Author: hugh.dennis

This past week has been the busiest by far, as we finished out our volunteer shifts at the Team USA House and also attended the SponsorshipX marketing event at the Canada House. In addition to this, I was able to check out the Olympic Village for a few hours and it was one of the more memorable experiences for me on this trip. Although we had very limited access to the village, seeing tons of people from different countries hanging out together in the center of the village was one of the most heart warming experiences that I’ll hold onto forever. To me, experiencing that moment in the village encapsulated what the Olympics is all about, bringing people together and leaving aside our differences.

Another highlight from this week was attending the IBC where we got to see behind the scenes of what the Olympic broadcasting center looks like. This was one of my favorite class excursions because I was in complete awe of how they are able to monitor so many broadcasts 24/7. Not to mention, the facility we went to was MASSIVE. Although I may not have a career in broadcasting, it sure seems like a cool job to have. It’s experiences like these on this trip that really made it feel special because not only did I attend the Olympics but I truly got to see the inner workings of the Olympic operation. 

As the Olympics come to a close, I feel that I have a true understanding of what the Olympics symbolize. It is bittersweet to think that tomorrow will be the end of arguably the best 2 and a half weeks of my life. It’s crazy to think that by the time LA 28 arrives, I’ll be a completely different person and my life will be way different than it is now. Nonetheless, every Olympic Games I watch (or hopefully attend) after Paris 2024 will have a special place in my heart. I’ll be able to observe the games with a different perspective thanks to everything I learned on this trip. I now understand that the Olympics are bigger than sport, and that the purpose of the games is to unite the world and show everyone that no matter where you are from, you share the same human experience even if it’s just for 2 weeks.

One of the coolest aspects of the Olympics is visiting the hospitality houses that some of the participating countries have. In each of the houses I’ve been to, they all have their own unique aspects that represent the country’s culture. When you step into a hospitality house, it almost feels as if you are stepping foot into another country as you are immersed in their culture and get to interact with their fans. They also are able to stream any games that their country is playing since the French TV channels have limited coverage of other countries aside from France. Of the 29 hospitality houses at the Olympics, I’ve been to the Team USA House, the Canada House, The Netherlands House, The Switzerland House, and the Colombian House.

Team USA House is where I’ve spent the majority of my time since we’ve been volunteering there throughout the trip. I was lucky enough to receive a one day guest pass where I could experience the house as a non-volunteer and it was a blast. At the house, we were served typical American cuisine (beer, wine, hotdogs) and we got to watch women’s gymnastics compete on the big screen. The USA house centers their entertainment around watching sports and interacting with Olympians. They also have a massive venue which is expected from America. 

One of my favorite houses was the Netherlands House. The Dutch certainly know how to party, as they have an indoor/outdoor venue with a huge watch area on the outside and a massive concert venue set up on the inside. The inside of the venue is where the real party starts, as there is a DJ up on the stage and people can stand on the floor and dance or enjoy music from the seats. Pictured below is what the stage looks like:  

The house with the best hospitality had to be the Colombian House. There, I learned the most about Colombia’s culture, which is something I didn’t get at the other houses. In addition, the coffee and food was some of the best I’ve ever had! Who knew that my favorite meal in Paris would end up being Pollo Asado.

We have now been at the Games for five days and so far it has been incredible! On my flight, I sat next to a couple who were also going to the games and we both talked about the events we are planning to see. The excitement really started to kick in when we landed because the flight attendant gave a shout out to Team USA before we exited the plane. Although I was extremely jet lagged on the first day, I still managed to visit one of the locations where the Olympic Torch was brought, called Parc George-Valbon. The event was very fun and despite the rain, everyone who attended the event seemed very enthusiastic about the Games commencing.

The next day, we traveled to the USA House where we attended an orientation and got a tour of the house. Seeing the house in person was amazing and Team USA really showed out. I found it very interesting that this is the first year the house is open to the general public. Although the upper level of the house is mainly reserved for athletes and their guests, the general public can still access that level if they are willing to pay the premium price. In my opinion, I feel that the athletes should have a space solely dedicated to them. Allowing the general public into their space doesn’t make it seem like the second floor of the house was made special for the athletes.

Following the orientation, I took some time to see some of the famous landmarks in Paris. One landmark that I visited was the Arc De Triomphe. It was amazing to see it in person, and it even had the Paralympics logo on it. This was the first time I noticed a heavy security presence as there were tons of police stationed by it. I then headed to the official Olympic store where I purchased a few items for myself and my family. The store had many options to choose from and to my surprise, most of the items were a lot less expensive than I thought. 

Overall, my experience has been very pleasant so far. Getting around the city has been relatively simple, and transit has been pretty reliable despite the arson attacks on the metro system. Also, I’ve eaten at a few restaurants and most of the waiters and waitresses are very nice! Before my trip, I was warned that some French people are not very fond of Americans but I have not had any issues thus far…