Summer Olympics Trip: An American in Paris

Roland Garros, Summer Olympics, Nadal's Last Paris Match?

Over a year of planning to finish off my tennis bucket list.

Mascot, mom, and me. Opening Ceremony on the Seine

Last May, I woke up at 4AM for lottery tickets. Got my mom and myself seats along the Seine!

At the opening ceremony, I wore my TeamUSA Tennis polo from a few Olympics ago. After going through about an hour of security checkpoints, we finally reached the river and boardwalk. From where we sat, the Eiffel Tower and the American Church (green spire) were visible in the background.

As we passed by the USA House pier, I inquired about one of their colleagues.

Pins and stickers from the US Olympic and Paralympic Foundation (Colorado Springs)

She was in the Major Gifts charity department also based in Souther California. One of the ladies said she knew of two different Kates -one was who sent me the US pins to bring with me to trade!

The USA House is basically the American Olympic Village. Staffed by the amazing folks of USOPC.
TeamUSA supports our nation's Olympic athletes at every Olympics - both Summer and Winter - from training to trials to tournaments. Check out their official LA 2028 Olympic gear!

The performance polos are very functional (usually sold out or on a waitlist). The big homecoming will be LA 2028. Returning to the States and the 3rd time for Los Angeles.

Cameras were everywhere. Choreographed sequences are set at every major lock of the Seine.

Around the globe, in every time zone, billions of people were watching it all play out.

It was an honor to be part of the boat parade of countries floating down the river. Many smaller nations shared a boat together. Exhibition performances were happening for miles, stretched out along the riverside.

Initially, when Spain was introduced, I found it odd that I did not spot Rafa on board...

Later that night - at the Eiffel Tower - I watched the French soccer star, Zinedine Zidane. The torch was passed from a hooded character from the Assasin's Creed game.

Zidane walks down the Trocadero with the torch Then, who does he pass the flame to...?

None other than Rafael Nadal!!

Rafa accepted it with a smile, a hug, and such a loud crowd roar!

Even the commentators hinted he might be the one to light it.

That should have been the best lighting ceremony epic moment right there, in my opinion.

But instead, he gets on a boat. Two tennis GOATs Nadal and Serena rode on a speedboat back down the Seine as part of a procession of torchbearers all the way to the ballon blimp.

The show was even more spectacular on TV.

Can you imagine holding onto a propane torch with the light of the Olympics in your hands while on a speed boat? Combined with wet and windy conditions - they had to carry in hand the torch's open flame while it was whipping around them at their hair level...it could have gone very bad.

The rains got steady and heavy at that point.

That night, I'm certain every country's athletes got soaking wet.

The rain just never stopped. Ranging from drizzle to torrent sheets of water.

Only a few minutes of reprieve in between. Everyone was absolutely soaked. Yet many stayed! 

Walking many kilometers between the subway and the Seine along FDR Drive.

I'll forever share those memories from that night with every athlete and fan there.

Olympic Rings at Roland Garros

USA and Spain

My mom's first trip to Europe and first ever live pro tennis match

TLDR;

Waking up at 4AM for tickets. Researching the top events. Olympic Tennis at Roland Garros.

My mom's first time in Europe. Scheduling in day trips. The monsoon that was the opening ceremony. Tennis  GOATs, Sports Legends, all boats on the Seine.

Walking in Lyon among the old town for a quieter side of France. The French train disasters leading up to and during the Olympics. Missing a diving competition. Expect strikes or delays.

Taking my mom to her first tennis event ever at Roland Garros. Watching the tennis gold, silver, and bronze medalists. Celebrating with TeamUSA fans at the swimming arena and next to the raised flags for the podium medal ceremonies.

Inspiration and National Symbolism

The aura of the Olympics. The flame and the meaning of its legacy. For the hosting nation for its showcase year is the true benefit. The Games have united a World and rekindled the spirit of brotherhood. Shining publically for the World to see for a few weeks. Sports as diplomacy.

The athletes dedicate themselves every 4 years to dedicate their entire lives and childhood dreams to represent their nation. Their friends and families travel halfway around the world to see them accomplish their athletic dreams in front of the whole world.

The Golden Slam accomplished by Djokovic was historic and a fitting tennis ending.

2028 Olympics returning to the USA!

The Hollywood-LA 2028 Games will be movie magic.

From SF to LA, much of California will participate in the festival.

Los Angeles will host the FIFA World Cup in 2026 and then Superbowl in 2027.

Plenty of dress rehearsals to welcome the World to our home.

Why LA is better for sports and global tourism

• Weather
• Most outdoor events won't be delayed in the land of 300 annual days of sunshine.
• In France, we experienced very hot 95+ degree days plus rain delays at many events.
• Air conditioning is not banned
• Transportation
• French bus/train strikes were very common and disruptive, from traveling 3 different years
• Riding on the SNCF, we were delayed over 5 hours going to Paris (over 800K passengers)
• Charles De Gaule Airport (the maze and labyrinth)
• Geography and Sights
• Events will be much more spread out; leading to fewer gridlocked security zones.
• In Paris, most restaurants and shop owners saw revenue drop 50% in the Summer of 2024
• The main Paris tourist sights were all clustered in tight security parameters with various rules and lockdown regulations that confused or scared away most tourists
• English Speakers
• The most widely spoken language among countries in the World
• French is spoken by less than 4% of the World
• Important to have volunteers and staff from other continents (Europe, Australia, Asia)
• International Appeal
• Natural beauty of the American West and National Parks
• Amazing beaches and more capacity to handle international travelers
• Visiting other US cities for a perfect family summer vacation in July

Summer Grass Court Tennis Adventures from Wimbledon

Grass Tennis and Summer Adventures in Europe

Living next to Wimbledon Park for 4 days. I wanted to showcase to American fans what it is really like to queue. It is much easier to buy Ticketmaster tickets online. US Open fans can rejoice for digital technology and mobile ticketing!

