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Tue, May 13, 2025

College Teams' Foreign Travel Stalls as Post-COVID Surge Fades


Published on 2025-05-13 01:26:32 -
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  • In years past, early May was when Austin Freese's phone would light up with calls from university athletic departments. Lately, though, it's been unusually quiet. Freese is the international tour coordinator for Sport Tours International, a Milwaukee-based travel company that organizes college basketball tournaments in the U.S. and oversees international trips for NCAA teams
  • excursions permitted

The article from Yahoo Sports discusses the impact of the ongoing global health crisis on college sports teams' international travel plans. Traditionally, many college teams, particularly in sports like basketball and baseball, schedule foreign tours to enhance team bonding and gain international exposure. However, due to the persistent challenges posed by the global health situation, these trips have been significantly curtailed or canceled altogether. The article highlights specific examples, such as the University of Kentucky men's basketball team canceling their planned trip to the Bahamas, and the University of Virginia baseball team postponing their journey to the Dominican Republic. Coaches and athletic directors express frustration over the lost opportunities for team development and cultural exchange, but acknowledge the necessity of prioritizing health and safety. The piece also touches on the financial implications of these cancellations, as well as the hope that such trips can resume once conditions improve globally.

Read the Full Sportico Article at:
[ https://sports.yahoo.com/article/college-teams-foreign-travel-stalls-040100692.html ]