Read More Behind the TorchAaron Williams
Graduate Student in Sport Management
If I said I didn’t sleep like a rock last night from all the traveling/fun activities we did yesterday and all the fresh Colorado air, I’d be lying. I slept wonderfully and was fully recharged for today!
Today was the first day waking up in what I was hoping to be a sunny Colorado Springs, but, as I opened my blinds and looked out, I saw a wet Colorado Springs. After downing my first of several bottles of water, I headed for breakfast, where I had an amazing omelet and visited with several elite Olympic athletes that stay on the USOC campus.
It was intriguing hearing their stories, where they are from, what sport/discipline/event they participate in and why they chose to train at Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center.
After breakfast, we walked to Sports Center II and had an opportunity to listen to outstanding sport industry professionals. Our first speaker was Matt Stone, the manager of business development, and he presented the business and financial agenda for the next few years. Next, Aaron McGuire, director of the CSOTC, presented operational findings on sports facilities throughout the USA and international arena.
After our first of two sessions of professional speakers, we broke for lunch. During our lunch break, our group interacted with several elite athletes training for the 2016 RIO Olympic Games. Wow!
For the afternoon session, we heard from a professional from the United States Anti-Doping Agency (John Frothingham) about the initiative “TrueSport.” This program will provide guidance to young athletes, parents and coaches about the value of integrity, respect, teamwork, responsibility and courage.
After Frothingham’s presentation, we concluded the academic session with a presentation from James Bjorkland, the manager of development operation on the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Foundations.
This in-depth review of the Olympic movement, pillars of the five rings and importance of an Olympic and Paralympic Foundation was extremely informational and enlightening.
To conclude the lecture, we experienced “sitting volleyball.” This was a new physical activity that was physically demanding, frustrating and beneficial to understanding the difficulty that some athletes encounter.
After wiping off the sweat and rehydrating, we were invited to view elite athletes in the sports of boxing and gymnastics. The athletes and coaches interacted with our group and provided us insight into their sport training techniques and living experience at the CSOTC.
Tomorrow, several group members have chosen to attempt the “Incline,” a physically demanding trail near the CSOTC complex. Stay tuned, and be sure to read Brea’s blog for tomorrow’s adventures!
Fifteen prospective sport management professionals from The University of Alabama will have an opportunity to interact with the nation’s sport managers during a graduate-level, interim travel course. Three of these students – 23-year-old Margaret-Anne Dyson, of Pensacola, Florida, 23-year-old Brea Armstrong, of Memphis, Tennessee, and 24-year-old Aaron Williams, of Oshkosh, Wisconsin — will blog about their learning adventures over the next seven days.