More Than Medals: University of Mississippi Researcher Visits Paris to Study Olympics

Tsu-Lin Yeh travels to Olympic Games for her scholarly research

by Edwin Smith

Tsu-Lin Yeh, research associate in the University of Mississippi’s Department of Health, Exercise Science and Recreation Management, attends a track and field event at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Submitted photo

Tsu-Lin Yeh has made it to the Olympics for the past 12 years, but she has never brought home a medal. Instead, the University of Mississippi researcher returns with something she sees as even better: deeper understanding of how the global sporting event works.

Yeh, a post-doctoral research associate in the Department of Health, Exercise Science and Recreation Management, attended the 2012 London Olympic Games, the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games and the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. She missed only the 2021 games in Tokyo due to COVID-19.

“I believe experiencing these events in person is an incredible opportunity to enrich my life,” Yeh said. “I focused on observing various aspects of event management, particularly in handling large crowds, accommodating diverse participants and ensuring sustainability, including the long-term legacies of the games.”

Yeh began planning for her trip to Paris early last fall.

“We reached out to contacts in Paris to gather information about accommodations, transportation and other local details,” she said. “I really enjoyed the vibe on-site. It was so amazing to watch the games with people around the world in person.

“It was also a pleasure to be invited by the Olympic Studies Centre as a guest to visit the International Broadcast Centre. I gained lots of insights about managing the event information delivery.”

Tsu-Lin Yeh, research associate in the University of Mississippi’s Department of Health, Exercise Science and Recreation Management, checks in at a security station for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Yeh has attended three Olympics to study the operations of huge international sporting events. Submitted photo

Among Yeh’s most memorable moments during the games was watching beach volleyball in front of the Eiffel Tower.

“It is the coolest thing I have ever seen,” Yeh said. “Probably only the Olympic Games can host their competitions and place their logos at such an iconic landmark.”

Yeh got a close-up look at the complexity of staging the mega-sporting event.

“For the Olympic Games‘ organizing committee, being able to manage all kinds of the conditions—weather, crowds, security, transportation, logistics, etc.—of the games is incredible,” she said. “This field trip to Paris provided me with valuable insights into the landscape of mega-sporting event planning.

“Attending the Olympic Games from the opening to the closing ceremonies offered firsthand experiences that greatly enriched my research and teaching knowledge.”

Yeh’s long-term goal is to make significant contributions to the global sports industry. She has collaborated with several scholars, both at Ole Miss and other institutions, and her team hopes to turn their findings into a paper to be submitted to professional publications.