Paris Update #6 - Paris Olympics

 August 15, 2024

Hi all - Sorry I am going to interrupt normal Update order, but I really felt the need to get the Olympic Update out as soon as possible, as it was an amazing experience I had with old friends from both paris and around the world, new friends i met during the olympics and complete strangers, who were here to celebrate athletes from their countries...it was an incredible time....i will write another update about my spring break trip to the baltics, but really needed to get this out, so folks could see what an amazing time was had and how awesome paris was for these olympic games...i do have tickets to the paralympics as well, but it will be more of a challenge to see, as i am back at work then as well😜

if you are friends with me on facebook or instagram, the blurbs will be the same, but i have tried to use different pictures from the 18 events i attended.....there will not be as much information for every picture, but if you have a questions, please get in touch.....and i will say...if this is bucket list thing for you, consider going to LA2028...no idea how it will go, but for many living in the states, it is a more affordable option....i would also say start saving now....join the ticket lottery and join groups on facebook or instagram to learn about tips and tricks of making your games go as smoothly as possible.....its how i made it all work....and it was AMAZING!!!!!!!

so let's get this party for the olympics started.....i will put blurbs at the top of the pictures for each event and i apologize now for the length of this update...but it was an incredible experience and i could share so many more photos, but these are the best😎

The first picture is actually before the gmes and so was Event 1 - Rugby 7s!!!! So much fun & we watched the USA beat Uruguay!!!! and other 14 minute games!!!Overall, getting there was smooth & easy, but getting back to the apt was a challenge & looooooong!!! Big crowds & everyone was in good spirits!!! Have woken up to rainy skies...which is a bummer for the Opening Ceremonies but we will persevere!!! Let'sGo!!!!

Event 2 - Men's Volleyball - Brazil vs Italy...and Italy caused an upset!!! Our seats were incredible!!! Brazil's and Italy's fans were intense and so into the game....so much fun to watch!! i ended up seeing brazil quite a number of times, both men & women teams, and i have to say their fans are numerous and have such faith in their athletes...they were incredible to watch with....the only other country that out numbered them and out cheered them were the french....go figure 😜

Event 3 - AMAZING!!! Beach Volleyball, at the Eiffel Tower...seeing women's usa vs canada & we won!!!! plus a men's match of Italy vs Qatar....what a stunning location, the combination of a beautiful stadium & a sparkly eiffel tower!!! AND WE MADE IT ON NBC!!!! Thanks to those who have messaged who saw us!!! It was an evening we will never forget!!!!

Event #4 - women's football/soccer - Brazil vs Japan we actually got Beth a wheelchair because the stadium has a ton of stairs, which would have sucked with crutches (& she is learning to not say no to these offers) there were no handicapped seats where we were, so after a long discussion they decided to move us to the FIELD LEVEL!!! Yes, we were that close!!!! Amazing game with Japan upsetting Brazil with two goals in the last ten minutes!!! Thanks so much to the amazing Olympic Volunteers & Staff!!! You rocked our world!!!

We did have a day with no events, except for the Moulin Rouge with Sandy joining us for the fun! Show was spectacular, in a beautiful venue...we met a four time olympian in judo having a drink afterwards and Beth swapped shirts with a very excited norwegian, who loved the USA! Our ride back took us past the louvre & the olympic cauldron hovering over the city!!! Oh what a night

Events 5 & 6 - Men's Water Polo!!!! hard to choose just a few pictures!!!! What an aggressive sport & I wish there was a camera underwater to see everything that actually happens below the surface!!! Whoa!!!! We watched France beat Japan, in a very close game! Then the US beat Romania! as well as, Greece beating Montenegro in penalty shots - wow!!!! And Spain beating Hungary (although the Hungarian fans beat the Spanish-they were crazy!!!!) Again, the volunteers & event staff were amazing!!!! It was ridiculously hot & long distances, but all-in-all an amazing day🏼‍

Event 7 USA vs Serbia!!!! Best event we have seen!!! Went all 5 sets, with match point being challenged!!! USA WON!!! crowd was electric, seats were incredible, saw family members & injured players of the team all around us!!!! Simply amazing!!! And I guess we were spotted on NBC again

Event 8 - ...today it was Brazil vs Japan!!! Wow, what a match! The Brazilians are amazons and their blocks were monsters! Japan played hard and one of their team was an excellent spike-woman! Again, our seats were incredible! Plus, we had an added bonus of Clare & Tim being at the same game!!! Luck of the draw!!! More volleyball tomorrow for me!!!!

Event 9 - Germany vs Argentina...Germany won handedly in 3 sets...they are monsters with blocking & spiking!!! WOW!!!! Loving the venue & the crowds....now if i could only get a ticket to the match between the US vs France Got to see this event with Sandy!!!

Event 10 - Women's Individual Archery Finals at Invalides - and the South Korean team members were incredible They were three of the four women to make it to the semi-finals....but the frenchwoman, with a lot of home town support, won bronze!!! It was so awesome to see a medal ceremony & the three women athletes take a selfie together on the podium!!! We also caught the men's road race for cycling go by before we went into the stadium....zooooooooooooom.... Sadly though, this is my last event with my partner in crime - Beth!!! Over a year and a half of planning the Olympics together! I will be going to more events the second week, but she heads back to China! thanks for a wonderful Olympic adventure & here's to LA 2028!!!!

