Have you ever attended an Olympics? (upd another Canada memory post # 37 )

[charlie.nj]

I attended the 1976 Montreal Summer Olympics. The year Nadia Comăneci and Bruce Jenner were golden. Ahh the summer of 1976, “it was a very good year”. While my friends and I viewed Op Sail for America's Bicentennial, from the Jersey City, NJ waterfront we came up with the bright idea of driving to Montreal for the Summer Olympics. So, a couple of weeks after Op Sail we all piled into my friends car and drove to Montreal. Where would we stay? What would we eat? It didn’t manner we were young. Those were the days, not a care in the world. (does anyone have a time machine?)

Anyway, when we got there, we found a cheap campsite and pitched our tents. We made it to most of the free outdoor events. Rowing, canoeing, kayaking, and the marathon. We didn’t want to pay the scalpers their high prices for the indoor events. Not a tough decision at the time… seeing a once in a lifetime indoor Olympic event or having beer money for the rest of the trip. (hmmm time machine anyone?) But just being there and walking around the city was a rush. We were all in shape and on our college weightlifting club. People were coming up to us and asking if we were athletes. (ha ha if they could see me now..yikes) We did tell a few girls that we were, but it didn’t get us anywhere. (funny how the phrase “get lost” is universal)

Another funny thing was how the campgrounds had a big sign with the word DOUCHES (aka showers) on it along with a few DOUCHES ---> signs leading up to it. Well back in the 70’s most kids (in NJ anyway) said that word and variations of it 50 times a day. Needless to say, many photos were taken (I could just imagine the fun if iPhones, YouTube, or the internet were invented) standing next to those signs along with countless comments like “hey can I borrow some shampoo I want to take a douche.” (yes the ugly American’s had arrived..lol)

Have you ever attended an Olympics…as a participant or spectator?

 

[kdonnel]

1996 Atlanta Games

Went to some gymnastics events and the closing ceremony.

 

[Beach Bunny]

I don't have a story that comes close to that but I did see Peggy Flemming in a restaurant one summer in the 70's and I'm a fan of douches

 

[StageTek]

I was at the Los Angeles Olympics is 1984 and the Atlanta Olympics in 1996. Not as a participant or spectator - I was working the event.

Love your "douches" story!

 

[ronandannette]

Yep - Calgary '88. I actually moved here for it.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

Nope, but trying to figure out how to go to Los Angeles 2028.

 

[bsmcneil]

I was at the Los Angeles Olympics is 1984 and the Atlanta Olympics in 1996. Not as a participant or spectator - I was working the event.

Love your "douches" story!

Do you have a podcast or anything? Seriously, two threads now and I'm just super fascinated with your work, lol!

 

[Meriweather]

no....but a couple of Junior Olympics

 

[HopperFan]

Yes
Atlanta 1996
Spectator with tickets to a variety of events
Spent time downtown just enjoying the atmosphere some days

 

[Disneefun]

Yes. Barcelona 1992. I was studying in England at the time and made a point of getting to Spain, even though it meant skipping some classes. The funniest part didn't happen at the games, though. On my way to England I shared the plane with the majority of the delegation from Puerto Rico. All I can say is that flight was quite the party.

 

[StageTek]

Do you have a podcast or anything? Seriously, two threads now and I'm just super fascinated with your work, lol!

Nope. Just a working stiff who happens to sling a camera and a pyro license...

 

[Suprize2017]

I worked in the dining tent in the Olympic Village for the ‘96 Olympics in Atlanta. Lived with my aunt and uncle for the summer so I could do that. Outside of getting married and all things related to my kids, working in the Olympic Village was probably the most memorable experience I’ve had. I’ve always loved the Olympics, and seeing, and meeting, so many of the Olympic athletes was incredible. I got to shake the hand of Mohammed Ali after the opening ceremonies. Got to touch many Olympic medals. Got to watch the athletes return after winning their medals and watch as they celebrated with teammates from other sports. It was simply amazing. I was also able to watch some equestrian, water polo, field hockey, and handball.

My husband and I went to the SLC Winter Olympics in 2002 and watched some hockey and bobsledding.

 

[Dan Murphy]

You're on a roll, Charlie. Has to be at least 10 posts in the past month. Always good to see you.

And no, I have never been to an Olympics.

 

[_19disnA]

Used to work with someone who attended the Olympics a number of years ago. Not exactly sure how they got to attend but think their spouse was part of some VIP group as I recall. They indicated it was virtually impossible to get around to the different venues on your own unless you were part of some VIP type group. Traffic was a disaster for those with tickets just trying to get to the various events.

 

[mommasita]

I attended the 1976 Olympics as well. I remember my Mother working as a hostess, and having to take the metro with my Father. She looked so pretty, and she was so tired when it was over. I was only 7, but I remember how this city was electric with it. And the douche thing is often said here (Montreal) in Franglais, as a corny joke.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

During the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, some of the soccer matches were played up in the Bay Area at Stanford Stadium. A friend's dad was working security and got us tickets to the Brazil vs. Italy match. While it was an Olympic event, we weren't in LA in the middle of the action. There was a group of Brazilian fans in one section, and members of the Italian Navy in another. They sat in formation in their white uniforms which was a cool sight to see across the stadium. The wave was started a few times, but it would stop dead when it reached the groups of Brazilian or Italian fans. When they figured it out, they wouldn't stop! The Italian Navy started doing their own wave within their ranks, over and over and were just having the best time ever! The game we attended was the final one at Stanford, since the semi-finals and finals would be played in LA. They had a ceremony to extinguish the flame after the game. It was a great experience!

 

[bcla]

1984 Olympics soccer. The prelims were distributed across four sites around the country including the Rose Bowl, Stanford, Harvard, and the US Naval Academy. I saw a listing of soccer in a newspaper and saw that tickets could be really cheap - as low as maybe $6 each. I asked my dad if we could go to the most promising one - Brazil vs West Germany at Stanford Stadium and got tickets at a BASS Ticket outlet - printed on their ticket stock. The other deal was that my dad had a friend who worked at the local ABC affiliate and then gave him a couple more tickets in a different section. These were the official 1984 Olympics tickets, which apparently would have the name of whoever received them - in this case it said ABC which was broadcasting the Olympics, but it could be a country's delegation or a person.

It was actually quite fun although getting in and out was a pain. It's just like football game days there, where it's basically just parking about everywhere on campus including off the pavement. That was a record attendance for soccer in the United States at the time (about 74K) and it was a zoo getting out of there. The score was 1-0 Germany on a single penalty kick. And there were tons of Brazilian fans with a flag that I thought was rather dangerous.

 

[Dead2009]

Nope considering none have come close to Baltimore.

 

[bcla]

Nope considering none have come close to Baltimore.

There actually were since soccer often uses spread out facilities. It was at the USNA back in 1984 and at RFK Stadium in 1996.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/arch...ectacle/9acdfd96-d19c-4cdc-aa83-1a21a1887bd7/

https://dcist.com/story/07/05/30/the-1996-dc-oly/​

Back to the 1996 Olympics, RFK hosted 6 men’s games, including team USA’s tie with Portugal. The home team finished 1-1-1 while the surprise gold medalists were Nigeria. Three women’s matches were held on site as well, and the American team fared better, taking home the gold, although there was no sports bra jubilation.​

 

[Dead2009]

I wasn't born when the Annapolis thing happened, lol.