Study Away: Exploring the origin of the Olympics in Greece

Students studying sport management got to experience this spring how history has shaped modern athletics.

A dozen students traveled to Greece, the birthplace of the Olympic Games, as part of the travel study courses offered by Aurora University’s Office of Global Engagement. The students toured Athens, the site of the first modern Olympics, in 1896, and discovered how sports and athletic competition were central to ancient Greek civilization.

“There’s no better way to explore the beginnings of the Olympic games than to set foot on these historic sites,” said trip leader Shaun Neitzel, assistant professor and chair of sport management. “It brings Olympic history to life.”

Bringing the classroom to life
For Makayla Reyes ’24, MBA ’25, the trip solidified her decision to continue on with advanced studies in the field. After majoring in sport management as an undergraduate, she enrolled in the same track in AU’s MBA Plus One program.

“The trip to Greece really opened my eyes,” Reyes said. “It made me want to have a deeper understanding of where sports started and how athletics and competitions have influenced different generations. One of my favorite sites was the original Olympic stadium. Getting to study the Olympics really showed how powerful sports can be in culture and in daily life, even back then.”

The students and Neitzel spent nine days exploring the country. They saw the Parthenon and the Acropolis in Athens, the Temple of Apollo at Delphi, and the highest peak in Greece, Mt. Olympus. They also rode a ferry to visit the island of Hydra, which has no cars and only donkeys for transportation.

In a nod to the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, they visited Olympia—site of the ancient Olympic games—where a few weeks earlier the iconic Olympic torch began its journey to France for the start of the games.

AU’s global study experiences are designed to provide interdisciplinary learning in the liberal arts tradition, said Matt Dabros, associate vice president for academic affairs.

“As they’re touring historic sites in Greece, the students are experiencing art, philosophy, business and a different culture,” Dabros said. “The opportunity to pay with a different currency, navigate a public transportation system, or communicate in another language allow students to acquire new skills in problem management and critical thinking.”

Olivia Buzzelli ’25 was intrigued by the Greek culture, from the food to the clothes to the jewelry, and how the country’s economy relies on tourism.

“I absolutely loved learning about the culture and the architecture,” Buzzelli said. “One of my most memorable experiences from the trip was meeting local students and comparing our languages, education, and hobbies. Being able to connect with similar-aged students was very rewarding.”

As part of his course, Neitzel required students to write three reflective papers—before, during, and after the trip. A recurring theme in the essays was the friendships students made on the trip.

“This trip was an experience of a lifetime,” said Payton Bishop ’24, MBA ’25. “All 12 of us became very close and I am so grateful for that. I thank AU every day for the opportunity that I got to experience this amazing country and become friends with such great people.”