Sydney Festival

Sydney Festival is a major arts festival that runs for three weeks every January. The festival offers over 100 events including dance, music, circus, drama, visual arts, and artist talks. The majority of the events are free! Last night we saw the band Sing the Truth play for free at the Domain. This band encompassed the sounds of jazz, gospel, blues, folk, and R&B. The concert attracted close to 500,000 people!

The people you see in the street in Sydney look different, depending on the area you are in. If you are in Martin’s Place, you will see people in business clothes since it is the financial district in Sydney. If you are anywhere else in the city, most people are dressed in casual wear. People of all ages live in Sydney; however I have noticed that the city is dominated by backpackers and tourists in their 20s and 30s. I have not met one rude person yet. The people here are very friendly and are happy to help you with any questions you may have.

We have been to Bondi beach and Manly beach thus far. Bondi beach is a hot spot for the younger crowd. When you are there, it feels like one big party. Bondi beach can be compared to the “Jersey Shore” in America. Manly beach is a more family friendly, calmer beach. Both of the beaches have a boardwalk where you can shop, eat, and enjoy the scenery.

The transportation in Australia includes bus, train, and ferries. My favorite way to get around is on the ferries because you can sit outside on the ferry and get a breathtaking view of the city! It is very easy to navigate your way around Sydney with all of the transportation that is available.

 

Pylon and Horse Racing

 

Racing and Sponsorship

Today we visited the V8 Motor Cars Eastern Creek International Raceway to learn about racing in Australia. The development of the raceway was approved by the NSW state government in 1989, and opened in 1990. This raceway hosts a range of events such as concerts, free ride days, Ferrari experiences, driver trainings, and a variety of motor/car racing festivals. Although racing is a relatively new sport in Australia, it is still important for the economy. Since the track offers multiple events, the sport attracts all ages and types of people. The opening of the raceway created many jobs for people, staffing over 500 people for each big event. Small businesses around the area, such as shops, hotels, pubs, and restaurants, benefit from the fans that attend the raceway. The races and events themselves bring in a big profit, selling up to 27,000 tickets at the bigger events. Overall, racing positively affects the Australian economy.

Corporations decide whether to sponsor an event or sport by creating a sponsorship policy and adhering to it. This policy specifies what a company will sponsor, what it won’t sponsor, which audiences should be targeted, quantity of sponsorships that should be undertaken over a given period, and the level of sponsorship de voted to each event. Corporations must also keep in mind that sponsorships can be used and interpreted by consumers as a symbolic expression of organizational identity. From the Australian sports we have experiences thus far; KFC, Jack Daniels, Nissan, Corona, Altima, Coca Cola, and Carleton Draught are all big corporate sponsors.

Today we also got to visit the Sydney Wildlife Park where we got to feed kangaroos and pet koalas…so cuteJ

 

Tennis vs. Cricket

Today we got learn what tennis and cricket are all about in Australia! All in one day, we got to attend the Medibank Sydney International Tennis Tournament at the Sydney Olympic Park and watch a cricket game between the Sydney Sixers and the Melbourne Renegades. One notable difference between the two events was the patrons/fans that attended each of them. At the tennis tournament, the fans used “gentlemen’s etiquette”. There was minimal talking while the match was going on and there were no vulgar comments and booing towards the opposing tennis player(s). The majority of the crowd was middle age and older fans. The cricket game was a completely different scene! The fans were rowdy and in full spirits for their favorite team. Fans ranged through all ages. It was more of a social event where talking with your mates, drinking multiple beers, and cursing at the opposing team was the norm (all in good fun of course). One of the activities that some fan members took place in was “shooting the boot”. This is when you pour your whole beer into a shoe and chug it in front of the crowd. After someone “shot the boot”, there was a lot of cheering and a count down from eight, signaling the start of the Mexican Wave (known as the wave in the US).

Volunteers are crucial when running a major sports event. They are important for club and sport operations and in fostering the growth and development of the game. One area where I found volunteers to be extremely helpful with at the events today was crowd control. At the tennis match, the volunteers made sure that people did not enter while the match was in play. They kept a constant eye out for open spots and guided fans quickly and efficiently to the open seats when the match was not in play. They did a great job respecting the players, while also making sure that all of the fans were accommodated. At the cricket game, the volunteers were helpful getting fans through the gates quickly and guiding you where you needed to be.

             One bloggable moment…as my professor Shelly would say…was having the doors of the train shut on me while the rest of my group had already disembarked. With no phone and my nonexistent sense of direction, I was a bit worried. However, I was eventually reunited with my group safelyJ Below are pictures of my group at the cricket game, Anderson from South Africa, and the Bryan brothers from the USA!

 

Pictures

       Unfortunatley, the slow internet is making it close to impossible to post pictures. But here are a few including a visit to North Head and a tour of the Rocks District!

Backpacking

After walking on a 3 mile coastal trek from Cogee Beach to Bondi Beach with a backpack on, I have a much greater appreciation for backpacking! Backpacking is a form of low-cost, independent international travel. The backpacker market is continually growing and has an impact on both the economy and the environment. The backpacker market contributes significantly to marginal communities in less developed countries. This seems to be the case because they are directing the majority of their spending toward local goods and services in the area where they are staying. Backpackers also have a positive economic impact on youth hostels, where they can stay at an inexpensive rate. As an American, when I think of a hostel, I think of staying in a rat infested room with criminals as my hostel mates. Contrary to my stereotype, the hostels in Australia are known for their cleanliness and safety.

 Backpackers seem to have a better impact on the environment due to their desire to spend less, thus consuming fewer resources than the average consumptive mass tourist. When combined with volunteer tourism, backpacking can make a positive contribution to the social, natural, and economic environment. Volunteer tourism involves both the volunteer and host gaining from the backpacking experience.

Backpackers are less likely to attend a sporting event due to their focus on living minimally. However, they are more likely to participate in a sporting event because they are highly interested in immersing themselves into new cultures and meeting new people. Backpacking can be a great opportunity for self-discovery and is now on my bucket list:)

Fun Fact: The Australian term for swimsuit is “coozies” or “bathers”

 

 

First Day in the Big City!

After a full day's worth of traveling, I finally made it to Sydney! The weather was a balming 86 degrees today...a drastic difference from the negative temperatures the Midwest is experiencing right now! It is hard for me to think that I am here taking a class when it feels more like I am on a tropical vacation! Once we landed at the Sydney airport, we were greeted by our tour guide, Russ, and escorted to the apartments where we would be staying. After we settled in, Russ took us on a walking tour of Sydney to get us acquainted with the city. First, Russ took us to lunch at a local vendor who is known for his meat pies. When I received the pie with green and gray mush on the top, I was less than excited. However, to my surprise, it was very tasty! All in one day, Russ gave us a quick glance at the Opera house, Harbour Bridge, Hyde Park, Darling Harbour, the Botanic Gardens, and Chinatown. After we finished our brief introduction to Sydney, we ate a nice dinner at the Bluebird Cafe in Darling Harbour which was delicious! After a long day of walking and some serious jet lag, I am getting some much needed sleep tonight. Pictures to come later in the week:)