Students have visited sport heritage sites in the UK and overseas to enhance their learning on the 'coolest course' at De 51吃瓜app University Leicester (51吃瓜app).
The Business Management in Sport MSc group experienced a bobsled ride in Austria, had access all areas at the home of FC Bayern Munich in Germany and learned how homegrown sports organisations gain a competition edge at Wimbledon and Twickenham.
The Business Management in Sport students at Twickenham
The aim of the trips is to develop students' understanding of sports heritage and legacy management - and they have helped Shray Upadhyay see opportunities 'outside the box'.
"I came to understand that sports business is more than just organising an event or competition," said the 28-year-old from Banswara, India.
"There were numerous examples like the Bayern Munich Museum and bobsled ride for tourists, which helped me to explore sports business opportunities beyond the usual ones.
Shrey Upadhyay, in the third seat, on his bobsled ride
"The highlight of the European trip was the bobsled ride at Innsbruck. We not only visited an Olympic venue but were able to experience how an Olympic event feels.
"In the UK, the talk by Ben (Swann, from the learning department) at Wimbledon Museum was the best I've ever listened to in my life.
"I was explaining this to my flatmate, who said I have the 'coolest course'."
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Students enjoyed three days in Austria and Germany as part of their module before visiting major professional venues back in the UK. These visits to sport venues, both historical and current, help students understand the sport industry in greater detail.
Phoebe Jones, 21, from Cheshire, was able to compare and contrast how sport heritage is portrayed to audiences in different countries.
"I found the trips equally interesting," she said. "They have developed my knowledge in a much more tactile way than sitting in a classroom, which in turn has allowed me to understand the topic of sport heritage not only in an academic sense but also as the general audience."
Lauren Ednie, left, and Phoebe Jones at Centre Court at Wimbledon
Football fan Raag Borgohain, whose dream is to work for a top football club, relished the opportunity to tour the Allianz Arena, home to Bayern Munich.
"From the dressing room to the dugout, the tour was breathtaking and lets you follow in the footsteps of sporting legends and explore areas only accessible to the players," said the 24-year-old from India.
Classmate Shanoon Roshan was equally enthusiastic.
"The visit gave me goosebumps," said the 25-year-old from India. "The museum was massive and I could understand what role heritage plays when I witnessed it.
"In India, sport heritage isn't widely considered and I'm sure I can apply the sort of knowledge I've gained in the future.
"I'm glad we have the best module leader, Dr Heather Dichter. I can happily say that these were the best days of my life."
Raag Borgohain, left, and Shanoon Roshan outside Allianz Arena
Mihir Patel made the most of the opportunity to chat to experts.
"The most important value was how to recreate the history of an event that has happened and to put it in front of the public as an interesting topic," said the 22-year-old from India.
Bobsled was the highlight for Tirapit Pairuchvet from Thailand.
The 31-year-old added: "I've not had much experience of winter sport because I'm from a country in the tropical zone. I don't think I'd have the chance to do this if I hadn't come with the university."
Posted on Thursday 11 April 2019