It's been a week since the Olympics ended and I've finally had time to get some rest, sort through thousands of pictures, and try to recap some of what I experienced during the Games. It was exhausting, but exhilarating. My mornings were spent in intensive French classes, 3 hours per day, five days a week, M-F. I also had a Saturday morning make-up class, and two afternoon writing workshops. My French is improving, I think, but my brain has been too fried to do even the simplest conjugation.
And then there were the games. I was lucky enough to witness in person a number of athletic events wherein I joined the cheering, chanting, clapping, singing, jumping, and all-round celebrations. When not attending a live event, I watched from home or at the fan-zone venue in my neighborhood. I was totally engaged in the games, and together with my French studies, there was little time left for journaling.
For two magical weeks, Paris was a wonderful paradox of serenity and excitement, where life's daily tasks took place in the shadow of world class athletic achievements
Susan CarpenterTo Rachael AndersonIt was wonderful! The Mayor of Paris has been working hard to have less cars and more bikes in Paris and the weeks of the Olympics were like her dream came true Reply to this comment 3 months ago
But I am now rested and ready to dive back into CycleBlaze. I won’t recap each event but instead will bundle my Olympic experiences into two parts organized by events rather than chronologically. The first covers volleyball, badminton, and the men’s road cycling race; the second part covers basketball. Here we go!
Volleyball
The Olympic volleyball matches began with preliminary rounds where three groups of four teams each competed in a round-robin format to determine which eight teams would advance to the elimination/medal stage. My ticket was for a preliminary round match between the women’s teams from the Netherlands and Italy. The format is best-of-five sets, with the winner of each set being the first team to reach 25 point by a margin of at least two points. The first set was close and the action furious, with an abundance of “monster blocks” that elicited arm-waving and chants from the crowd. Each team hung tough, diving to the floor to dig out powerful spikes, or reaching high for another monster block. The crowd was loud and enthusiastic, and the atmosphere electric. Eventually, Italy prevailed and won the first set 26-25. Over the next two sets it became apparent just how strong and powerful the Italian team was, delivering one super spike after another. In the end, Italy won the match three sets to none, and went on to take home the Gold Medal.
The Orange were out in force to support the Netherlands, who needed a win to ensure advancing to the elimination round.
There was a army of Olympic volunteers on the street, in the metro and rail stations, and at each venue - all wearing a big smile and often waving a big pink finger to help you find your way. Here, they were leading spectators in song as we waited for the arena doors to open.
The venue for indoor Volleyball, the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, used temporary grandstands for spectators, similar to those used at outdoor venues such as the Eiffel Tower, La Concorde and Les Invalides
The Dutch are serious about their orange. I was given a history lesson when I inquired as to the significance of the color, which is not represented in their flag
It was a bonanza of badminton at the Porte de La Chapelle Arena, one of only two arenas newly constructed for the Paris Olympics (the other being the aquatics center). My ticket included both the mixed-double bronze and gold medal matches as well as the men’s singles quarter-finals. I hadn’t realized that all four quarterfinal matches were to be played that evening, resulting in more than eight hours badminton! It was the best bang for the ticketed buck during the whole two weeks!
The bronze medal match pitted a team from Japan, ranked #5 in the world, against the world #2 team from South Korea. I was seated next to a Danish couple, Pernille and Morten, avid fans who schooled me on the finer points of badminton strategy. The pace was furious as the birdie flew back and forth across the next, with some points exceeding 30 hits. There was both power and delicacy, as each team employed various tactics of strength or surprise. The Japanese team prevailed, winning in straight sets and earning their second bronze medal.
Phryge and I are ready for the mixed-double badminton medal round
Next up was the Gold Medal Match between the Chinese team of Si Wei Zheng and Yaqiong Huang and the South Koreans Won-ho Kim and Na-un Jeong. There was an incredible 83-shot rally won by the South Koreans, but the Chinese team was too strong and won in straight sets. Chinese flags waved fron the stands during the medal ceremony and after posing for the now obligatory selfies, the medalists began to make their way around the arena, greeting fans as they went. Suddenly, a roar went out from the thousands of Chinese spectators as they recognized a gentleman displayed on the big screen. It was the boyfriend of Yaqiong Huang, who knelt down, proffered a diamond, and asked for her hand in marriage - one of many proposals during the Olympics in this City of Love.
Si Wei Zheng reaches high for a slam early in the Gold Medal match against the team from South Korea
After a short break, the badminton program continued with the men’s singles quarterfinal matches – four matches in all. In the first match, Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand upset the world number one ranked player Shi Yuqi of China, the last Chinese man left in the men’s single competition. Chines fans left in droves and their vacated seats in the lower arena were quickly filled by Danish fans seeking a better vantage point from which to cheer on the Danish men in final two matches of the evening. I lasted through the third singles match and so missed seeing the Danish player Viktor Axelsen who would advance and earn the Gold Medal. Worn out from six hours of badminton, I headed home and put a cap on long but exciting day.
Lakshya Sen of India returns the birdie in a close match during the first men's quarterfinal
The men’s and women’s road cycling events were held on the second weekend of the Games – the men on Saturday and the women on Sunday. Both races began and finished at the Trocadéro, and though one needed a ticket for the Trocadéro grandstands, it was free viewing anywhere else along the route. Though the best viewing, and largest crowds, would likely be at Montmartre where the race would include three loops around the Montmartre Butte, I set out Saturday afternoon to find a good spot close to the Trocadéro. I settled in near the Pont de l’Alma, about a kilometer from the finish line next to pair of French cyclists who were following the race online and keeping me updated about Remco Evenepoel’s attack in Montmartre, his commanding lead, and his apparent fall that turned out to be a flat tire. Soon Evenepoel came into view, a lone cyclist followed by a motorcycle and a race car. The crowd cheered, clapped the placards, and raised their phones for photos as he zipped past on his way to gold. Then a quite large gap before two, then nine, then a pack of rides passed.
Fans line the Quai d'Orsay waiting for the Men's Road Cycling race to pass by
After the majority of riders passed, I made my way to the Pont d'Iéna bridge, which crosses the Seine between the Eiffel Tower and the Trocodéro. Crowds thickened as I neared the finish line and barriers prevented access to the bridge. I went down to the river and joined the scores of folks strolling along the quai, capturing their Olympic experiences with cameras or lounging on the steps of the Seine chatting with friends. There was a sense of both excitement and contentment as everyone, including me, embraced the city and the Olympic spirit.
Nancy GrahamYou got to see a lot at the Paris Olympics, and shared some very good and interesting info. thanks for all of that. Reply to this comment 3 months ago
Susan CarpenterTo Suzanne GibsonThanks Suzanne - must be all those sports articles I read. But I'd rather be a cyclist in this life!! Reply to this comment 3 months ago
