(ATR) The Olympians Reunion Centre hosted an Opening Ceremony watch party for a crowd of Olympians and their family and friends to get the Olympics started.
One Olympian who was excited to be at the ORC party was Gary Morgan of the United States. He competed in racewalking at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games.
"It showed Brazil has a proud history," Morgan said about the ceremony.
"It is more than what you see on the news. It showed they are going to host a great Games.
Reflecting on what he wanted as an Olympian at a ceremony, Morgan said "we had time outside to converse with other athletes--that’s what you want. It’s about the world community, enjoying the event; It’s a circle of friendship.
British rower Peter Beaumont also competed in the 1988 Games, and remembers it as one of the highlights of his Olympic experience.
"One of the most amazing things to walk out from the darkness to the bright lights and see your flag, and think – ‘I am at the Olympics,’"Beaumont said. "You have to pinch yourself. I’d watched it so many times and now I was there. Now I was an Olympian."
Being in Rio and watching tonight’s ceremony was even more special for Beaumont, whose son will compete for Team GB in the rowing.
"Going to the Olympics is hard," he said. "But going to the Olympics as a father is much harder!
"The ceremony tonight was great. London was a hard act to follow but they’ve done a great job. Seeing the countries come through and seeing countries like Afghanistan, it really is amazing. The whole world comes together, it is so emotional."
At the official opening of the ORC on Thursday, Chef de Mission of the Brazilian team, Bernard Rajzman, spoke about the significance of the Opening Ceremony.
"The most important things are starting with the Opening Ceremony," said Rajzman, who himself competed at the 1976, 1980 and 1984 Olympic Games. "It will show to the rest of the world how much the Brazilian people love sport and welcome the Olympic Games."
Rajzman also praised the concept of the ORC as a place for people to come together, just as they did to watch the ceremony.
"It’s a very nice idea," he said. "Since 1996 I always came to see these sort of places because it is a place that you can see many different friends from other Olympic Games. It’s a special place that the athletes have some food, some TVs to watch sport. It is perfect and very nice to be here."
Written by Alice Wheeler
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