• NYC summer vacation ideas - my US Open SuperFan Guide.

JC on the "Quest of the 3 Kings"
To visit Roger, Rafa, and Novak in Europe.

I was previously at Wimbledon for the grand opening of the Centre Court Roof.

Seat Upgrades: You can go into the queue in the early afternoon to get a grounds pass, then head straight to the upgrade queue near Court 18 to get a ticket to a show court (if you're lucky). Many fans have left already towards the end of the day. Wimbledon resells these tickets per court.

Roger's Retirement Ceremony at Wimbledon - Video

FYI: all last-minute Amex tickets for every session were sold out in the first 20 minutes!
Try checking for Ticketmaster's digital tickets if you want to skip the queue.

Coco Gauff on Court 1
Our US Open 2023 Champion 2 months later!

Queuing: the UK Fan Experience

During the first 4 days, I queued in both the rain and the sun. Sometimes 4-6 hours on the giant lawn! Some played cricket to pass the time. Food trucks lined the back. Overall, it usually had a very festive feel.

According to Dan Ariely, these rituals are about lining up that consumers must endure before enjoying the fruits of the labor to enhance the overall experience (Dollars and Sense, 2018). As one put it, this 19th-century event loves its ceremonies.

Living at SW18 above the Rain Showers

I stayed in a 3rd story flat next door to some junior Wimbledon tennis players. It was a blessing to be dry.

The location allowed me to use a toilet and hot shower during those precious 30-minute breaks. From my balcony, I kept an eye out on the queue during the rainstorms.

Among Bakers and Shepards...

To pass the time during the long days, I went out to chat with many international tennis fans!

These were the hardcore folks who came for the love of the game. Some campers were willing to wait for the best Centre Court seats - getting there overnight or even two days before! The ones at the front are saints.

On the 2nd day, I queued with an Australian tennis couple celebrating their honeymoon. They were in Europe towards the end of the French Open and then up to the start of Wimbledon. Brilliant Idea!

More photos of the Super Fan experience.

Centre Court with Sinner

Week 1 Highlights:

• Seeing Roger on July 4th at his Wimbledon retirement ceremony.
• Got upgraded to the front row (A) on Court 1.
• Saw a 5th set superbreak on Court 2.
• Watched the Legends like Novak on Centre Court.

Comparison to the US Open:

• Britsh crowds love queues or lines! There's a line for tickets, food, seats, toilets, shops, and lounges.
• NYC fans will balk if they wait more than 5 minutes for coffee. I waited for over 20 in London for tea.
• British Pounds are expensive! At the time, a 25-30% markup on the US Dollar.
• You need court-specific reserved tickets for "show courts,"; even Court #2 with no roof.
• Side courts are extremely limited in seating. Difficult to see if you're short like me (under 5'6)
  
  

Funny Facts for Fans, Friends, and Family

• At the US Open, I'm used to 10 minutes of security to watch 6+ hours of tennis on over 17 courts. Not vice versa :)
• On day 2, six hours of queuing sadly yielded less than 1 hour of tennis - completely rained out.
• Even the Wimbledon Highlights video on LinkedIn tried to put a positive spin on security.
• I instead got to visit their museum and gift shops. Plus, I sampled many of their food and beverages.
• Pimm's is the UK version of the Honey Deuce. I still prefer the US Open drink and cups.

2nd Floor Amex Lounge with some Pimm's

Sweets - Box of Strawberries and Cream

Tour de France - weekend detour in San Sebastian and Bilbao

During a rainstorm, I stopped at a small cafe in San Sebastian for lunch. A nice girl and her dog offered me a seat by the window. She asked if I was in town to see the peloton in a couple hours. Bicycle race? I actually had no idea.

The podium for this leg of the Tour de France was at the next bridge. No wonder there were so many people in town that weekend! Bilbow is highly recommended for art and architecture fans. Bilbao, Spain Photos

The girl turned out to be the wife of a UK's Tom Pidcock - an exceptional downhill specialist. She had just traveled from Bilbow the night before for the previous leg of the race. Thus, all the signage around the city.

Guggenheim Museum at Night. Tour De France (Stage 1 at Bilboa)

Mallorca Championships - ATP 250

On the island of Mallorca, I visited Palma and her beautiful harbor and old town.

Tsitsipas and a few other ATP players say this is the best Wimbledon preview tournament. The tournament director was none other than Uncle Toni Nadal. They even use the actual balls of Wimbledon.

Chris Eubanks, 1st ATP Title and his Cinderella Run at Wimbly

As Media Press, following Chris Eubanks and his incredible Cinderella run on grass.

He won his 1st ATP title at the Mallorca Championship.

He's a fellow Georgia Tech grad. Following him was a highlight of the trip. In the Citizen (Arthur) Ashe documentary, he even plays the role of body double as a young Ashe in the CNN film.

I got to chat a bit with his new coach, who has helped Chris take off. Such an epic1st ATP title and emotional victory speech for his team! I'm looking forward to the US Open 2023, where Chris will be a seeded player!

Rafa Nadal Academy Visit (Updates in July 2023)
I drove from Palma to Manacor to visit the Rafa Nadal Academy on the day of the Final. Uncle Toni was coaching, and Rafa was resting inside. The indoor clay courts and expansion of the campus looked fantastic.

The new bronze Rafa Statue outside on the center court with the fountains is epic.

Autographs of famous visitors at the Rafa Nadal Sport Shop

You can still join their USA Tennis Summer Camps for Juniors and Adults in over 30 cities.

Greetings for now from Wimbledon!
See you for the US Open Series series (July-September)