Five Olympics – so many memories
Getting to one Olympics is a privilege, more than most get. Getting to five with the best seat in the house without paying is incredible. But, as they say, someone has to do it. There are just too many memories.
Beijing 2008
I received my media accreditation at the last minute, so late that I had to collect it upon arrival. I had no idea what to expect. I was amazed to discover that I could go to any sport at any time, on official transport, and have the best seat in the house. I have watched rowing, swimming, cycling, handball, soccer (soccer) finals, Messi and all.
I attended every track session. It was the beginning of the Usain Bolt era. They say no athlete is bigger than the games, but Bolt seemed to be. The silence in the stadium as he stepped on his blocks, gradually rose and simply ran faster than anyone had ever done before was unforgettable. The women’s 100 was won by a young Jamaican I had never heard of, Shelley-Ann Fraser. (Mr. Price was not yet part of her life.) Our paths still cross.
Visiting the Great Wall of China and eating fabulous Peking duck every day at Media Restaurant are lasting memories. In the days before satellite navigation systems, a constant nightmare were rural taxi drivers brought in from other towns for games who regularly took you in the wrong direction or needed you to navigate for them.
London 2012
Working as an Olympic attaché for Togo, I was based in the Athletes’ Village. The first meal in the athletes’ restaurant, which seats 3,000 people, was an eye-opener. If Beijing let me watch any sport for free, London had to drink a glass of wine while watching. Seeing the splendor of the opening and closing ceremony from the inside was another unique perspective. Having a long chat with HRH Princess Anne about her role in GB sport, the IOC etc another memorable moment.
Rio 2016
Again in the role of Togo’s Olympic anchor and based in the Athletes’ Village. Samsung gave each member of the delegation a $2,000 cell phone. Unfortunately, not the Olympic attachments. I worked as a volunteer chaplain providing Christian services to athletes.
While London has accredited 50 clergy to lead the Christian side of the Multifaith Centre, Rio has accredited three. I remember the boxing gold medalist asking Alison Felix for a selfie. To misquote George Orwell, all gold medalists are equal, but some are more equal than others.
Tokyo 2020 (actually 2021)
Olympiad without spectators and with all kinds of restrictions. Media were not allowed to travel on public transport or dine in restaurants (except Olympic media restaurants). Masks must be worn at all times, social distancing must be practiced. I remember one athlete telling me about his medal ceremony, when he stood on the podium, the proudest moment of his track career, but all he could think about was that there was absolutely no one in the stadium who saw it. see My own reaction was an absolute privilege to be there when no one else was allowed.
Paris 2024
Back to normal: audiences, mixed zones, interview opportunities, Great atmosphere in the stadium, obsessive security checks, opening ceremony held in Seine. After traveling halfway around the world, twice to Asia and South America, and experiencing the Olympics at home, Paris was both foreign and familiar. My accreditation was for athletics only and the atmosphere at the Stade de France was as good as anything I’ve ever experienced.
