海角大神

This article appeared in the August 02, 2024 edition of the Monitor Daily.

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What our Olympics reporter won鈥檛 forget from his first days in Paris

Mark Sappenfield
Senior global correspondent

As someone from Philadelphia, the Monitor鈥檚 Ira Porter knows firsthand about passionate fans 鈥 sometimes. So now at the end of his first week covering the Olympics for us, what stands out are the fans.聽

鈥淭his gets to be everyone鈥檚 Super Bowl all at the same time,鈥 he wrote me during a break in the action. And that means a Super Bowl鈥檚 worth of emotions everywhere Ira turns in Paris.

鈥淚 love the fans鈥 excitement at these games,鈥 he says. They drape themselves in their nation鈥檚 flag, they fill the stadiums with the chants and cheers of countless languages. And, of course, they shed tears with their heroes.聽

And it鈥檚 not just in the stadiums. The atmosphere around Paris is unforgettable. (See today鈥檚 Daily for more.) 鈥淔ans are loving it,鈥 he says. 鈥淭hey are stopping celebrities in arenas and on the street to snap quick pictures. They are screaming at the top of their lungs in arenas. I imagine every Olympics is like this, but seeing it up close warms my spirit.鈥澛

As an American, he has a soft spot for Team USA. But 鈥淚 can鈥檛 help but be happy for fans from other places,鈥 he adds. 鈥淭here are enough medals for everyone to get some 鈥 hopefully.鈥


This article appeared in the August 02, 2024 edition of the Monitor Daily.

Read 08/02 edition
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