By Ryan Hirsh, Journalism Sophomore

When I saw a flyer hanging on the bulletin board at Weimer Hall advertising a study abroad program centered around an NBA game, I knew I had to apply. As an avid NBA fan, having the opportunity to travel to Paris and cover the second-ever NBA game in Paris between the Chicago Bulls and the Detroit Pistons was one I could not pass up.  

Academics First

The assignment for the program was to provide media coverage on a unique social or cultural angle for the event. We paired up in our first meeting before our departure to France.  

Going into the first meeting, I knew only three people who were participating. That scared me because I am not very outgoing. I was worried I would have a hard time connecting with everyone. Luckily, I feel like I now have 23 lifelong friends bonded to me forever thanks to this unique experience.  

Seeing our schedule ahead of the program, I realized our time in Paris would be short. Our primary reason to go was to cover the NBA game and learn about the culture surrounding sports internationally. We were not to tourists. 

Discovering Paris

While our primary focus was academics, a few of us decided move up our departure date. We landed in Paris ahead of the official start of the program and explored the city. We walked through the French capital, learned the metro system, shopped like tourists, and tasted the incredible local cuisine.  

Upon meeting with the class the next day, we hit the ground running. We first traveled to Montparnasse Tower, one of the only skyscrapers within Paris. From the top, we could see the entire city, including the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe.  

Then, we had the afternoon to roam around before our welcoming dinner that evening. Many of us took this time to take advantage of the winter sales season, which is one of two French sales periods each year. We went to the Galeries Lafayette, which has incredibly elegant architecture. 

At our dinner that night, many of us struggled with the meal presented. Our first course was pâté, a common French dish of various meats mushed together and served cold. Almost nobody ate it, as it was not a dish we were accustomed to. Our main dish was some sort of steak that was served basically raw and ice cold. I quickly realized that I would be staying away from those dishes for the rest of my time in France and instead would be dining on crepes and macarons.  

Game Day

Our second day, Jan. 19, was the day of the game. So, it was time to get to work. My partner, Jack Meyer, and I decided we wanted to cover the future of the NBA in Paris and the expansion of the international presence the league has.

Paris is home to the No. 1 prospect for the 2023 NBA draft, Victor Wembanyama. Naturally, the excitement about basketball from Parisians is extremely high right now, so we thought this would be a great angle to focus on.

We also wanted to document the atmosphere at the game itself. So, we decided to get tickets for the highly anticipated event. 

We got to Accor Arena over two hours prior to tipoff and the streets were packed. A line full of lucky ticket holders wrapped around the entire arena. Police officers had shut down nearby roads and were directing foot traffic. While we were in line, we interviewed some of the fans around us. We ended up interviewing fans from France, Norway, America, Switzerland, and more.  

Sports Landmark Visits

The next day we had a private tour of the Stade de France, which is where the French rugby and soccer teams play. As a former rugby player, this was one of my favorite parts of the program. Although I haven’t played the sport since high school, getting to tour the stadium that is home to the French national team was very awe-inducing for me. We even entered the locker room, sat in the President’s box and visited the jail cells within the stadium, which was incredibly unique.  

Another amazing tour was the one we had at Roland Garros on our last day in Paris. Despite the freezing weather and strong winds, we explored the legendary tennis facility, stepped on the iconic red clay, saw the media room, and sat at the winning player interview table.  

A Program to Remember

Despite our short time in France, we did so much and got so close to one another. I grew as a journalist and immersed myself in an international setting that taught me so much about myself.  

Dr. Coche and Professor Spiker organized an incredible experience that mirrored the expected turnaround on an article had we been working in a professional organization. They prepared us well for this unique opportunity and created a program that formed a core memory for me. I am so grateful I got the opportunity to travel to Paris and be a part of this course the CJC created. 

I would recommend taking advantage of such unique opportunities offered at UF CJC to anyone who wants to become a better journalist and learn more about working in the field of sports media. Not only will you gain experience in the world of sports, but you will also make memories that will stay with you for the rest of your life.  

Posted: March 13, 2023
Category: NBA in Paris
Tagged as: NBA in Paris, Paris, Roxane Coche, sports, Sports Media, Sports@CJC, Study Abroad, Study Abroad experience, Study Abroad in Paris, Ted Spiker