Ancient Olympics and Emperor Theodosius

The Games were part of history as far back 776 BC!  An olive wreath was given to the winner of the ancient games.  Additional games and prizes were added over hundreds of years. Prizes became quite grand, so grand that by 393 AD bribery and corruption caused Emperor Theodosius to ban the games! 

Frank Shorter Remembers Munich 1972

This morning, stopped everything to listen to NPR's interview of Frank Shorter, Olympic runner, speak about his experience of living in the Olympic Village in 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

Will be posting often during these Olympic weeks and will weave in

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!

Brexit

During London’s 2012 Olympics I sat in The Swan Pub with a group of Brits who were predicting the future and breaking away from the EU.  “Some day” they said, “Some day!”  

While they chatted with me, I remember thinking about Taiwan.  During my Summer in Taipei in 1967 so many of the people used the same phase, “Some day”,  “Some day”.  The people who had to leave mainland China had been dreaming and planning on returning and leading that country. “Some day” “Some day”.

Today’s big news that 52% of the people voted to leave the European Union rattled the world. It continues to rattle.

These unchartered waters are sad, so sad, for many, and very happy for others, including a few of my buddies from one of the oldest pubs in England, where democracy began!!

Their day has come. Their “Some day”, “Some day” is..........TODAY!

Olympic Taeqwondo

Olympic Taeqwondo, Barcelona 1992

Taeqwondo was a "demonstration sport" during the 1992 games.

It was introduced during the 1988 games in Korea. It became a

full medal sport during the games in Australia, Sydney 2000.

Olympic Hockey

Olympic Field Hockey, Barcelona 1992

Olympic Boxing

Olympic Boxing, Barcelona 1992

Olympic Basketball

Olympic Basketball, Barcelona 1992

Olympic Surfing!!!

Surfing FINALLY will become an Olympic Sport
for Tokyo 2020
(thank you sufertoday.com)

Olympic Baseball

Oympic Baseball, Barcelona 1992

Olympic Kayaking

Olympic Kayaking, Barcelona Olympics 1992

Olympic Archery

Olympic Archery, Barcelona Olympics 1992

Olympic Weightlifting

Olympic Weightlifting, Barcelona 1992

Olympic Tennis

Tennis, Olympics 1992, Barcelona 

Olympic Sailing

Sailing, 1992 Olympic Poster from Barcelona

Summertime was Summertime 2015

Summertime was summertime and living was a bit 'too' easy.  Laguna Susi Q, company came, Hawai'i trip with my daughter Marion of the University of Hawai'i, MidSummer break in SoCal and then August in Seattle for a fun family wedding and reunions with just a bit of work online.  Drove from Tacoma to Portland Oregon with my sister and her husband to hear our family history stories from an incredibly sharp 94 year old who grew up living next to our Wimberg grandparents.  Vivid memories and great story telling! Met her, Selma Voss, for the first time. Such a buzz.  Found her because of a comment I made on facebook. When my name appeared during May on a the computer screen of a man, Selma's son-in-law, in Oregon, he wrote and asked if I was from the Wimbergs of Southern NJ. Then told me about his mother-in-law who had great memories of a great family. Thanks to him we have great details of our family history.

Will be getting back in the flow of writing after a summer of jumping around the USA. In order to help jump back, I got out my old posters from 1992.  Aired them out and photographed them. This is one of many of my favorites from the The 1992 Olympics in Barcelona.

Barcelona, Olympics 1992

Cool jump, aye?

Olympic Watches

Had a look at the Apple watches last week.  Very spiffy, functional and fun. Such CLEVER design. Would love to have one some day.  So had to take a second look at the Olympic watches from Swatch.

Swatch watches with such clever Olympic design!

Beijing 2008 Olympic Stamp, One World One Dream

Somehow the line at the postal station inside Beijing's
Olympic Park was not long at all...so here I am folks!
(Have to say, while waiting in Olympic lines I have
totally enjoyed chatting and meeting fabulous folks.)

Ahhh presentation! This is the cover design that was
protecting the above stamps. Clever aye?
 And so goes life where FORM should follow FUNCTION!

Sydney 2000 Paralympic Stamps

Just mention Paralympics to those who stay and cheer these super athletes on
and most will "talk story" with happy and heartfelt  tears in their eyes.
Bravo to them all and bravo to the designer of these stamps!

Sydney 2000, Olympic Stamp

This Olympic stamp captures the magic of 

movementof the Olympic Flame and the Olympic Flag.

Always manages to magically move...all of us Olympic regulars!

Olympic Torch Post Cards, 1984

The Olympic Torch, everyone's favorite!

Olympic Post Cards, First Day of Issue 1983, Los Angeles 1984

I read about upcoming First Day Issue post cards in a 

small article in the newspaper during July of 1983.

During the former three Olympic Games, Mexico 68, Munich 72 and

Montreal 76, I was single, the world was my home. My son was born

while we were living in Laguna Beach in 1979 so Korea was

impossible for me to attend. My daughter was born in1981.

Loved my babies but oh how I missed the exciting games.

Then  alleluia, the Olympics came...to me in 1984!

These post cards were issued and distributed at the Long Beach

Post Office in 1983. prior to the 1984 games. All three of us made had

an adventurous day driving to Long Beach to purchase some.

They remain my favorite. Great for trading.

Love sailing, love this design!

Olympic Stamp Collecting

Stamp Collecting is very much a part of the Olympic Games.

I will be posting some of my preferred stamps. 

