Ithaca College

Visitors from Chengdu Sport University will offer Tai Chi demonstrations.

A 10-person delegation of administrators, faculty and students from China’s Chengdu Sport University will celebrate the upcoming dedication of Ithaca College’s Athletics and Events Center by offering three demonstrations of martial arts that include Tai Chi, a traditional Chinese exercise regimen of gentle, flowing movements proven to benefit the health of people of all ages. Joining the instructors will be Ithaca College students who studied at Chengdu Sport University during their study abroad experiences.

Free and open to the public, the demonstrations will take place on:

• Friday, Oct. 14, at 4 p.m., in the Center for Health Sciences atrium
• Saturday, Oct. 15, at 11 a.m., between the Campus and Fitness Centers
• Saturday, Oct. 15, at 6 p.m., at the entrance to the Athletics and Events Center

“The College’s School of Health Sciences and Human Performance and Chengdu Sport University established a collaborative partnership in 2007, and since then, the two institutions have initiated several faculty and student exchange activities, study abroad experiences and academic presentations,” said Hongwei Guan, assistant professor of health promotion and physical education. “Many overseas experiential and service learning opportunities have helped our students to be culturally well informed and better prepared for the ever-changing global community.”

In addition to the Tai Chi demonstrations, the Chinese visitors will attend classes in the School of Health Science and Human Performance; meet with students, faculty and administrators; and tour the campus. The visit will also serve as an opportunity to explore future possibilities for international learning experiences.

Located in the city of Chengdu in southwest China’s Sichuan Province, Chengdu Sport University is noted for its sports medicine program. It was the first college in China to establish a sports-oriented English department, which was established to support the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

For more information on the Tai Chi demonstrations, contact Hongwei Guan at hguan@ithaca.edu or (607) 274-1551.