Greetings!  Before I begin my blog, I just want to apologize for not having a post yesterday for everyone to read.  Our schedule was packed and didn't allow for me to sit down and type, so I will summarize a few things from yesterday in this blog.
 
Yesterday morning was our last session in the lecture hall, but it was individuals presenting on their experiences as Olympians or in the Olympic Movement in a different way.  Adam, the swimmer from Australia, was the first to present.  It was pretty interesting to hear him say that the most important thing he's gained while competing in three different Olympic Games is the friends.  He has one gold and two silver medals from the Olympics, yet the medals he's won were his fourth most important thing – that truly is an example of the Olympic Spirit.  He also told us that he was the oldest swimmer to compete in the Olympic Games since 1930.  Crazy, because he was only 32 in Beijing. 
 
Adam was asked by Professor Gangas about what his most memorable moment of the 2000 Olympic Games.  Being that it was a home Olympic Games for him, I can imagine how special that would be.  But the best moment was when he was there when fellow Australian Kathy Freeman struck gold in the 400 meter run.  He and about 150 of his Olympic teammates didn't have tickets, so they had to crash the party.  The funny thing is that was not the last time that Adam had to sneak into an Olympic venue.
 
The next presenter was Vatche Zadourian, who competed in the 1992 Barcelona Games in cycling as a teenager.  Vatche is from Lebanon, where a civil war was fought from 1975-1990.  When Vatche was 14, his brother competed in the 1988 Seoul Games, and that is when he dreamed of being an Olympian.  Imagine cycling in a nation where a war was being fought … as a teenager.  Every morning before training, Vatche would put in his cassette tape listen to "Barcelona," the duet by Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballe.  We all know of people using music to motivate themselves, but I found this to be a great story.
 
After our last group discussion yesterday, we had a competition that is modeled after the Olympics.  Each discussion group (mine was English Group 8) was a team, and we had 10 events to compete in.  Each team could have one member compete in each event.  We had a sprint (about 90 meters), 1000 meter run, 500 meter relay (with six members), standing long jump, standing tennis ball throw, and arm wrestling.  I was able to stave of the requests of my group to have me do arm wrestling, so I was able to do the tennis ball throw.  I came in third, behind Solvi (Iceland) and Lazcur (Turkey).
 
Under the full moon late last night, a few of us upheld a tradition of participants at the Session for Young Participants at the IOA and ran on the track on Ancient Olympia.  It was truly an awesome experience for the 14 of us who did this, as we were the first ones to do it this year.  It was simply 192 meters down and 192 meters back, but it was incredibly memorable.  Fortunately, it wasn't cold. 
 
Countries were allowed to show videos to the group last night, so it was cool to see footage from places like Malaysia, Iceland, the US Virgin Islands, among others.  The video we played was a highlight video of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, but even though it was an American video, the audience liked it.  Of course I liked the video, too.
 
Tonight was our Arts Happening, which was a show of acts (dancing, singing, poetry, etc.) that have been worked on this week.  I actually was part of three dances, and all were entertaining.  The dances were traditional dances from Russia, Italy, and Greece.  The sirtaki (I swear that it's pronounced tsiltaki) was the last part of the evening for everyone.  I mean, it was the last item scheduled for the Arts Happening.  After we performed the sirtaki, everyone who had a role in the show tonight came to join us on the "stage." 
 
Tomorrow morning is the last session at the IOA.  The discussion groups will be presenting our papers, so I put together our PowerPoint presentation that we will use.  After the session, which will also serve as the closing ceremonies (I think), we will have time to head to Olympia to further explore the town.  I've been to town a handful of times, but I think the feeling of accomplishment and the lack of looming tasks will change the atmosphere for us, and town will be even better.  I need to find the post office to put some postcards, as I have yet to do so. 
 
I realized that this experience at the IOA is difficult to put in words, and has been all along, but I know that it has changed me.  I guess I equate it to when people talk about athletes who have "it." No one can define it, they can just identify those people who have it. Similarly, I just know that I'm changed.  In addition to that, I have certainly met some great people who I hope to remain in contact with.
 
Citius! Altius! Fortius!