In the summer of 1996 my son Christopher and I drove down to Birmingham, Alabama to see a quarter final match in the Olympic soccer tournament. Yes, two and a half days of driving to see one soccer game. But it was the Olympics!! (We went on to visit friends afterwards, but the main point of the trip was this match!) I have always said that this trip put me in the category of "Ultimate Soccer Mom". My friends thought I was crazy! But Christopher was so passionate about soccer (still is!) and thanks to a friend in Atlanta who put her name in the ticket lottery for us, we landed these awesome tickets. We saw Nigeria play Mexico. It was an exciting game and Nigeria went on to win the Gold in the finals. When I watch the Olympics now, I know how it feels to be there. No matter what the sport, or which part of the competition you're watching, you know you are seeing the world's best athletes in action and that you are a part history.
awesome. i watched those games on tv; i had to filea vacation just so i could stay home and watch the olympics. how pathetic was i? too bad i gave away the souvenir caps i had but i think i have something to match your photo, ann.
What a wonderful memory! I can imagine that you will never forget this opportunity that you had. I know that I wouldn't. I really like your keepsakes as well.
One of my great uncles (by marriage) was on the Swedish team that won the bronze medal in 1924. He didn't get to actually play in the medal round, but he helped them get there. He would have loved your pic and story.
Thank you all! I really enjoyed sharing those memories with you. After the match we traveled over to Atlanta and saw the sights there with my friend who had gotten us the tickets. It truly was an unforgettable experience!
@filsie65 Thanks Phil! I started collecting them before the games started because I thought I'd be trading them when we got there. But then I liked them so much I didn't want to get rid of them! One of these days I think I'll have them framed and give them to my son.
@olivetreeann Oh Ann... your write-up made me grasp the nettle and go ahead and book an Olympic ticket... of the loads available earlier in the day there are only £450 tickets left :( I'll keep looking as I understand the dignitaries' tickets are being released periodically....
@filsie65 I'm glad you're going for it Phil- when it's virtually in your back yard you should! I think if the summer games ever came to NYC, I'd try to see the sync. swimming or diving, the rhythmic gymnastics or the equestrian. Not top sellers so the tickets might be affordable. And of course I'd go to one of the soccer games too! @summerfield Thank you Vikki! Hang on to it and when we meet up one of these days you can save the postage and hand it off- otherwise I'm sure one of the grandsons would enjoy it too. We certainly have enough sports souvenirs in this house with my NY Giants Football fan! That's so generous of you!
Those are great memories, Ann. I remember that my husband took the children + a nephew to a soccer game that year where Netherlands was playing. I am sure it's an amazing experience.
@bruni Thank you Bruni! @lyoungs1023 Thank you Elizabeth! @maggiemae Thank you Maggie! There are some exciting moments on tv but you're right, it doesn't hold a candle to actually being there. @anazad511 Thanks Ana- I think that might have been 2000 or 2004. That was an exciting year also. @twinsplusone Thanks Sharon!
What a great story. I know I said a few days ago I am not a big fan of the Olympics but I am sure if I had the chance to see it live I would not turn it down either
What a wonderful collection of souvenirs, so well displayed. The parade passed through our area in '96 only a mile from our house. My husband got to see it and still wears his souvenir t-shirt. Always fun to be part of the Olympics in some way & glad you were able to be there.
Thanks to one and all! It was fun to pull them all out again and remember! I'm glad you enjoyed the story. It was an adventurous trip- we were on our way to Birmingham when the bomb went off in Olympic Park. My poor husband was bombarded with concerned calls from friends and family because they thought we were in Atlanta already. Thankfully we were safe and sound.
Beautiful composition and how EXCITING! I know that I'll never get to see an Olympic event, and this had to be thrilling for you and your son! I only seen a few of them on tv this year ... but love the girl's gymnastics! Great colors and pov, Ann.
WOW! I am so jealous u got to go to an Olympic event lol One of these days I will have enough $$ to do that... I gotta stop buying camera gear and such first! hahah :-P
@wenbow Thanks Wendy! @paulavdmerwe Awww- thanks Paula! @potsbypam Thanks Pam! It was awesome! @karenann Thanks Karenann. I never thought that I'd see one either- but you never know Karenann! And honestly, the tickets for this match were quite affordable- less than most major league anything! @michaelelliott Thanks Michael! Believe or not they are placed strategically to highlight the 100th anniversary pin. @cvanheel Thanks Cade- actually they are more affordable than you think. Of course the gold medal game was the most expensive. But the tickets were all done through a lottery system and the match we saw was a quarter-final so it was very reasonable- I think $20 or something like that. But it really was an awesome experience!
Wow that was some journey to make! We went down to London on the Megabus, 9-10 hours each way, but your journey beats that! However I agree 'being there' is worth it, it's such a special experience!
@sparkle Thanks Juliette. They are amazing- I was watching the women on the balance beam last night and I just kept saying, "How do they do that!?" And then the women's hurdles came on in track and field- and again I'm thinking, "How do they do that?!" lol I guess you can tell I have no balance or coordination!
http://365project.org/summerfield/365-again/2012-08-05
@httpgeffed Thanks Colleen!
@kerristephens Thanks Kerri!
@salza Thanks Sally!
@mrssmith Thanks Carla!
@sarasdadandmom Thanks Terry!
@dmariewms Thanks Marie! That's really awesome! A fun part of your family history!
@henrir Thanks Henri!
@allie912 Thanks Allison! Yes, especially concerning my son!
@eudora Thanks Diane!
Thank you all! I really enjoyed sharing those memories with you. After the match we traveled over to Atlanta and saw the sights there with my friend who had gotten us the tickets. It truly was an unforgettable experience!
@summerfield Thank you Vikki! Hang on to it and when we meet up one of these days you can save the postage and hand it off- otherwise I'm sure one of the grandsons would enjoy it too. We certainly have enough sports souvenirs in this house with my NY Giants Football fan! That's so generous of you!
@lyoungs1023 Thank you Elizabeth!
@maggiemae Thank you Maggie! There are some exciting moments on tv but you're right, it doesn't hold a candle to actually being there.
@anazad511 Thanks Ana- I think that might have been 2000 or 2004. That was an exciting year also.
@twinsplusone Thanks Sharon!
@beachradish Thanks Beachradish!
@ellimae Thanks Ellen!
@la_photographic Thank you Laura!
@myautofocuslife Thank you Livia!
@alia_801 Thanks Alia!
@sangwann Thanks Dione!
@cimes1 Thanks Carole!
Thanks to one and all! It was fun to pull them all out again and remember! I'm glad you enjoyed the story. It was an adventurous trip- we were on our way to Birmingham when the bomb went off in Olympic Park. My poor husband was bombarded with concerned calls from friends and family because they thought we were in Atlanta already. Thankfully we were safe and sound.
@paulavdmerwe Awww- thanks Paula!
@potsbypam Thanks Pam! It was awesome!
@karenann Thanks Karenann. I never thought that I'd see one either- but you never know Karenann! And honestly, the tickets for this match were quite affordable- less than most major league anything!
@michaelelliott Thanks Michael! Believe or not they are placed strategically to highlight the 100th anniversary pin.
@cvanheel Thanks Cade- actually they are more affordable than you think. Of course the gold medal game was the most expensive. But the tickets were all done through a lottery system and the match we saw was a quarter-final so it was very reasonable- I think $20 or something like that. But it really was an awesome experience!
Thanks Bev! Thanks Kathryn!