...and then it is over

[Rominger]

Hey everyone,

It has been a while since I have posted here.  

No, I am not late to the party, at all. As a matter of fact, since I live in Rio, I was part of it the whole time, but life makes some surprising twists, which means sometimes I wasn´t able to do it properly. 

Four years ago I wrote this post, right after London Games. Then, I´ve tried to sum up all my expectation and fears about the Games and, on the last paragraph, I wrote: 

"Hopefully, in 4 years, I can come here and write that Rio made a great Olympic Games, just like London did last night, and finally have one of dreams finally come true and remember for the rest of my life."

So, here I am, to fulfill my promise. 

I wish I was able to come here more often. When I wrote that piece, back then, things were doing OK for me. My daughter was recently born (after a very difficult period of pregnancy), and I started to make lots of plans again. Unfortunately, similar to what happened to Brazilian economy, it all went downhill after that. My wife, a year later, acquired a neurological disorder which, at least until today, is still unexplained and no closed diagnosis has been proved yet (she can still walk and do things like a normal person, but only for a short period of time, when she starts to feel shortness of breath). Because of that, I had to completely change my life and dedicate most of the time trying to help her and my daughter, while trying to keep a normal life, which started to become very difficult after a year. To make things worse, I´ve bough an apartment, before it started to built, months before my wife started to get sick, and it was only ready to move this January.

Meanwhile, the building period began, and I followed closely (reading SSC forum) all the infrastructure and stadia, eager to watch in person, but most of the time postponing because was either too tired to go. Then came the World Cup and I´ve tried to watch as many games as possible, missing the Final because of my credit card company (long story). Then it was the countdown, the ticket marathon (almost a year logging at the site every single day at work and at home), the Whatsapp groups, with sirens and chats with fellow brazilians about the event. Even with all that build up, I wasn´t really completely focused on the Games because it still wasn´t my main priority and I kind of felt a little sad because I knew that moment wouldn´t return. So, because I wasn´t able to enjoy the pre-show, I decided that I would really focus on doing it when it really matters.

And boy, I really did. 74 sessions. 125 finals (40% of total). All on site. Rushing from one venue to another at least once a day. Cursing the guy who thought the shooting venue would be easy to arrive and prasing the one who made a short walk for the golf venue. Regretting of doing some almost impossible movements intercity, even knowing Rio mass transportation for at least 25 years. Lucky that I got a crazy taxi driver that was able to arrive at the BMX venue in 15 minutes from the train station to watch both finals. Happy that some sessions were canceled because I wouldn´t be able to watch it anyway. Leaving home between 9-10 am and coming home between midnight-1 am (sometimes even 2:30) every single day dead tired with my feet hurting during the first 10 days. All of this because I knew it was once in a lifetime experience. Sure, I "miss" some of the most dramatic brazilian gold medals but, really, since I wasn´t really interested before, I knew I wouldn´t change my schedule because of that (and don´t regret it at all). Saw lots of other things that I will never forget, like the european supporters at canoeing slalom, the crazy heavyweight event in weightlifting (the TV missed a lot of the action on the stands), the Argentinians almost falling from the upper sectors during the QF Basketball against USA, and so many others that made me feel happy of being there after all the effort spent to see them.

Then, during the second week, when things were a little less rushed, I started to enjoy the moments. Walking slowly around the Olympic Park and at Deodoro cluster, watching other people around the bleachers and walking around the venues. The volunteers. Everything. I knew it would be over soon, so I wanted to soak it as much as possible of the whole atmosphere. Finally, the final day, the final session, the final cerimony, and it was gone.

So, it is possible to say Rio made a great Olympic Games? Yes. THAT great? Well, maybe not, mostly on details that would match Rio with the great ones, but it was one heck of event. It is strange that, if Rio wasn´t selected as a host of the event, I would be OK with that, although I would always imagine how would it be. I don´t need to do this anymore. It was a reality. Also, I think it is kind of weird that my projections of which stakeholders would be successful in organizing the Games were almost spot on (City Hall doing things right, State of Rio, BOC and former president doing it wrong), even though 1 year ago that scenario would be very unlikely. After all, who cares? I will remember it for the rest of my life (but I am still glad that I was right )

My apologies for not being present here during this period. I really wanted to chat with all of you, to make the experience even better. Now, I return to my normal life, with all the problems that were left behind, but with one big smile that will follow me every time I talk about those 16 days in August 2016. I don´t even know if I will be as dedicated to the Olympic Games as I was before (well, I am still a commentator during the Winter Olympic Games, so I guess I will keep for quite some time), if I will download every video from now on, but I know that, more than ever, the Olympics will be a big part of my life. Not bad for someone who joined here in 2003 when Rio was "only" the next host of the PanAm Games.

