I am really happy to be a witness and experience the Olympic Games again, after Athens. I was excited since I moved to London a few years ago. Yesterday coming into Heathrow after my vacations in Greece, I felt the same feelings like in 2004. Greek athletes and officials were flying with us on the plane, lots of volunteers and athletes from all over the world at the exit of terminal 2, no extra pressure or panic at the border/passport control, and signs everywhere promoting the Olympics!
There was no doubt that you could feel the positive vibe, from athletes, officials and even normal travellers one day ahead of the games. You could sense that everything is ready for the games to begin.
Since I was a very young boy I remember that the Olympic Games were a family issue. In 1992 I remember going to the island of Lefkada for vacations in the summer. This was the first time we took a small TV with us to watch the Olympics as there were no "Rooms to Let" with television sets back then! That's how dedicated we were as a family. After all, I would not miss the US basketball Dream Team performances for the world!
Moving on about 10 years later, I found myself being completely against the Olympic Games in Athens. I thought at the time that the cost was really big for our small country to handle, and as it turned out I was partly right! The Athens Olympic Games were great, from the opening ceremony to the end of Paralympics. No traffic problems, no delays, no security issues, just a great big party! Of course the Athenians suffered for years prior to this, because the Greek capital became predominantly a worksite. And after the Games, the truth is that Greece had to deal with so many stadiums and Olympic sites that we had nothing to do with - basically there was no Olympic legacy for Greece...
After that experience I knew better. I tell my London friends and colleagues that they should not complain about the Olympics, but they should enjoy them. The opportunity to experience this party is usually once in a lifetime, if you are lucky. Generally the Olympics are like a wedding. Just like for a wedding ceremony you plan for 9 months or more and pay lots and lots of money for a night of fun, which is definitely not worth it that much, for the Olympics you get your life disrupted for 7 years and pay huge amounts for a few days of enjoyment. But just like most wedding days, the Olympics are fun!
I am looking forward to the Olympic Games, from the opening ceremony tonight, to the 2 sports I have tickets for, to my television, which is going to be on showing competitions day and night, to the closing ceremony! I know that the Olympics have nothing to do with the ideals of our ancient ancestors, as many suggest that they are just a big business and nothing more and I agree to an extent. But taking some friends to Ancient Olympia last week, and now going with them to the Games, makes me shiver. The Olympic Games are not perfect, but they unite humanity through something that is still partly pure: sport competitions. I am going to live this crazy party at home or on the streets as much as I can, and I am so excited I can't stop smiling - despite the ugly London weather...
There was no doubt that you could feel the positive vibe, from athletes, officials and even normal travellers one day ahead of the games. You could sense that everything is ready for the games to begin.
Since I was a very young boy I remember that the Olympic Games were a family issue. In 1992 I remember going to the island of Lefkada for vacations in the summer. This was the first time we took a small TV with us to watch the Olympics as there were no "Rooms to Let" with television sets back then! That's how dedicated we were as a family. After all, I would not miss the US basketball Dream Team performances for the world!
Moving on about 10 years later, I found myself being completely against the Olympic Games in Athens. I thought at the time that the cost was really big for our small country to handle, and as it turned out I was partly right! The Athens Olympic Games were great, from the opening ceremony to the end of Paralympics. No traffic problems, no delays, no security issues, just a great big party! Of course the Athenians suffered for years prior to this, because the Greek capital became predominantly a worksite. And after the Games, the truth is that Greece had to deal with so many stadiums and Olympic sites that we had nothing to do with - basically there was no Olympic legacy for Greece...
After that experience I knew better. I tell my London friends and colleagues that they should not complain about the Olympics, but they should enjoy them. The opportunity to experience this party is usually once in a lifetime, if you are lucky. Generally the Olympics are like a wedding. Just like for a wedding ceremony you plan for 9 months or more and pay lots and lots of money for a night of fun, which is definitely not worth it that much, for the Olympics you get your life disrupted for 7 years and pay huge amounts for a few days of enjoyment. But just like most wedding days, the Olympics are fun!
I am looking forward to the Olympic Games, from the opening ceremony tonight, to the 2 sports I have tickets for, to my television, which is going to be on showing competitions day and night, to the closing ceremony! I know that the Olympics have nothing to do with the ideals of our ancient ancestors, as many suggest that they are just a big business and nothing more and I agree to an extent. But taking some friends to Ancient Olympia last week, and now going with them to the Games, makes me shiver. The Olympic Games are not perfect, but they unite humanity through something that is still partly pure: sport competitions. I am going to live this crazy party at home or on the streets as much as I can, and I am so excited I can't stop smiling - despite the ugly London weather...
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