Thirty years ago, a University of Wisconsin professor arrived on campus from China. Now, after months of planning, his dream of sharing UW with more Chinese students is becoming a reality.

Li Li Ji, a professor of kinesiology, had passion for physical activity when he came to UW as a graduate student.

With this passion still intact, Ji explored the possibility of hosting Chinese student athletes after representatives of the Beijing Sport University came to him with the idea.

The whole road started when students from BSU previously visited the Big Ten and asked Ji if UW would host a program for a group of athletes.

Ji worked on the idea and came up with a substantial proposal, which he shared with a vice chancellor at UW.

When the message reached Chancellor Biddy Martin’s ears, Ji found himself in her office the next day.

This past March, Martin took an extended trip to China to raise UW’s international visibility, and acted on Ji’s idea.

Ji said Martin was on board with the plan from the beginning and said if the student athletes could pay for their transportation and room and board, UW would take care of the tuition.

With only travel and room and board standing between them and UW, the students went to the National Scholarship Council and received money to cover their costs.

“Without having to compete with other people [for the scholarships] that was a true exception and a gesture that they really value their athletes and they value their future,” Ji said.

The students arrive in Madison July 23 and will stay until December, during which time they will take intensive English as a second language and sports management courses among others, said Marianne Bird Bear, an assistant dean in the department of international studies.

The athletes will be on campus as non-degree seeking students, meaning the classes they take will not count toward a degree at UW, Bird Bear said.

As students seeking master’s degrees at BSU, Bird Bear said it is possible BSU will recognize the credits, however.

In addition to taking classes, Bird Bear said the students should gain hands-on experience by observing students through the UW Division of Recreational Sports as well as local groups such as the Madison Speed Skating Club.

The students themselves are incredibly accomplished - five of the nine are Olympians.

Two more are world champion athletes, while the remaining two are coaches for Chinese national teams.

They represent a variety of sports, including swimming, speed skating, gymnastics, table tennis and curling, to name a few.

The athletes are famous throughout China, and as such will be sent off at the airport surrounded by crowds of people and national television cameras, Ji said.

Ji said the departure of the students is making waves across China that will only help raise the visibility of UW in the country, a goal of Martin’s when she visited China in March.

“The UW is going to be a good friend of the Chinese if we host their babies,” he said. “We can open our arms to their top athletes and…hope this is the beginning of an exchange program.”