Caught the road race winner just before she made her move - USA...in front of the louvre!!! Did Olympics "stuff" with Martha Reiter Shapiro & by wandering around - Denmark House, Samsung Experience, Street Art Exhibit, Olympic Cauldron!!! Walking around Paris & soaking up the Olympic excitement!!! Paris is doing these games justice!!! Below these mostly non-sport pictures are pictures from my second week of events!!!!

Event 11 - Men's Waterpolo to determine quarterfinals....amazing games & the Dutch man next to me used to play, so he was teaching me the different team strategy!!! One of the best parts of the games is meeting the people around you & learning their stories japan was incredibly technical & the rest of teams were not as technical!!! They were more of attacking the man with the ball!!! Fun to see Greece win again afterwards we went to the Team Netherlands Hospitality House to watch sports, have tasty food & drinks & see some olympians!!! 2 swimmers..a man gold medalist (1/2 american, 1/2 dutch) and a woman silver medalist!!! Then it was dancing to a DJ from amsterdam!!! SO.MUCH.FUN!!! Olympic spirit is everywhere

Event 12 - Women's Volleyball - Brazil vs Dominican Republic!!! Brazil was amazing in three sets!!! Incredible players!!!! Seats were way up in the stands, but could see everything that way then we hit the Visa lounge with new & old friends!!!! Got to hold the torch, watch the cauldron rise, Eiffel tower sparkle & watch american teams/athletes play!!! it was an incredible night

Event 13 - something new for me - canoe/kayak sprints!!! wow!!! What an amazingly beautiful venue & we had a fabulous day by the water outside of the city!!!! grandstands were packed, especially with family members & previous competitors...i love all of the sports & their crazed fans!!! And who knew you do a canoe sprint on one knee!!! Wow!!! Would definitely go see this again!!!

Event 14 - Athletics aka Track & Field It started with medal ceremonies from the night before!!!! Quincy Hall, K Rooms & K Moon celebrations!!! Then the 1500m semi - yay Nikki hiltz & E St Pierre for qualifying... Heptathalon at the same time...Long Jump with Tara D-W & J Moore winning medals!!!!! The 200m - K Bednarek & N Lyles (with covid) winning medals...400m hurdles - S McL-Levrone (incredible) beating the pack...100m hurdles with G Halloway & D Roberts going 1-2...and an amazing Pakistani Javelin thrower, A Nadeem setting a new Olympic Record!!!! Oh, What A Night!!!!️

Event 15 - 3m springboard diving!!!! The Chinese were amazing!!! The woman who won bronze came back from 7th...but the gold medal winner could not be caught...she scored almost 30 points higher than second place!!!! Incroyable!!!!! Then made it to Champions Park to watch finals with a lot of people!!! France lost in overtime!!! Walking to dinner a rainbow was spotted!!! What a day

Events 16 & 17 - women's water polo all day long!!!! i saw classification matches for 5-6-7-8th places...as well as the bronze medal match (USA vs Dutch) and gold medal match (Spain vs Australia)....i am really loving this sport and the bronze medal match was a heart-breaker for the USA....the dutch (who are everywhere I go here at the Olympics!!!) won with a last second shot...BY THE GOALIE!!!! Disappointing for the US, but amazing sport demonstration!!! The gold game between Spain & Australia was fabulous...with the spanish goalie playing like a wall!!!! It was incredible!!! Then we were back at the visa lounge to watch women's USA soccer/football win gold!!! And to watch some of men's basketball USA vs France...WOW!!! One more day to go!!!!

Event 18 - I got to see two more matches of men's water polo...a classification match for 5th & 6th place between Greece & Spain, as well as the bronze medal match between USA & Hungary...i am continually amazed at this intense sport...the athletes are incredible & very nice to look at😜 Greece won and secured 5th place....the USA match was super intense, but our goalie - A. Weinberg was an absolute wall!!!! During the shootout, I was stunned by Hungary...they cracked under pressure...they are usually incredible...but today was the day for the US...they played their game & won the bronze...the stadium, including me, went crazy!!!!! USA!!!! first medal for the men's team in 16 years!! i was so glad that for the last event of my olympics i got to see the USA play and WIN!!!!!!🥉

i was so bummed that this olympics came to a close!!! What an amazing adventure of meeting fans of all sports from around the world...seeing sports with friends from around the globe and just being a part of the amazing Paris 2024 experience!!! It was awesome!!!! I am going to paralympic events as well & will post highlights for those who cannot!!! it will be less events for me though, because i will be back at school, with kids starting the day of the opening ceremonies, August 28th😑 BUT all of that being said....my summer vacation and the 2024 Paris Olympics was an event unlike any other and definitely was spectacular!!! Below is one of my favorite shots from the games that i took....at beach volleyball....such a stunning venue and such an amazing Summer Olympics!!! Thanks Paris 2024!!!!

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch. Hope you are enjoying your time wherever you might be and if you are headed to Paris during the next school year, please reach out, as i will be here.....thanks for reading until the end.

Have a fab day 😎
Dani