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) which was a far walk away. So, we hopped in some Ubers to make it to our next presentation. We arrived at CAS where we were greeted by William Sternheimer who is the Manager of Training and Education for CAS. He gave us a presentation on the history of CAS where he dived deeper into the beginning of why the sporting world needed CAS to determine rulings on sport related violations. We also learned about some of the most notable cases which varied in topics and learned about the two different types of cases which can be filed. After our presentation he showed us what a hearing room looked like which is basically a meeting room with many TVs so everyone can see if you’re online. Then he took us to a terrace which had a beautiful view of the city, Lake Geneva and the Alps.

Because we were running late in our meetings lunch was a very quick stop at the Coop store for grab and go lunch to eat on the run. For how cheap the food is it's pretty good quality coming from a grocery store as I had a pesto pasta salad and a spicy salmon onigiri. We hopped on the subway and ate our lunch before walking over near the Olympic Museum for our final stop of the day at the Olympic Study Center. We had 3 people speak to us in total about different sectors of the International Olympic Committee. We first spoke to Sinead Dowling on the Olympic Solidarity group which handles primarily the upholding of the Olympic Values and fund allocations for National Olympic Committees. Then Jocelin Sebastiani spoke to us about the processes of the Olympics regarding more event management and the host cities, while also touching on previous points on Olympic Solidarity. And then Diego Girod spoke to us about the archives and books that we have access to in the Olympic Study Center. He showed us some old artifacts from the first Paris Olympics and the smallest book in the Olympic collection.

Afterwards we accidentally left Luke and Rory at the subway station because they were too slow getting on the train. We went back to the hotel where we rested for a bit and then walked down to the beach to swim in Lake Geneva. The lake was pretty cold but we were able to have fun in the water and refresh ourselves. I then decided to do a solo dinner where I had a warm bowl of ramen after swimming in the cold lake before packing up my room for us to head to Greece!

Better Late than Never! May 26th: World Aquatics, CAS, & IOC

 Today was the most information-dense day we've had on the trip. We had the opportunity to speak with three different organizations across five different meetings. Our day started by meeting with World Aquatics, the federation in charge of a variety of aquatic sports. They helped provide us a lot of context about the European mentality of sport and how it differs from the United States, in terms of the importance of entertainment versus the purity of the sport. Their insight was very unique, and helped shift my perspective on what is important for federations and sport organizations to focus on.

We then headed to the Court of Arbitration of Sport, learning about how they make critical decisions that impact the landscape of the sport world. I'd heard of CAS before, but I loved learning about their decision making process for different types of cases. The legal side of sports isn't something I know much about, so understanding how it operates and how these decisions are made was super cool for me.

 

Sunday May 25th 2025-A mix of exploring and learning

 Today was one of those days that reminded me why this trip is so special—filled with inspiration, good food, and even better company. We’re now in Lausanne, Switzerland, and this beautiful lakeside city has such a peaceful energy, even with a packed itinerary. The highlight of the day was hands down our visit to the Olympic Museum, which completely blew me away.

Walking through the museum was like stepping into the heart of Olympic history. From ancient origins to modern-day events, it was all beautifully curated and immersive. But my favorite part by far was the exhibit on Opening Ceremony costumes. I was absolutely mesmerized by how the outfits reflected the culture, creativity, and symbolism of each nation.

One of the displays that stopped me in my tracks was a pair of Christian Louboutin sandals that had been worn by Cuban athletes during the 2016 Rio Opening Ceremony. Seeing a designer piece like that used in a sporting context was such a cool crossover—it felt like my two worlds of fashion and sports collided in the best way. I couldn’t get over the detail and boldness of the design. It was such a powerful reminder that fashion isn’t just about looks—it’s about identity, performance, and pride.

After we wrapped up at the museum (and took a million photos in front of the Olympic rings, of course), we headed over to a local grocery store to prep for a group picnic. Honestly, the process of shopping together was part of the fun. We picked up a random but perfect assortment of food—hot dogs, buns, corn, chips, cheese, and some sweet snacks for later. Everyone grabbed a few items and helped carry bags down to our picnic spot, which overlooked the lake and mountains.

