In January 2023 I signed up for the Paris Olympics ticket ballot. In May 2023 my account (well, my mum’s rather) was chosen in the ballot on the first day. There I booked tickets for a plethora of Olympic events, beginning with a men’s group stage football match in Parc Des Princes in Paris on the unofficial first day of the Olympics and ending with an athletics session in Stade de France on one of the final days of the games, over two weeks later.
Considering tickets were sold around a year before the schedule of which athletes/teams were competing in each event was released, I would say I struck lucky. My first football match was announced as Spain versus Uzbekistan. This at the time prompted a thought of, “I get to watch the Euro’s 2024 runners-up!”, but that may have jinxed England a little.
Still, I defiantly donned my England Euro’s shirt as I made my way to the famous stadium. My view was remarkably fantastic, right behind the goal which would soon become very important during game-play. People with the Spanish flag painted on their face filed in, yet what surprised me the most was the immense contingency of Uzbek supporters.
My heart warmed as I considered how much this match meant to its fans, who had flown across the world on not a great amount of notice to support their home team. Suddenly entire groups clothed in blue and white erupted with noise, chanting loudly, even banging drums. I knew then I was in for an incredibly lively match.
“My heart warm.