Yikes, Ten Olympics! (and more)
Carole Wimberg Cadora's Olympic Journal of Beijing Olympics 2008, Athens 2004, Salt Lake City 2002, Sydney 2000, Atlanta 1996, Barcelona 1992, Los Angeles 1984, Montreal 1976, Munich 1972 and Mexico 1968 and...the olympic spirit. Weaving present and past, the blog gives different perspectives, working in broadcasting within the International Broadcasting Center yet includes the great fun of experiencing the games as an outsider with no credentials. (added later: Vancouver 2010, London 2012)
Wednesday, September 30, 2020
100th Anniversary Olympics
What a whirlwind...constant activities during the Atlanta games. Pictured: My IBC Team, my daughter Marion also worked during the games and helped me in the IBC and is pictured on the field after ceremonies with cast, hanging banners in the Georgia Dome/Broadcasting Center/IBC, Eleanor Weems (former pilot during WWII) and her daughter Francis made a visit, Chris Wimberg, cousin, is at Track and Field next to former President Carson, there's Ralph Salazar great boss, Maureen Smith who rented her basement to us is with Marion, ( her home was only 5 or 10 minutes from the Olympic Village before the games, but then, when games began transportation changed in Atlanta, it became one hour! Transportation in Atlanta, for many, a huge drawback ) Cocacola part of the games for many, the head of the Olympic Museum which was inside the IBC, and last but not least there's the pin trading tent with Mike Miller! Another visual that gives me butterflies!!!
Monday, September 7, 2020
Tuesday, September 1, 2020
Monday, August 31, 2020
We All Celebrated at the Salt Lake 2002 Games
Such festive gatherings with my friend Shirley, Art, my daughter Marion (who turned 21 during the games) and my son Don. Shirley and I drove over to Utah from California. We met up with Shirley's good friend Art, who was once head of European Broadcasters and was working in the IBC during the Olympics. Don traded Olympics license plates and worked the food consessions. During that year Marion was an undergrad at Saddleback University and was assistant manager at The Ritz Starbucks Coffee Shop close to our home. The Starbucks in Salt Lake City needed plenty of experienced workers so she was able to work during the games. The Swiss House was one of our favorite meeting places. The group shot on the bottom with all of us was taken during part of the Park City excitement!
Sunday, August 30, 2020
Global Pandemic: Time to Search Olympic Stories of the Past
During this Global Pandemic I have taken on new projects during the Zoom-boom. Enjoyed a few family zooms and one was a family collaboration. We produced a short puppet show To celebrate my sister's fiftieth anniversary. Our family is spread out globally so the puppets from Wellington, Raglan and Auckland NZ joined the puppets here in USA from NJ, HI, WA and CA.
One of the classes "I Can't Breathe" was held during the summer protests following the tragedy of George Floyd. An incredible group from Chestnut Hill College on the outskirts of Philadelphia PA opened more minds and more hearts in a mission that has been ongoing not only since Mexico Olympic 1968 but has been going on for centuries. The President of the college, Sister Carol Jean Vale knew that a class like this was needed in a timely manner and dialogue was necessary for those who could not join the protesters of BLM.
Another class, an autobiography class, also this past Summer, has inspired me to get back into my Olympic Stories.
So from some photos, some journals and some of my scraps that tell stories, I am back into random blogging.
Sunday, September 1, 2019
Mexico 68, Retro-Futuristic Olympic Design
One of those memories of mine of how it all began...was Japan. Yes, where the Olympic Games will be held next year in 2020. But the last time the Summer games were held was in 1964. I was not living there then but in 1966 I was. While bike riding around Tokyo to my various English teaching jobs in 1966 the olympic excitement or the olympic spirit must have still been floating around.
