Paris 2024 Reflections
It is difficult to reflect on our experience at Paris 2024 without sounding like one of the cliched news reports that accompany the end of the games. The IOC president said it was ‘sensational’. I’ve not heard the ‘best games ever’ term being used yet, but in truth how do you compare? It certainly was a fabulous experience. Our six nights in Paris were not flawless. The inadequacies of our hotel led to them refunding us four nights of our stay which, given Olympic level pricing, is a substantial sum of money. But I don’t want to dwell on that because in no way does it reflect our overall experience. There is a stereotype of the French that the British have long held; arrogant, a bit aloof, not really all that friendly. This event firmly put paid to all of that. One of the best things about the organisation was the hordes of volunteer helpers with their giant foam fingers pointing us in the right direction. They appear to have been briefed to create a sense of joie de vivre. Somet...