THE ESSENCE OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES
Thursday, July 29th
By James O’Brien
By just about every measure, the Games of the XXXII Olympiad in Tokyo are unique. One thing they have in common with every other Games, however, is the fact that you will spend as much time getting to where you want to go as you will in that venue once you do get there. There’s always a bus to a bus with a significant wait between the two, and the inevitable tour around the entire city to get somewhere that appeared to be just across the road. Having got off the bus, there’s the equally inevitable walk – often in the wrong direction – to reach your ultimate destination. The plus side, also common to every Olympic Games, is that the Odyssey is always worth it.
Today’s particular journey took me from the Main Press Center to the Olympic water polo venue, where the US men’s team – including the NYAC’s Alex Bowen, Alex Obert and Jesse Smith (in his fifth Games) – was taking on Italy, no pushover in the in the hotbed of global water polo. This was the USA’s third match in Group A, having previously dismissed Japan 7-5 and South Africa 20-3. Italy was a whole ‘nother matter, though. Even so, at half time the Americans led 7-5 – certainly assisted by the cheers of team doctor, the NYAC’s Naresh Rao, who was seated poolside. So, the signs were looking positive.
At the end of the third quarter, a score of 9-8 still looked encouraging, although a rocket of an Italian goal immediately after the re-start was indication, if such were needed, that the war was about to escalate. Still the US fought back. Max Irving took it to 10-9; the Italians missed a penalty; Alex Obert took it to 11-9; and then the worm turned. An Italian goal, followed by a penalty, brought the score to 11-11, and another one with 1.40 remaining sealed the deal. The disappointment was etched on the faces of the US squad, although they cannot have been surprised to find that the Italians were a force to be reckoned with. The fact that the US proved (almost) equal to the task remains a good sign for the battles ahead: Hungary on Saturday and Greece on Monday. Those, you may be certain, will leave the water boiling.
With the conclusion of the water polo, the unknown reared its familiar head one more time. Coincident with the conclusion of water polo, the US women’s foil team, concluded its battle through the qualifying rounds, losing to Russia in the quarter-finals, but thereby gaining entry to the bronze medal round where they would go weapon to weapon with, coincidentally, Italy. The advancement of the US women, with the NYAC’s Nicole Ross among them, meant that I had to weigh the likelihood that I could negotiate the transportation network from the water polo venue to the Media Transport Mall to the fencing venue within the scant 3.5 hours available to me. If you feel that that should have been more than adequate, I refer you to my opening paragraph. But things went remarkably smoothly. A mere 10 minutes wait for the first bus; and just 15 or so for the second, enlivened by a conversation with a journo from the LA Times who was keenly aware of the NYAC’s prominence in the world of water polo. The winged foot reputation permeates the world of Olympic sport, as we know.
Inevitably, things were going too smoothly. First, for no evident reason, the fencing bus stopped in the middle of a parking lot. Nobody got on or off; we just waited. Then we pulled up to the rear of some monolithic structure where we all alighted…only to find that this was the taekwondo venue. So, all back on the bus again. Another 15 minutes or so, and we pulled up to some other imposing edifice. With more trepidation, we ventured forth. This one was the right building – in theory – but there was no evident way in. Bewilderment being a constant at the Olympic Games, we found our way in; remarkably, with 45 minutes to spare and giving me some time to write these words.
The competition, of course, is the raison d’etre of all things Olympic, and this one lived up to its billing. Having fallen to the ultimate gold medalists, the aforementioned Russia, in the quarter-finals, the US threesome (the Club’s Nicole Ross, individual gold medalist Lee Kiefer and Sabrina Massialas) came on to the piste determined to take home the bronze hardware. Standing in their way was an intimidating Italian team that – no surprise – harbored similar intentions. Ross was first into the fray, defeating Arianna Errigo 5-3; but that was as good as it got. Thereafter, the Italians took every round and, with it, the coveted bronze medals. So it goes, the nature of competition. You give it all for the ultimate prize; sometimes, all that you’re left with is the fact of having given it all. Which, in my humble opinion, is the greatest prize of all and, most likely, the essence of the Olympic Games.