A Reflection of All that has Happened
I have been in the States for four days now. I would be lying if I said I didn’t miss the chill of air conditioning when entering a building on a hot summer day or the energizing sip of ice cold water in 100℉ weather. But I also would be lying if I said my journey wasn’t a new core memory.
From starting in two new-to-me countries, to then returning to Paris for a second time, and lastly finishing in Ireland before heading home, this trip had a LOT going on. The magic of the Games was felt throughout every moment. I got to see old friends for the first time in years and made many new friends. It was incredible to listen to industry professionals who were so open and candid with us. Every single person we met with was informed more than imaginable, had journeys to their current positions that seem reasonable for those starting out to accomplish, and genuinely seemed eager to share their wisdom with us. I am still processing the immense amount of information that was shared with us and the advice they gave. A person is only as powerful as their network and I am thankful mine grew further than I ever thought possible.
I’m not sure what I expected before arriving in Paris but I am confident that what I experienced far exceeded expectations. I leaned into the discomfort of trying new foods, stayed up past my bedtime to make memories with my peers, put 200+ miles of wear into my 7 pairs of shoes, still LOVE my roommate after sleeping 12 inches apart from each other for 17 nights, and survived all Parisian pocket pickers. While not as abundant as maybe expected, sponsor activations were unique and engaging. Crowds for venues were seamlessly mananaged. The metro was efficient. The crepes were copious.
Just as I started my trip with 24 hours in Iceland, I ended it with 24 hours in Ireland. Seeing fields of green was a refreshing way to decompress after existing in the streets of Paris. I watched the closing ceremony in a pub – that I chose specifically because the photos on Google had TVs in them. As someone with Irish blood, I knew if I sat and watched quietly, no one would question if I was a local, as I was in a relatively small but not tiny town. It felt full circle to end my journey to Paris 2024 alone and self reflecting. The ceremony was beautiful with very LA-esque additions. What a contrast between the French opening. I sure hope Miley Cyrus opens with Party in the USA in 2028. During Thomas Bach’s speech, the pub was hit with quite the thunderstorm and the power went out. As the locals called it, a true Irish experience – being stuck in the pub. At this point, I had to speak up and see what the roads would be like, how long the storm will last, etc. I was then met with a game of 20 questions, as my accent gave me away. But, I was overjoyed when they wanted to hear ALL about the Olympics. They were overjoyed to tell me about how much they LOVED the Games this year. While I was at the Games, I was in a bubble. I didn’t know what was being said on the broadcasts and I didn’t watch much competition. They told me how exciting the Games were for the first time in a long time. My heart was so full knowing others loved Paris 2024 as much as I did, despite being elsewhere.
Words will never be adequate to share my gratitude to everyone involved to get me into graduate school through getting home on Monday. This was my final course for my MS in Sport Management. My journey at GW could not have ended in a better way. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Until the next Games.
With Stars and Stripes,
Aine
