being an Olympiphile (sounds dirty, huh?) I wasn’t going to pass up an opportunity to checkout a venue, and so I led us on a walk around the city that “conveniently” went past the stadium.
unfortunately, it’s now a private training venue.
not to be denied, I marched right up to the security gate and proceeded to barrage the (60+, toothless) lady with how honored i was to be at the Stadium, how incredible the 1956 games were, how I reveared Australian national icon (and three time Melbourne gold medalist) Betty Cuthbert, and how important the games became when they were the first to allow all the atheletes enter the closing ceremonies together (as opposed to marching in by country).
needless-to-say, she was confused by my knowledge and excitement which it became obvious that, as she stammered to keep up, she didn’t share.
(what I neglected to tell her was that I had watched a two hour documentary on the Melbourne Olympics on the flight over … details, details.)
finally, I assume out of boredom or desparation, she waved us through and asked us not to wander too far.
and while the stadium itself doesn’t look too different from the track at my college, seeing the same venue from the documentary (only less scratchy, and less black-and-white) was incredible.
not that i need an excuse to Become more obsessed with the Olympics, but it’s nice to have one regardless.
![[Melbourne Olympic Stadium]](https://theparkerfamily.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/2322574932_12ae010490.jpg)
being an Olympiphile (sounds dirty, huh?) I wasn’t going to pass up an opportunity to checkout a venue, and so I led us on a walk around the city that “conveniently” went past the stadium.
unfortunately, it’s now a private training venue.
not to be denied, I marched right up to the security gate and proceeded to barrage the (60+, toothless) lady with how honored i was to be at the Stadium, how incredible the 1956 games were, how I reveared Australian national icon (and three time Melbourne gold medalist) Betty Cuthbert, and how important the games became when they were the first to allow all the atheletes enter the closing ceremonies together (as opposed to marching in by country).
needless-to-say, she was confused by my knowledge and excitement which it became obvious that, as she stammered to keep up, she didn’t share.
(what I neglected to tell her was that I had watched a two hour documentary on the Melbourne Olympics on the flight over … details, details.)
finally, I assume out of boredom or desparation, she waved us through and asked us not to wander too far.
and while the stadium itself doesn’t look too different from the track at my college, seeing the same venue from the documentary (only less scratchy, and less black-and-white) was incredible.
not that i need an excuse to Become more obsessed with the Olympics, but it’s nice to have one regardless.