<p><a href="https://www.sps.nyu.edu/explore/degrees-and-programs/ms-in-sports-business.html">MS in Sports Business</a> candidate Jim Chang recently participated in a Tisch Institute for Global Sports Global Field Intensive (GFI) that took him to Italy, where he explored the interconnections between basketball, globalization, politics, and culture.</p> <p>Led by Professor David Hollander, author of <i>How Basketball Can Save the World</i>, Chang's GFI began with visits to some of the Italian institutions spearheading the rise of basketball's popularity in the country, including Milan's Corvetto Street Basket Academy. &quot;Seeing the smiles on the kids really warmed my heart,&quot; says Chang. &quot;I felt the power of sports that can truly impact a community.&quot;</p> <p>Another highlight of Chang's GFI was attending a basketball tournament held in a castle in Trento that was hosted by pro Italian team Aquila Basket Trento. &quot;It was like nothing I've ever seen before,&quot; he reflects. &quot;Visiting the castle was amazing enough, let alone watching a basketball game in a castle!&quot; </p> <p>The GFI provided Chang with a firsthand perspective of how sport governing bodies, spectators, practices, and products both reflect local conditions while simultaneously being influenced by the workings of global economic, political, and cultural forces. </p>

<p>&quot;The country breathes history and the atmosphere there was incredible,&quot; says Chang of his multifaceted Italian adventure. &quot;Each famous tourist spot I explored, such as the Duomo di Milano, was very fulfilling. We had many Italian cuisines as a class on this trip, and I enjoyed every one of them—especially the lasagna in Bologna.&quot;</p> <p>Above all, what he enjoyed most about the GFI was how it provided an enriching cultural experience that also benefitted his professional aspirations. &quot;It was truly memorable,&quot; Chang adds.</p> <p>The Preston Robert Tisch Institute of Global Sports' GFI programs are designed to help students connect to&nbsp;the global sports market far beyond the classroom, affording participants the opportunity to network with professional executives, visit sports organizations, embark on cultural excursions, and cultivate new friendships.</p>