Thanks for reading.

[plusbrilliantsexploits]

Thanks for sharing your impressions of Rio 2016 (and everything that led up to it) with us - I'm glad you got to enjoy this unique event up-close and am sure that I speak for many when I say that I wish you and your family very well!!

[Sir Rols]

2 hours ago, Rominger said:

 

 

it was one heck of event. It is strange that, if Rio wasn´t selected as a host of the event, I would be OK with that, although I would always imagine how would it be. I don´t need to do this anymore. It was a reality. Also, I think it is kind of weird that my projections of which stakeholders would be successful in organizing the Games were almost spot on (City Hall doing things right, State of Rio, BOC and former president doing it wrong), even though 1 year ago that scenario would be very unlikely. After all, who cares? I will remember it for the rest of my life (but I am still glad that I was right )

 

In think that's my favourite post of the games. Makes me emotional. As everyone here who has experienced a games at "home" would tell you, it's just a wonderful moment in the life of your city and you personally. Seizing the moment and wringing all the joy you can out of it is what we'd wish for you all. So glad you seemed to manage that despite your personal challenges leading up.

Thanks so much Rominger.

[micheal_warren]

Excellent post. Thanks very much for sharing your views and opinions!

[Olympian2004]

On 23.8.2016 at 11:21 PM, Sir Rols said:

In think that's my favourite post of the games. Makes me emotional. As everyone here who has experienced a games at "home" would tell you, it's just a wonderful moment in the life of your city and you personally. Seizing the moment and wringing all the joy you can out of it is what we'd wish for you all. So glad you seemed to manage that despite your personal challenges leading up.

Thanks so much Rominger.

I hear you, Roland, I hear you... while waiting for at least only one edition of the Olympic Games to take place in my country during my lifetime. With the ever growing scandals in and around the Olympic Movement, I feel increasingly pessimistic that I will ever experience Olympic Games staged in Germany.

[Sir Rols]

4 minutes ago, Olympian2004 said:

I feel increasingly pessimistic that I will ever experience Olympic Games staged in Germany.

I still hope it will happen Olympian. When I was young, it never occurred to me to dream Sydney would ever host. One for Germany and one for Sweden, and I'd have made my own personal lifetime "trifecta".

[Olympian2004]

And now to you, Rominger: I think you deserve not only one, but two gold medals - one for your excellent and very touching article, and one for the passion you showed for the Olympic idea and the Games in your home city, despite your difficult personal circumstances. That said, I and probably many other people here hope that you find time to come back here once in a while. Maybe it can sometimes take your mind off the problems in your personal life and in the Brazil of the year 2016 (and following). Best of luck!

[Rominger]

Thanks for all the replies.

Had a huge "Olympic" hangover, still didn´t return to normal life yet. 

Hey, there is still the Paralympic Games! Going to be a volunteer at Paratriathlon (couldn´t do both during Olympic Games and happy I gave up before I regretted it) and planning to go the Olympic Park with my daughter next Saturday, much more relaxed now, to enjoy with her.

Olympian2004, I will try to come back here more often. I know we don´t talk only about bids here, but the main reason I joined here was the fact of hoping that, someday, I would had the privilege to watch the Olympics at my backyard. Since it won´t happen again soon (like the World Cup), I won´t be as much motivated to come back often as I was years ago. And, since my priorities had shifted a little during the past 5 years, I often forgot of places like this to join and talk.

What I know is that my relation with the Olympic Games have shifted. I went previously to 2 other Winter Games (2002, 2006) and I enjoyed a lot, but not at the same intensity as this one. I fell like I don´t need to do what I did again, ever. Like if the IOC decided to never host the Games again (I know, I know, just as an example), I wouldn´t miss it at all.

Obviously, this is now... then in 2 years time, everyone will start talking about Tokyo and suddenly I would start saving to go there.   Right now, I feel in peace with this.

2018, as of today, I will be here in Rio to commentate at the Winter Olympics, so out of question.

By the way, will be attending the Opening Ceremony next week, will try to join the chat here if I go by myself.