I lived in a small Japanese home, 4 1/2 tatami mats, in Roppongi. (That building was torn down to make way for a super large building/city in the sky, Roppongi Hills!!) My bike was old but looked quite spiffy. I was stopped and asked if i would sign autographs at least half a dozen times. The first time it happened i was totally confused. Then with every request, was a bow with the word or words "Olympic" or "You, Olympic lady". Dang the Olympic fever must have spread all over the place and and stayed around for a few years. The Olympics were held there, in Tokyo, in 1964. And in 1966 there were so few foreigners they assumed that i was an athlete. But as i started to say, those folks that stopped me so pleasantly made me think often about the Olympic Games. I also thought about my mom's dear friend, Eleanor Weems who said to me during the Summer of 1960 when my sister Lois and I lived with her family in Long Beach CA to attend LBSC...
"Carole, I hope some day you are able to go to the Olympics...some day."
Sunday, March 31, 2019
Thursday, October 11, 2018
Mexico Olympics 1968, It's Been Fifty Years!
Tuesday, September 18, 2018
"Olympin" Collectors, Long Beach California
Drove to Long Beach for the Annual Coin Collector's Show, September 6, 2018. Olympin members were well represented. Silent auction at the reception that followed was a hit! Great job everyone and thanks for making sure I made it there Pam Litz!
Loved seeing familiar faces. Although it was a quick visit for me, had a few good chuckles when I saw Randy Parsons who I crossed paths with at many Olympic Games. I suppose the most incredible time was bumping into him moments before I entered Beijing's Opening Ceremony.
Long story but attending Beijing's Opening Ceremony is one of the reasons that I needed to write this. My first entries to this blog, which were written while I was in Beijing during 2008, give details.
I'll go back and read some of my early posts now...just to double...the enjoyment of games!
Friday, August 31, 2018
Long Beach Olympic Pin Show Next Week
Am on the West Coast again, in time to hopefully make it to the Long Beach Convention Center next week for the Olympin Show. Might just go and enjoy some of those fun loving PIN TRADERS! Top photo is in one of the oldest pubs in London, the Swan Pub, where some of my best trades were made during the 2012 games.
Tuesday, January 9, 2018
The Olympics, Yet Again, a Catalyst for Peace in the World
just in case he talks like that...
I beg your pardon.
Tuesday, January 2, 2018
New Year 2018 Message from North Korea
Sunday, December 31, 2017
An Olympic Pin Wishing You "Happy New Year"!
I was given several pins then started collecting pins. Never collected seriously, simply added to my collection if a pin was interesting, had a good message or was designed well.
There are many pins out there, even official pins, that didn't catch my eye. But this is an example of one pin in my "preferred box" collection from 2002 that is interesting, well designed and has a message. No doubt most folks who were preparing for the games for so many years were delighted to finally move into the year of the games.
Wishing you all a HAPPY NEW YEAR 2018 with a photo of a 2002 pin from my collection!
![]() |
Happy New Year Olympic Pin Salt Lake, January 1, 2002 It is interesting, well designed and tells a story! |
Happy New Year 2018...Long Live The Olympic Games
Perhaps because I lived in so many different countries my desire for peace in the world is also...ongoing.
When you love so many countries and their culture, their music, their people...The Olympics, a conduit of Peace in the whole world, sustains your confidence in humanity and for me and many other Olympic friends, quite simply, the Olympic movement gives us a sense of balance.
Tonight, new year celebrations from Sydney's famous bridge, New York's Times Square, Paris's Eiffle Tower to Dubai's Light Show...the world celebrated beautifully. When all the energy comes together at the ceremonies of the Olympic Games, my heart soars!
Long Live the Olympic Games.
Happy New Year.
Wednesday, September 13, 2017
Announcement Today Firming Up the Future Olympic Cities
"Land to build the Olympic Park won't be available later. 2024 or not at all"
Los Angeles will become the Olympic City in 2028. This is magnificent!!
"Stadiums already to go, plenty of time to plan, transportation will be great"
We knew beforehand but today the announcement came from IOC.
It is firm. Alleluia!
Time for me to get creative. Will gather my art supplies!
Sunday, September 3, 2017
Thursday, August 31, 2017
Visual Olympics
- c wimberg cadora
Wednesday, August 2, 2017
Paris 2024, Los Angeles 2028...Opa!
Tuesday, February 7, 2017
USA Wrestling Team WILL Head for Iran
Friday, February 3, 2017
Iran Reacts to Trump's Travel Ban
However, in the meantime, the government of Iran has issued a statement in retaliation. It will not allow USA athletes to enter Iran. The wrestling athletes were due to depart for Iran next week.