We spent the afternoon grilling and relaxing. The hot dogs were simple but hit the spot, and the corn turned out surprisingly great on the grill. It felt so wholesome to just sit in a circle on the grass, listening to music, laughing, and enjoying the view. After several busy days of running around cities and sightseeing, the slower pace was really refreshing.

Once we finished up, we took a walk back home, still buzzing from the good vibes. The weather was perfect—just warm enough with a soft breeze. The whole day felt like summer in the best way.

Later that evening, a group of us grabbed dinner at Holy Cow, a local burger place not far from our hotel. I had heard great things about it, and it definitely lived up to the hype.

Switzerland is already proving to be such a hidden gem on this journey. I feel so lucky to experience these small but meaningful moments—and I already know today will be one I look back on with a full heart.

5/25 - Olympic Museum/Lake Geneva Picnic

Sunday in Lausanne was a much-needed restful day. After a day of hiking and sightseeing, and a busy day of meetings and presentations on Friday, we visited the Olympic Museum and had a picnic by Lake Geneva. In the museum, exhibits highlighted the rich history of the Olympics, encompassing both the modern and ancient games. The first part of the museum detailed the rich history of the ancient Olympic Games, held annually in Olympia, Greece. The Ancient Olympic Games were held 293 times from 776 BC to 393 BC. These games were referred to as Panhellenic games, as "pan" means "all," indicating that they were held for all of Greece. In the 1890s, the Modern Olympics were created by Pierre de Coubertin, a French aristocrat. This was the next exhibit featured in the museum. The first Modern Olympic Games were held in Athens in 1896, but the idea of the games was conceived much earlier.

In 1888, Coubertin created a committee dedicated to reviving the Olympic Games. Coubertin was a firm believer in the idea that sport can be a driver for world peace; he organized these worldwide games to promote the positive impacts that sport can have, such as promoting peace, education, and physical fitness. Coubertin also created the motto of the Olympics, “Citius, Altius, Fortius,” which translates to “Faster, Higher, Stronger” in English. After showcasing where the Olympics started, the Museum then highlighted how far the Olympics have gone. The games did not begin as the global spectacle we see every two years. The museum displays the torch from every Olympics, allowing you to see the journey of each one. For example, you watch a video of the 2014 Sochi torch traveling all over the country as it took an unprecedented journey into outer space. The goal of the torch is to spread the Olympic movement and showcase the unique message the upcoming Olympic games will promote. I loved our experience at the Olympic Museum. I am a huge fan of sports history, and in my opinion, there is no better place to see the rich history of sport than at the Olympic Museum. You can see the significant impact of the games on the world, and so they have evolved into one of the largest events globally. There is so much that goes into the Olympics, and the rules are no exception.

After exploring the museum, we discussed Olympic Rule 40, Olympic Solidarity, and doping regulations, which have all generated controversy over the years. Rule 40 discusses player sponsorship regulations, stating that athletes are not allowed to showcase non-Olympic partner sponsorships during the games. In the United States, we are accustomed to seeing sponsorship thrust into our faces by players, but this rule prevents that; it prevents over-commercialization and showcases the games for what they truly are. These rules are tied to the Olympic Solidarity movement. Olympic Solidarity ensures that all 206 National Olympic Committees receive the necessary funds and programming. There have been disagreements in the past about whether these rules should remain in place, primarily due to larger NOCs, which have the most to gain from sponsorships. Smaller NOCs require these rules and programs to remain in place and operate effectively.

We then took a trip to Lake Geneva to have a picnic, with cooking supplies we bought at a nearby supermarket. The group enjoyed hot dogs prepared by Heavenly and sat by the lake, and relaxed. It was one of the best moments of the trip. 

5/24 Swiss Alps Trek and Medieval Exploration

 Early Saturday morning, we boarded a train to Montreux for a day of hiking in the Swiss Alps—something I had been looking forward to since the beginning of the trip. Back home in Seattle, hiking is a huge part of my life. I spend most of my summers trying to cross off as many trails and summits as I can, so getting the chance to explore a new mountain range in another country felt like a dream come true.

After a scenic train ride through Switzerland’s wine country, with rows of vineyards stretching along the hillsides, we transferred to a smaller mountain train that began our gradual climb upward. We arrived at a charming farmer’s market tucked into the mountains. There were stalls full of fresh empanadas, local wine tastings, handcrafted jewelry, and artisanal goods. It was a lively and colorful place, and the perfect way to start the morning.

