Olympics: An Insiders Look at the Athens Olympics

Written by: Adam Dailey

As the city of Athens rushes profusely in order to showcase the city in time for the August Olympics, you can literally see an evolution of culture, architecture and Olympic venues.

As American runners, my wife, Jessica, and I have always been fascinated with the Olympics and the possible lifelong dream of competing in an Olympic event. We have been married for five years. Running is what brought us together in the first place more than a decade ago, and we used to imagine what it would be like to be an Olympian. After competing in the 2000 Olympic Trials, we moved to Barcelona, Spain, host of the 1992 Olympics. Jessica and I became fascinated not only with the city, but also with what people told us about the transformation that Barcelona experienced because of the Olympic Games.

During our time in Barcelona, I worked for the World Motorcycle Championships and served as a sponsorship agent for the US Postal Cycling Team. We were also able to travel extensively and enjoy the Mediterranean way of life. I had about 6 weeks of vacation and holidays, which were always spent venturing through various parts of Europe.

Eventually our travels brought us to Athens in April of 2002. We were fascinated with the idea of the (modern and ancient) Olympics returning to their original birthplace. Upon arrival, however, it was obvious that Athens had a long way to go. We had experience with many Southern Europeans, however, and we knew that Mediterranean countries liked to wait until the last minute. At this point, there were more than two years left until the Games. Surely the city would be ready…right?

Fast forward another 18 months. After living, running and working in Austin, Texas, we revisited Athens for a month in the fall of 2003. We had ideas of possibly trying to assist Americans with their Olympic plans. We loved the idea of combining travel with sports marketing and event planning. Living in Athens in the buildup to the Olympics would be a dream come true. Before taking the plunge, we decided to visit Athens to see the city with our own eyes.

Again, it was apparent that there was much work to be done in the Greek capital. One day we decided to walk around the Olympic Complex and get a feel for it. We were surprised, however, that metro didn't even stop at the Olympic Stadium. It plowed right through and what we saw was a bit disturbing: the Stadium looked okay, but it was stuck in the middle of construction zone. Hundreds of workers milled around in a dirt field surrounded by cranes and concrete mixers. The Olympics were supposed to here in 10 months?

Construction in Athens was rampant. Not only on the venues, however. Foreign laborers lined the streets at every hotel, restaurant and street corner, all of whom sought to complete renovations in time for the Olympics. Perhaps Athens was overdoing it in attempting to give the entire city a makeover.

Yet the city had a certain energy in it. The Greeks knew that eyes around the world were intently watching Athens. They knew it was not only their pride, but also their reputation, that was at stake. Athens is a city of amazingly rich culture, coupled with great food, drink and people. The Greeks want to share their history with you and show it off, and they don't back down in the face of criticism.

We had spoken with several people before our trip to Athens who were concerned about finding tickets and accommodations. Upon our return to the United States in late 2003, we were pretty set on moving to Greece. Soon thereafter, we were hired by one of Lance Armstrong's sponsors to create a VIP corporate hospitality event. That sealed the deal for us. We boarded a plane to Athens, Greece, in February 2004, a mere 6 months before the Olympics would take place.

Living in Athens has been an experience in itself. The Olympics are a spectacular celebration of sport and culture. You can feel the energy in the air as you walk through the overwhelming construction site we refer to as Athens.

In recent months, Athens has, however, turned the corner. When we first arrived, many Athenians showed feelings of embarrassment and pessimism, showing little passion towards the Games. Now that everything appears to be on-track, the city is buzzing with positive vibes. There is frustration, however, in the security concerns being voiced by Americans and Australians. It appears that Athens 2004 will not be the tourist attraction that organizers hoped for, which in my opinion, is a shame. The Greeks have worked so hard. They have sacrificed so much in order to showcase the Games on a global stage. With a staggering security budget (of over $1 billion) that exceeds every previous Olympic security combined, Athens is doing everything it can to prevent any act of terrorism.

Our life has been a rollercoaster here. While assisting Americans in their quest to get to the Games, we've been able to help everyone from runners to the USA Wrestling Federation. I love my job. I'm able to talk to new and different people every day, both here in Greece as well in the USA. Jessica and I created Ludus in order to give Americans a great Olympic experience in Greece. With our passion for sports and travel, we anticipated a life filled with challenges as well as great experiences. Now we've grown to a staff of six and we're as busy as ever hitting the pavement at the request of Americans. The most rewarding part of our business will be leading a small group in customized Olympic tours that are designed for track and field fans. This won't be the tour bus type of experience; we're planning on sharing our city with a select few and offering them a unique and intimate experience. Athens is an amazing city, but it's better if you know where to go.

But our business was never intended to be a goldmine. Life is a series of experiences, and there is no where I'd rather be right now than Athens.

What I'm most excited about, however, is having the opportunity to be here during the Games and experience the magic of Olympics firsthand. Of course, Jessica and I would have loved to be competing in Athens this August, but being here in itself will be unforgettable. Greece has opened its arms to us, and despite popular opinion, they're eager for all Americans to come and be a part of the 2004 Olympics.