Q: Where were you sitting during the parade of boats?
A: We were in a reserved seating area right next to one of the many bridges along the Seine. We were able to see all the boats coming down the river and were very close to a lot of the water activities like the fountains and light show.
Q: What was your impression of the opening to the games?
A: While it was unique and exciting, it did seem to be more designed for people watching on TV. Talking with other people, particularly former Olympian Michael Johnson, we agreed that the one thing missing was having all the athletes in one large arena, so you could experience the roar of the crowds and all the energy simultaneously.
Q: You mentioned you met Michael Johnson. Tell us about that.
A: It was very exciting to meet him. He was invited to speak to a small group that we were a part of, so we got to hear his talk and get our photo taken with him. Michael was a champion sprinter—a four-time Olympic gold medalist. He became the first man in Olympic history to win both the 200m and 400m in the same games. During this year’s final ceremony, as the action moved from Paris to Los Angeles, mountain biker Kate Courtney handed off the flag to Johnson, who ran it through the streets of the city.
Q: What was the atmosphere like in Paris?
A: It was different in the section of the city we were in, because we stayed in the same hotel as First Lady Jill Biden. That meant it was extremely secure with most roads closed and not much traffic. So, it was not as bustling as the rest of the city. But when we got outside the security zone, it was the busy scene you would expect.
Q: How was it getting around the city then?
A: It wasn’t bad. We did have one instance when we were in a taxi and literally as we were turning a corner, officials barricaded the road for some reason. We paid the fare and quickly hustled to the subway. Luckily my friend and I have both traveled a lot, so we were able to pivot very quickly.
Q: Did you get to attend any events?
A: Yes. We saw some of the men’s, women’s and mixed doubles table tennis. We also saw some beach volleyball—two women’s matches and one men’s. It was interesting because in one of the women’s matches, the Egyptians were playing. Observing tradition, they were covered from head to toe. Their opponents, who would normally be wearing bikini bathing suits, wore shorts and t-shirts out of respect.
Q: What was the story with the red mascots?
A: They are modelled after the hats that are a famous part of French history. Known as liberty caps, the Phryge (pronounced Free-Juh) is a symbol of freedom and was worn by soldiers during the French Revolution. Paris organizers decided they would rather have an ideal as a mascot than an animal.
Q: What surprised you the most about the Games?
A: I was surprised how incredibly well organized it was. Lines moved fast and people were getting into events quickly. Everything is on an app these days so that made it easy, and extra tickets were available to the general public every day.
Q: What was the biggest highlight?
A: I would have to say the biggest highlight was to see the level of support every athlete got from the entire crowd. The spectators were very enthusiastic. Overall, it was a very thrilling experience.
