I’m attending Ten Olympic Trials and Olympic Team events! How cool is that?
It all began over a year ago when friends invited my husband and I to go to London with them for the 2012 Olympics. We were all on the event staff for gymnastics at the1996 Games in Atlanta. And there’s nothing like the Olympic experience. So it was tempting. But the cost was a bit prohibitive and the possibility of getting the tickets we wanted was questionable. Yet as avid Olympic fans, we couldn’t quite let go of the idea of an Olympic adventure.
As Jim and I brainstormed, we talked about the fact that athlete’s often say making an Olympic team is harder and more intense than the Olympics themselves. So we thought maybe we could see an Olympic Trials. As former gym owners and coaches, we knew the gymnastics trials would be fun.
But being the sports enthusiasts that we are, why stop at just one? Hey! What if we attended as many Olympic Trials as possible. How about track and field? Maybe diving? Or archery? And so the Olympic Trials Adventure was born!
Many hours were spent on the internet and phone researching when and where the events would be. Not an easy task. In fact it was pretty time consuming and frustrating. But after much investigating and planning, it finally started to come together.
And so, the itinerary became- Taekwondo (2 Trials), Water Polo (team event), Wrestling, Men’s Volleyball, Archery, Diving, Track & Field, Trampoline & Tumbling and Gymnastics. As I said, how cool is that? I’m not sure anyone else in the US will be at this many Olympic Trials! Oh, yeah, did I mention 3 weeks of it will be a road trip down the west coast in our mini truck camper?
As I’m just getting started on the blog, I’m a little behind on recounting our first events. The adventure began in Nov. 2010 with Taekwondo, followed by Water Polo, the final Taekwondo Trials and Wrestling. My next post will be a short recap of those events.Then we’re off to Long Beach for the men’s volleyball. Our men’s team isn’t qualified yet, so this will be a tournament against 7 other countries for an Olympic berth. More details to come!
I’m thinking it’s going to be a crazy ride. Glad you’re willing to come along!
In Celebration of Sport!