I was attracted to design and aesthetics. Not a

serious collector yet, after many Olympic Games, 

my collection grew, quite seriously!

After the games my parents were always excited when
mail arrived from far away places.  This one from the
Tunisia Prensa head, Mustapha Majoul 1968.

Arts and Crafts and Recycling at the Olympics

One of the reasons many of us head to the Olympic Games is to enjoy the culture and the art.  The craftiness of the locals, using whatever medium they enjoy and moreover, afford, is often delightful. The street vendors and street markets are my faves. Would love to see, during some future Olympics, some area  for artists of the country with no license fees! First come, first serve type of thing with NO RED TAPE FOR ARTISTS and even paying artists if they sell art using RECYCLED items to keep the Olympics GREEN. Here is one item I purchased at the Mexico Olympics in 1968.  The dove, yet again, the symbol of peace in the world!! Protocol; no olympic rings. The artist told me that she had very little money but had access to heaps of leftover yarn. Cool, aye?

Ellie Rogers...in our "National Geographic Photo"

In the center courtyard of Vidin Castle, Baba Vida...Opa!!

Vidin, Bulgaria

This medieval castle on the banks of the Danube was named "Baba Vida".  It endured centuries and avoided the sad destiny of the other medieval castles along the lower Danube because it was outside the scope of the Russian - Turkish Wars.

Up the Lower Danube River to Bulgaria

Both of us were in a bit of a daze, we made it to Bulgaria!

Along the Lower Danube...

Historic sites like this!

Up very early before dawn to enjoy tying up The River Concerto.

Another Eastern Orthodox tradition.

Elena placed a red and white ribbon on the tree in the main square.
 A custom that dates back to the 6th Century. (no doubt with...a little prayer.)

Made it to Bucharest and the Black Sea!!

Wonders never cease. Here I am on The Black Sea 

...almost two months AFTER the games!

After last minute decisions and a comedy of errors in airports with m’dear old friend Shirley Lind, we made it to Bucharest, Romania, the Paris of the East!  We had a royal look at tree lined boulevards, elegant mansions, lovely parks, dracula’s historic building, embassy row, the ‘arch d’triumph’, and orthodox churches with so many sacred icons and holy candles lighting the way for hopes and dreams of these lovely Romanian people who have suffered much in the past.

AND so many historic landmarks with heaps of ancient history along with an in-depth look at recent history as told to us by locals who lived through the 1989 revolution.

A bus ride from Bucharest to Constanta on the Black Sea where we boarded the awesome ship named Concerto with its upbeat crew and its UPBEAT PASSENGERS, (that would be us: ) AaiiiYA!  It is all too much for words.

Ah this  Eastern Orthodox holiness.

I could feel the goodness of the
local Romanians as I passed by.

Architecture grandeur

Ancient Roman...BABY BOTTLE!

Petrified wine, yup it really is!

Rolled m'trousers to feel The Black Sea

Happy Easter, m'luvs!

Shirley in our cabin on the Black Sea.

We're off. (The historic canal of the southern part of the Danube River)

The Black Sea and Eastern Europe

Although I enjoyed part of the Black Sea during my time in Turkey years ago, was thinking that an adventure to Sochi Olympics would have enabled me to broaden my understanding about the the eastern area of that sea.  Never made it to Sochi.

( Opted to be at a reunion with dear dear old college friends from Chestnut Hill College : )

Since the games, have heard from those returning, that Sochi was even more expensive than expected and not quite the usual upbeat crowd who knew about cueing up etc.  Am quite sure others enjoyed it of course, but it seemed that several that I spoke with were faced with more difficulties than usual.

As for me, because of Twitter and the IBC, although I did not attend the games in person, I definitely can say that I enjoyed Sochi.  Therefore feel a bit sad that some had some negative experiences.

A great part of attending ANY Olympics is meeting the people, which expands one's knowledge and appreciation about the culture and history of any part of our world.  Listening to their life stories, laughing with them, dancing with them.  Yah, I did miss THAT important part of the 2014 games.

Black Sea and Eastern Europe...to be continued...

Such a Social Sochi, Thanks Again Russia

Was able to imagine what is was like inside the Opening and Closing Ceremonies almost as if I was there, perhaps because I was fortunate enough to attend so many in the past.  The format quite similar to past Olympics, the content so diverse. Always SPECTACULAR.  (The ability to demonstrate a sense of humor made me think of Vancouver 2010.)

Here are a few “tweets” from watching, listening and computing:

Olympics go even more...mobile

Thousands of selfies

Whimsical uniforms

A visual fantasia, what a kick off

Shooting stars and classical visions 

Famous Russian authors’ flying pages

Terabites of pics per second

Segways

Halfpipe glory

Nail biter endings
Timing booths precision

Canada IS ice hockey

Super excited Russians, RUSHEEYA!
Team USA, stars were shining

A bit of blurry fog, mostly sunshiny days

Scott Hamilton’s got global appeal

I feel delight when smaller countries sparkle

Logog, sogog...rogog

Jellied meats and yah, McDonalds

Gotta love the geeky details
Athlete's tweets, everybody's tweets...so neat.

Was it an electric fan keeping those two flags looking pretty?

Heaps of sweeps

Holland so small, medals so many, evening celebration vibes could be felt everywhere

All athletes on all teams are winners

What a wonderful buzz it was. Thank you Russia, thank you world. 

More seeds for GLOBAL PEACE planted on our sacred earth.