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
Olympic Movement Builds Bridges Not Walls
Tuesday, January 31, 2017
Travel Ban Hinders Hopes for Los Angeles 2024
PyeongChang 2018, Tokyo 2020, Beijing 2022 and...Los Angeles 2024?
No doubt Trump's Travel Ban has caused great concern this week for one of the candidate cities for 2024 Olympics, Los Angeles. The International Olympic Committee does not comment on the politics of sovereign countries, however I believe there is a possibility, because of the travel ban, that LA could possibly be removed from the list of candidates.
I think of Korea in 2018 and am reminded of the "World Harmony" theme of 1988. What fun co-ambassadors will bring to us all in Tokyo 2020 with Anime favorites Naruto, Luffy, Shin Chan, Pretty Cure, Sailor Moon, and Astroboy. No doubt in 2022 Beijing will delight us all with another awesome opening ceremony with a theme similar to 2008, "One World, One Dream". But with a travel ban no dreaming for our Californians am afraid to say, no LA 2024.
California...beautiful California...where Walt Disney and many others have "opened their golden gates" and helped to make many peaceful happy dreams come true for people all over the world.
Thursday, August 18, 2016
"Gold Zone" Awesome Olympic Highlights
Thursday, August 4, 2016
The Day Before Rio's Opening Ceremony 2016, My Prediction
I believe that
the highlight
of these
Olympic games
will be
the
spirited
passionate
enthusiasm
of the people of Brazil.
Wednesday, August 3, 2016
The Olympic Movement a "Ray of Sunshine"
As for me, after living in Saigon in the mid sixties during the war and having wonderful friends that were killed there, the Olympics gave me hope for peace everywhere. The Mexico Olympics of 1968 demonstrated that all cultures could come together in peace. People of the world were smiling, chatting, laughing, and singing together. The Olympic flame lifted up this heart of mine and the spark and its glow is imbedded...it has never left me. So did the magic of all the flags of the world flying together. So did the music of those grand mariachis.
At the Opening Ceremony so many birds of peace were freed, after the Closing Ceremony the field became a massive celebration of all cultures mixing together...the world was dancing as one.
Yah Mr. Brundage, I agree.
The Olympics are a ray of sunshine.
Tuesday, August 2, 2016
Ancient Olympics and Emperor Theodosius
Frank Shorter Remembers Munich 1972
He gazed in wonder, as I did, at the strange visual of first, one man, then two men with black covered faces (probably black socks with holes cut out) who held rifles on the small patio inside the Olympic Village. This patio was very close to the public walkway that almost everyone used to enter the Olympic Stadium. Frank was inside the village. I was outside the village on my way to the stadium. I walked slowly then stopped as only a few others did. Most folks kept walking. Like Frank, I had never seen anything like this before. This might have been one of the first, or among the first terrorist attacks. Frank was an easy target and I was. Did we or most of the people outside or inside the Olympic Village on this beautiful morning know what was going on inside? Not at all.
Most of you now know the sad story that unfolded that day and evening. So sad for the Israeli Team, for Germany, for the future Olympics and for most of the world.
Many of you do not know that when the terrorists entered the Olympic Village and climbed over the fence late the night before or very early that morning, they blended in with the team members from other countries who were out late partying. Even the nice guys on other teams helped lift their duffle bags over the fence, of course not realizing what was inside those bags. (Yes the same kind of stuff that was symbolically placed in a huge pile, and made into a man made mountain, part of the Olympic Park. Buried guns, tanks and ammunition from WWII but covered with greenery symbolized "no more war")
Oh My Rio
1) Reflections of my exciting life in Rio during the 1970's
2) Slices of synthesizing news with my experience at 12 Olympic Games
3) News items and human interest stories as Rio 2016 unfolds.
Must preface: prior to every Olympic Games, there are issues that simply evaporate after the Opening Ceremony. The magic of the ENERGY of the togetherness of our human family from all nations... chatting face to face, singing, dancing, playing, exchanging smiles etc...takes over!