3rd of July, 3 years ago, I got super excited when I saw the well-publicized Countdown to the 32nd Summer Olympics in Tokyo! The preparation was long and I need to face various challenges to be the Volunteer Team Leader at the Media Center in the Olympic Village. The 1 year extended orientation in downtown Tokyo then at the National Olympic Memorial Youth Center in Shibuya and near the athletes’ quarters in Ota Ward were punctuated by serious health protocols due to the Covid-19 pandemic. What made me more excited then was to see the Philippine Olympians and to assist them in whatever I could knowing no extra personnel nor family members nor spectators were allowed to enter Japan then. Indeed, I had great moments with the Philippine Olympians!
My work schedule at the Media Center in the Olympic Village started 1 week ahead of the official opening on July 23, 2021. Mindful of my responsibilities as the team leader and the protocols in the media center, I wondered if I could meet even just one Philippine Olympian.
A total of 11,326 athletes from 206 National Olympic Committees competed in 339 events across 33 different sports.
Well, on my way to the media center after my first dinner at the volunteers’ cafeteria, I overheard people speaking in Filipino! Lo & behold, I got excited meeting the first Philippine Olympian with his coach — Cris Nievarez! They came to the media center, exchanged pleasantries and I was given a bar pin with the Philippine flag. Good to hear firsthand their experiences and sentiments on the very hot Tokyo weather conditions.
On the official opening of the Olympiad XXXII at the National Stadium, I was requested by Alden Estolas, my schoolmate at Ateneo LSE, to report on AFP Radio Philippines and then on Bombo Radyo Philippines together with their Japan-based correspondent, Myles Briones Beltran, and assistant, Arnel Punzalan. It’s not in the scope of my volunteer work for the Tokyo Olympics, but privileged to share with our countrymen and the Filipinos around the world to give a glimpse of the world’s biggest sporting event happening during the height of the pandemic.
I’ll write another blog on my personal encounter with other Philippine and international Olympians at the media center in the Olympic Village, especially with our first-ever Gold Medalist — Hidilyn Diaz!
There’s a chance for me to volunteer again at the Paris Olympics 2024 and other international sporting events, but I opted to focus on my school and business here in Tokyo. Every now & then, I receive email updates as I plan to join the virtual community of Olympic volunteers. If you’d like to receive updates, you can download the Olympics – Paris app.
Glad to be offered a rare opportunity to be a part of the Paris 2024 Olympics & Paralympics! It’s indeed a blessing to have led the Press Relations Volunteer Team in the Venue Media Center at the Olympic Village during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
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