As the date for my Paris flight approaches, my mind is flooded with thoughts and I find it difficult to summarize or even control them. I am happy about the opportunity of experiencing the Olympics and exploring the city of Paris, but at the same time, the thought of parting with my family saddens me.
I was 8 years old when I had my first experience with the Olympics. I distinctly remember the newspapers coming up with a new headline daily in praise of Phelps as he won medal after medal at Beijing 2008. Other lasting memories include witnessing the media frenzy and nationwide euphoria as Abhinav Bindra won a gold for India in Men’s 10M Air Rifle.
The 2012 London and 2016 Rio Games were followed much more closely as I started understanding the sports and the importance of the stage much better. I remember being super impressed with London 2012’s website as I tracked it obsessively, day after day to follow the results of my favorite athletes.
But by far my most favorite Olympic Games happen to be Tokyo 2020, as being at home due to the pandemic allowed me to watch the games in their entirety. I stayed glued to the television from 5 am to 7 PM on almost every single day and was lucky enough to watch some once in a lifetime moments of sporting greatness and gamesmanship.
As Paris 2024 beckons, I realize that I won’t be able to catch most of the events, and while that saddens me a bit, I’m happy about the opportunity of getting a behind the scenes look at the games and understanding the moving parts that come together to create this spectacle.
I haven’t made many plans about exploring the city because I feel that the busy schedule won’t allow me a lot of free time for exploration and hence I’m keeping my hopes in check. I would love to explore the museums and other Parisian gems, but I’m sure there will be a time for those in the future.
One of my friends at GW, who happens to be from Paris, sent me a list of must-visit places and her favorite French dishes. I am excited to try them out.
So here’s me looking forward to this adventure, see you in the next blog.