Carla-Mae's Journal: DAY OF SURPRISES

There was excitement in the air all morning during practice at the ACG gym. Word had been given that President Bush (#41) would be visiting the College and would come to the gym. Scheduled arrival time was 11:30 but word was spread that he was running late but no one was leaving the gym. About a half hour after his scheduled appearance President Bush and wife, Barbara Bush, appeared at the gym with an entourage of reporters, photographers and TV person.

As he entered the gym he first came to the wrestlers who were working out on the mats. Yes, Roulon Gardner has been there every day and is a wonderful person to meet and talk with. Bush spent time with the athletes and allowed enough time for photo opportunities with them.

The next group were the judo athletes who enjoyed his presence and with whom Bush and wife, separately, talked with many of the athletes. Finally he arrived at our part of the gym with all of us standing around with big smiles and greetings. Jeff and Bob had hung American flags and a banner especially made by Jeff for the US fencing team.

Jeff greeted the President and gave him an assortment of our pins. Bob presented Bush with one of our polo shirts. Then Sada and Emily gave a brief demonstration of fencing and Bush was introduced to the Yale student, Sada Jacobson and he was quite pleased to spend time with her.

It was a wonderful occasion and all the athletes enjoyed meeting him and shaking hands with him. And, of course, all of us staff and coaches were as excited at the opportunity. It was amazing all the people that accompany President Bush – Peter Ueberoth, newly elected President of the USOC, Herman Frazier, Head of the US Olympic Team delegation, Ambassador of the US to Greece and his wife, Head of the College and several of his upper echelon staff members, plus all the media personnel.

President Bush took his time and greeted many athletes, some of whom came to the gym to share in the moment. It was an exciting adjunct to our experiences and one many will treasure.

As I write this our team has assembled for Opening Ceremonies and the rest of us at the College will join USOC staff at a big screen showing of the Ceremonies and have a small party – barbecue, snacks, and good fellowship. The men’s sabre team will hang out at the Village and though sad not to be able to be in Opening Ceremonies know that they have to focus on tomorrow’s events and forego the exhaustion of the Ceremony. Hopefully they will have a place where they can enjoy it all on big screen tv.

Travel –

The roads and metro/tram lines are so new that many of the cab drivers have no idea how to get from point A to point B. We have had experiences of getting into the cab and saying Olympic Village and getting a totally blank stare and no matter how slowly it is said the driver has no idea where we want to go. Similarly for the American College of Greece but all the drivers have their trusty book of maps and details.

Carla-Mae Richards, Director of Technical Programs, directs the USFA’s efforts for elite athlete programs, both junior and senior. Carla- Mae was the first Executive Director of the USFA.