"I can not contain my excitement, everybody. Today is a special day. We are going to be telling our children’s children’s children’s children’s children about this day."
And, that quote accurately describes my Olympic experience. I have always had an extreme love affair with the Olympics. I remember celebrating the Olympic Committee's decision to split the Summer and Winter Olympics.... Now the Olympics would come every two years rather than every four! In 2005 London heavily campaigned for the 2012 Summer Olympics. I was actually in London during the summer of 2005 and got to experience those campaigning efforts at their very height. Finishing my trip I returned home to the news that London won the bid and felt as though I had lived in a tiny part of Olympic history. Little did I know that I would be living in the UK during those very games won through the campaign efforts I had witnessed. As mentioned in a previous post, I was thrilled upon discovering that a few Olympic soccer matches would take place at Hampden Park in Glasgow.
Fortunately there were plenty of tickets available and Richard and I were able to secure tickets for not one but two full days of Olympic soccer action. The first match we would be attending was a women's match and featured the US and France. Having just celebrated the Fourth of July there was plenty of Americana garb to outfit our soccer experience. While trapsing across Glasgow to get to the stadium a mother pointed out our American support to her daughter by saying "Oh look that woman has a American flag she must be cheering for the US, who are you going to cheer for the US or France?" The little girls response was absolutely perfect "I'll cheer for whoever's winning!" While Richard claimed this was a "girl" answer I think it was brillant, why not walk away from a soccer game completely happy.. when you are five and from neither country?
As a part of our tickets we were able to take free transportation to get to the stadium. This meant that we were part of a massive shuttle bus service out to the venue. Thankfully, Glasgow did a wonderful job in organizing this service and we were shuttled back and forth relatively comfortably and quickly. Once at the park we had to pass intensive security proceedings. Reading the back of the ticket I had uncovered that Olympic officials "highly encouraged" women to not bring handbags to the game. Security passed out clear plastic bags into which everything that was being held in pockets, purses and hands was to be put inside... meaning our phones, wallets, keys, sunglasses. After all was deposited in the mentioned clear plastic bag each ticketholder was patted down. This wasn't like the airport where searches are random or done on suspicion, everyone was patted down by hand. After the pat down items could be collected from the searched plastic bags and one could finally make their way inside the stadium. My American Flag was almost confiscated as the wooden staff it was flying on was seen as a possible danger. Richard, the flag and I made it through security and were actually at the Olympic games!!
If we hadn't been so eager to go to the games we may have secured our tickets for free. The women's soccer games really struggled in pulling a large crowd and many tickets were given away at the last minute to try and fill the stadium. While there was a lot of support for the first match the stadium was far from full and by the second match it had almost entirely cleared out. The first match was exciting, full of goals and fast paced ball movement, the American team ended up winning with a score of 4-2. Wanting to stay for as much Olympic action as possible we stayed for the second match. I am so happy that we stayed because we were able to witness the first piece of Olympic drama! Waiting for the second match we watched the players from Colombia and North Korea run their warm up drills. As the players were warming up the teams were introduced on the stadium's big screens. The players left the field and the stadium prepared for the playing of the National Anthems and the kick-off. But, 10 minutes passed and no players...20 minutes passed no players...30 minutes and still no players. Finally a voice filled the stadium announcing "We are sorry for the delay but a behind the scenes issue is currently being addressed." As a curious person this excuse was not enough and suddenly Richard and I found ourselves on the case. After trolling news websites, google and twitter we uncovered the issue. While introducing the players the national flag featured next to the North Korean players' name was not the North Korean flag but rather the South Korean flag. The players were so offended that they refused to vacate the locker room and begin their match. After profuse apologies by Hampden park officials and the reintroduction of the North Korean players with the correct flag by each of their names, the match began. It was pretty exciting to see the story all over the news the next day knowing that we were two of the few people to witness the event!
The next day were the men's soccer matches. The first match featured Honduras v Morocco and the second match Spain v. Japan. The stadium was much fuller for the first match than it had been for either of the women's games and by the time Spain and Japan took the field the stadium was almost full. While the games weren't quite as exciting as the women's games the crowd made it much more entertaining.
It was actually sunny and clearly by our squinty eyes we have no idea how to handle sun.
The day after our Hampden Park Olympic experience was the Opening Ceremonies. While it was disappointing that I couldn't quite afford a ticket to the actual opening ceremonies, considering the tickets were close to 2,000 pounds a piece, it was still exciting to watch the ceremonies live.I am always a fan of the opening ceremonies, no matter how strange they may be. My favorite part is of course the parade of nations.. and I watch the entire parade. I once went to watch the opening ceremonies at a friend's house and was absolutely appalled that they wanted to fast forward the Parade of Nations.. you can't do that! It's so much fun to see all the different countries especially the tiny little countries with one athlete that is so proud they cry while carrying the flag. With the Opening Ceremonies the Olympics officially started and I have become completely hooked. I now have so many countries to cheer for ..... USA-- I LIVED THERE FOR 22 YEARS!! GREAT BRITAIN-- I LIVE THERE NOW!!! SOUTH AFRICA--I DATE SOMEONE FROM THERE! BELGIUM---ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS IS FROM THERE!! LUXEMBOURG--I'VE BEEN THERE!! CUBA--THE ULTIMATE FRENEMY!! EASTER ISLANDS--.....................THAT'S UNIQUE!
In addition to my rampant cheering efforts, I have become an expert in obsecure sports. Synchronzied diving is on every single day during my gym workout.. I could officially be a judge for this sport. I know what a 2 1/2 pike is, I know when your legs are supposed to cross, I know how high the splash is supposed to be and I also know that divers are no experts with motion sensors and the showers should not have employed such high brow technology (Although it's pretty hilarious watching divers doing such an intricate dive and then fail at turning a shower on). I've watched gymnastics, archery, track and field, diving, handball, dressage and a whole host of other sports. I am also smug with the fact that I see all these events live and must keep results secret from my family who has been suffering a six hour time difference. I receive texts from my brother updating me on his olympic watching so we can compare notes, I discuss such issues as US athletes being taxed upon winning medals at the lunch table, I've even taken the quiz which Olympic body do you most resemble. I believe its safe to say that in Glasgow we are all swept up in Olympic fever....or at least those of us working diligently to avoid disseration work! I will certainly be telling my children’s children’s children’s children’s children about these Olympic Games.
Happy Olympic Viewing!!
That is so exciting. I am way jealous you got to watch in person. I found that video of the worker when it was around 300,000 views and watches it so many times. My other favorite line is "if you have your tickets, please be smiling from ear to ear. I don't want to have to start singing because my voice is not as good as you would think."
ReplyDeleteGood luck cheering for all those countries!