JULY 27, 2012
The day is finally here. Tonight will be the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. I am extremely excited to walk into the stadium with my teammates and see the Olympic Torch lit. This is a feeling that a lot of people don’t understand. I feel like going to Opening Ceremony and watching the torch be lit is like lighting a fire inside of me and telling my body that the Games have begun. It is a feeling that brings chills throughout the whole body.
I remember the Opening Ceremony in 2008 when I was a first-time Olympian. Working toward and dreaming about this moment since my freshman year in high school made it all the more special for me. When I walked into the stadium and heard the roar of thousands of people, it hit me: it is time to show the world what I have. I had finally accomplished my goal of being an Olympian. It is incredibly exciting to see all the athletes from all over the world dressed up and representing their country and flag. It is also inspiring to see how many spectators are in the stadium watching us take our lap. After walking the track with the rest of the U.S. delegation, we get to mingle with other athletes from other countries. We all watch the remainder of the show and then the Olympic Torch is finally lit.
There are many steps that go into getting ready for Opening Ceremony. It’s fun to get ready and dressed up in our Ralph Lauren gear and hang out with teammates. During this time we take tons of pictures and do some team bonding. Next, we go to a meeting area, meet up with the rest of Team USA, and take more pictures while chatting with athletes representing other sports. Finally, we walk to the Olympic Stadium and get ready for the amazing show. In 2008 President Bush spoke to all of Team USA, wishing us luck before the Opening Ceremony started. I hope that President Obama can make an appearance this year in order to recreate the inspirational experience.
Above is a picture from the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. It is a picture of myself, Adam Wright, and Layne Beaubien with the Olympic Torch lit in the background. I am looking forward to getting many more pictures of all of my teammates with this year’s torch. I hope all of you get a chance to watch the amazing show and official start of the London 2012 Olympic Games.