Study Abroad Spotlight: Learning from the Olympic Games in London about international relations, political divides
Virginia Griffin ’24, Owen Gast ’25, and Makayla Key ’24 took a Burch Field Research Seminar in London this summer to learn the global history of the Olympic Games within the context of international relations.
Led by Professor Matthew Andrews, a teaching associate professor and departmental adviser in UNC’s History Department, the students explored the city to learn about the 1908, 1948, and 2012 Summer Olympics.
“We visited historical sites and athletic and Olympic venues to gain an understanding of what the games meant to London, then and now,” Makayla said. “I recommend this program to anyone looking for an engaging study abroad opportunity!”
In summer 2020, Virginia interned in the Elite Education Department of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She helped prepare athletes, coaches, and support personnel for Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 in providing anti-doping education.
The London seminar took place from May 20 to June 10. All Burch Field Research Seminars are open to students (second-year status or greater) with a 3.0 GPA.
With funding through the Morehead-Cain, scholars have access to nearly 400 programs in more than 70 countries on every populated continent of the world.
