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Student Spotlight
GFI Student’s Italian Basketball Adventure
Fast Facts
Has interned in PR and marketing
A lifelong sports enthusiast who loves all kinds of sports
Earned his bachelor's degree at Taiwan National University
Basketball's Global Influence
<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. "Seeing the smiles on the kids really warmed my heart," says Chang. "I felt the power of sports that can truly impact a community."</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. "It was like nothing I've ever seen before," he reflects. "Visiting the castle was amazing enough, let alone watching a basketball game in a castle!" </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>
Basketball Courts, Culture—and Castles!
<p>"The country breathes history and the atmosphere there was incredible," says Chang of his multifaceted Italian adventure. "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."</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. "It was truly memorable," Chang adds.</p>
<p>The Preston Robert Tisch Institute of Global Sports' GFI programs are designed to help students connect to 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>
This was my first time travelling in Europe, and I am glad it was Italy. it was like nothing I've ever seen before."
