Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – The focus of the sporting world will center on Beijing beginning Aug. 8 for the 2008 Summer Olympics, and one Presque Isle native will join the thousands of fans flocking to the city.
Ryan Huston, son of Vicki and David Huston and 2005 Presque Isle High School graduate, will travel with 10 students and four professors from Southern New Hampshire University to the event.
“My sport management program has connections with a university in China, and they sent out a memo that they could take 10 students to the Olympics,” explained Huston. “There were 50 to 55 applicants, and they took the top 10 based on grades and involvement in the sport management club.”
Huston, who just returned from a semester abroad in Australia, jumped at the chance to continue his travels and gain more sport-related experience.
In preparation for the trip, Huston took a semester of Mandarin to learn 250 basic phrases that might come in handy around the city. “I can pick out some characters too,” said Huston.
Huston’s group will stay at the Beijing Sport University while spending three days volunteering at Olympic boxing events as well as visiting the Great Wall and attending 10 of the Olympic events as spectators.
Confirmed events for the group include handball, equestrian and soccer.
“We’re going to see women’s basketball too, and men’s basketball, if we can get tickets,” said Huston.
Other than the opportunity to visit China and see the Olympics in person, Huston had career-linked reasons for applying for the trip.
“I’ve been finding out from professors and potential employers that they look for people willing to step outside their comfort zone … and this is a worldwide sporting event. I’m really looking forward to experiencing another culture.”
