Holy Cross Experts Available For Special Commentary and Analysis of 2008 Olympic Games

WORCESTER, Mass. – Faculty experts in a wide range of disciplines from the College of the Holy Cross are available to offer distinctive perspectives on issues related to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.  For more information, or for assistance scheduling an interview, please call Kristine Maloney at 508-793-2419. Experts listed below may also be contacted for comment directly.

Ancient Olympics/History of the Games Thomas Martin, professor/chair, classics 508-793-2550 (office) tmartin@holycross.edu Martin specializes in ancient Greek and Roman history and has specific expertise in the history of the Olympics.  He can provide insight on the differences between the ancient and modern games, the origins of the marathon, and the stories behind some of the best-known Olympic victors of ancient times. Author of Ancient Greece from Prehistoric to Hellenistic Times (Yale University Press, 2002), he has served as an expert commentator in several publications and as a consultant to numerous television programs. During the 2004 Olympics, he appeared on NBC’s Today Show; and most recently, he was featured in “The Dark Ages,” a History Channel special exploring the period spanning the fall of the Roman empire and the Renaissance.

Economic Impact on Beijing Victor Matheson, associate professor 508-793-2649 (office) vmatheso@holycross.edu Matheson specializes in sports economics, specifically the economic impact of “mega-sporting events” on host cities and can comment on how hosting the Olympics will affect Beijing.  His research, which dispels the notion that major events (such as the World Series and Super Bowl) equal large economic dividends for host cities have made him a widely sought-after expert. He has provided expert commentary to several media outlets including Forbes Magazine, Time Magazine Europe, ESPN Magazine, The New York Times, The Boston Globe, Business Week Online, The Washington Times, The Los Angeles Times, and MSNBC.com, among others.

Modern Chinese Culture Claudia Ross, professor of Chinese cross@holycross.edu Ross specializes in Chinese language, linguistics and modern Chinese culture and can provide insight on how the Chinese see their country.  Having split her time between China and the U.S. since 1985, she can put into perspective specific Chinese social issues including pollution, restrictions on travel and Internet usage, and media censorship.  Ross is currently serving as vice president and president elect of the Chinese Language Teachers Association, the national organization representing Chinese language teaching in the US.  She is the author of several textbooks on Chinese linguistics and grammar.