Centerline Goes to the Olympics:
An Amateur Rider's Journal by Maureen Crump

Day 10: Reflections

I am resting in Venice for a couple of days on my way home. I am just going to jot down a few final thoughts and footnotes.

Attending the Olympics was a fabulous global experience and I hope everyone gets to go to one Olympics. It was obvious how hard the Greek people worked to put on the games and I am so happy that against all odds they have succeeded--big gold medal for Greece!!! I talked to many many Greeks during the games and they all felt a personal stake in its success. They love their country and are very proud of their country. I met several Greeks who had moved away to one country or another but returned to Greece because they missed it so. When a Greek was competing I would pass by the many open air cafes and they would be gathered 'round a TV cheering on their country man. Athens is a city of 5 million people. The country has 12 million people. This is a very very small country for such an undertaking. Everyone in Athens was expected to make some volunteer effort for the Games. In Europe normally all of August is a holiday time. Normally stores and businesses close and the entire population takes the month of August off and most leave the city. For the Olympics no Greeks took their vacation, instead they stayed in Athens and volunteered for the Games. They all wore an Olympics uniform which quickly became recognizable and I relied on them a lot. In the face of crowds of 20,000 people for some events the volunteers did crowd control. You could ask them directions wherever you ran into them, they were always available to help. They spoke in a soft and gentle manner and were very competent. They were working for the entire duration of the Games, at every venue, and all about the city. I will never forget the volunteers of Athens.

The Greek weather was interesting. It was warm but we adjusted quickly. At first it was somewhat humid, well at least I am sure it was "still". The sun was what was so remarkable. Day after day there was an intense sun. The only way I can describe it is that it was so bright it was as if everything was over-exposed. There were only occasional small umbrellas and awnings for shelter from the sun. I asked an Athens native why don't they have more awnings and umbrellas and she said that they don't even notice the sun, they are used to it. Soon the Maltemi winds blew and that cooled everything off and it was much more comfortable. But the brightness of the sun remained. I did not receive any official report about how the weather affected the riders.

I felt very safe while in Athens. Some nights I had to visit an internet cafe later at night, say between 11 PM and midnight. I would have to take the subway to the location and back again to the apartment. I never felt any danger or nervousness. There were policemen everywhere available to help if needed.

In closing, I just want to make a few comments regarding Dressage and the Olympic Games. I think it is so important that our sport is included in the Olympics. I feel it brings great prestige to the sport and helps us see ourselves in the greater context as athletes. I think relating to the greater pool of all athletes gives us benefits in terms of ideas for training, coaching, problem-solving, sports medicine, and organization. Also there is the fact of being a member of the Olympic Movement and its global possibilities that I believe is one of the intangible benefits. Sitting in the stands with the Dutch all in orange, Germans with flags painted on their faces, Danes with a group ready to hold up a 20 foot long Danish flag, Swedes in viking hats, Spaniards doing the flamingo clap.....and this was just at the equestrian venue! As one Greece Olympics slogan states:

"unique games on a human scale"

I will be winging my way back to Chicago tomorrow. Would I do it again? If you remember the Greek drummers in the opening ceremonies drumming the heartbeat...Yes, in a heartbeat!