Postcards From Athens
8/9/2004 12:00:00 AM | General
Aug. 9, 2004
This is the first in a series of reports from Athens, Greece from Wake Forest athletic trainer Adam Pecina. Pecina is working the Olympic Games for the United States' tennis teams.
Things Are Picking Up In Athens
Activity around the Olympic Village was minimal four days ago. Most of our teams were elsewhere practicing and gearing up. The only U.S. teams on site were the gymnastics teams, beach volleyball, and softball. But, with the Opening ceremonies a few days away, things are beginning to pick up. It is most noticeable in, of all places, the dining hall. The locals say it is the largest of its kind for any olympics, and now it is close to capacity. The dorms are also coming alive with color, as each country has draped flag upon flag on their balconies and windows. The Accomodations
The accomodations here at the Olympic Village are amazing! We have pretty much anything we need just a short walk from the U.S. dorms. There is a track, swimming pool, and weight room down the street; there is a laundromat close by; in the International Zone (adjacent to the dining hall, where retail shops and services are located), you can purchase anything from stamps and music CDs, order flowers, print pictures, or get a haircut; there are two outdoor theaters and a huge internet cafe as well. All of these conveniences have made being thousands of miles from home easier to handle. I only wish we could get a baseball game or two on TV here! Security
Security is the hot topic around the Village. Yesterday, I was looking to purchase stamps and was approached by a reporter with one of the news services covering the Olympics. The first few questions seemed harmless enough: "How do you feel about the upcoming Summer Games" and "What's it like inside the village?" [media are not allowed within the Olympic Village. They are confined to the International Zone]. Then, he asked THE question: "How has security been inside the village and how tight has the security been around the U.S. team in particular?" It's a question that has been asked a thousand times over since we have been here. I believe by now, everyone in the U.S. delegation has a standard answer. At any rate, it is difficult to walk anywhere within the village without seeing armed Greek military. And attempting to get in and out of the Village without a credential is futile.