From there, we took a short but steep tram ride to the trailhead and began our ascent into the Alps. The hike reminded me a lot of home—tall pine trees lined the path, and we passed fields bursting with wildflowers. The air felt crisp and fresh, and the views grew more expansive with every step. After about 30 minutes, we reached the summit. The view was absolutely breathtaking: Lake Geneva shimmered below us, stretching farther than the eye could see, with the town of Montreux nestled along its edge. We could spot football fields, terracotta rooftops, brightly colored homes, and distant villages dotted along the mountain slopes. It felt surreal.

After soaking it in—and taking lots of photos—we began our descent. While technically going “down,” the trail zigzagged in steep switchbacks and rolling hills, alternating between climbs and drops. At one point, we passed a field of cows that, according to Bella, are considered the happiest cows in the world (and I believe it). About an hour later, we reached the bottom and returned to the lakeside, where we rewarded ourselves with fresh pizza, salad, and gelato.

Next, we headed to Château de Chillon—a site I knew little about before arriving but quickly became one of my favorite experiences of the trip. Perched on a rocky outcrop over Lake Geneva, the castle is one of Switzerland’s most visited historic landmarks. We explored its dungeons, banquet halls, bed chambers, and towering lookouts. The entire structure was both massive and majestic, with huge windows overlooking the lake and courtyards that seemed frozen in time. We wandered every corner, listening to guides explain what life would have been like there centuries ago. It was both haunting and awe-inspiring.

Back at the hotel that evening, I squeezed in my summer fitness packet before rejoining classmates for a light dinner. Though today was more about sightseeing than the Olympics, it sparked some interesting thoughts. One key element of both the Ancient and Modern Olympic movements is the idea of the Olympic Truce—using sport as a vehicle for peace, unity, and diplomacy. At Château de Chillon, we learned about the region’s history of conflict, invasions, and violent defense tactics. It made me wonder: could Olympic-style events have brought about a different kind of communication in medieval times? Could sport have been a unifier, even in this small mountain region?

We often think of the Olympics as a global event tied to major cities, but this experience reminded me how powerful sport can be, even in smaller communities. The way the modern Games promote tourism, culture, and peace makes me wonder what their influence might have looked like back then. One thing I do know: if Switzerland ever wanted to add hiking to the Olympic events, the Swiss Alps would be the ultimate venue—because that was no easy feat!

5/24 - Les Avants Day trip

    To start the day the group and I got on a train and headed to Les Avants to take part in a hiking excursion on the Narcissist trail. The main attraction on the trail is the infamous narcissist flower which is a white flower that resembles a daffodil. During our time on the trail, we had a great time taking in the views and experiencing what it was like to hike in an area adjacent to the Swiss Alps. But before we went on our hike we spent time in a farmers market where we could experience some authentic Swiss culture. Vendors at the market sold objects like wooden planks that had engraved logos or sports teams on them. Other vendors were either selling food or little souvenirs that we could buy and take home with us. After we went on the trail, which lasted about 2 hours, we took the train to Montreux where we indulged in a waterside lunch where all of us got different types of Italian food. Most of us got either pasta or pizza. 

    After that, everyone in the group got ice cream except for me and because I didn't get it we got a refund for paying for 9 ice creams and we only got 8. I got to keep the change. After our waterside lunch, we took a self-guided tour of the famous Castle Chillon which is the most visited historical site in Switzerland. During our self-guided tour, we took a suggested path around the entire castle. We had the most fun in the catacombs of the castle where we took part in learning about the history of what makes the castle special. Inside the castle, they had people selling different foods that would have been popular during the time the castle was in use. None of us got anything but the crepes looked decent. We spent around an hour and a half at the castle for our tour which was a reasonable amount of time as we had been up since 8 am to make sure that we got to the hiking trail with good weather. In my opinion, I enjoyed the Tower of London tour more than the Castle Chillon tour mostly because we had a funny tour guide who had a lot of knowledge of the historical events that took place at the castle. Compare that to Castle Chillon where we read of posted placards which is less than ideal when trying to have an enjoyable time at a historical site. After that, the group and I went on our separate ways for dinner before meeting up later that night.