by city dweller
"Hello hello", begins a letter from my pal in Australia. She has just spent a week in Sydney on leave from university, as all students were given time out to view the Olympics.

"I am back from the amazing Olympics. It was lovely being there and experiencing the entire games. Saw the athletics and tennis by kindness of Tung, a good friend, who organised the tickets. I also did three days of work in the Catering section which was great and almost blasted my feet away but it was worth of every second meeting people from all over the world and experiencing their happiness, good healthy and joy. I was able to really get into the feeling of it all. The evenings were spent with my friends from University who had also descended on Sydney but separately, and we did a bit of site-seeing like Circular Quay, Darling Harbour, Manly Beach and many other wonderful places. Also met up with Mano and Suzie for dinner and-caught up with their news. The weather was perfect and actually we could not have asked for anything better. The people were into the spirit of it all and as the Aussies would say, it was all just awesome!!

The highlight for me was seeing Savage Garden live in concert as there was a free concert at the domain. I was about 10 meters from them and could see their faces so clearly. It was unbelievable. Being my first open air live concert, I was a bit apprehensive as the crowds were going wild and I thought that I might end up a crushed tomato but it was all worth the wait and time as they performed so well.

I stayed at Funi’s place and got five star treatment. She was so kind with everything. I had just done a set of exams at University before I left and she revived me within a few moments.

I thought that it was just great how Susanthika got the Bronze!!! Great for Lanka and we are finally on the medal tally table.

Anyway, got to catch the bus in three minutes. Take care, you guys, lots of love".

I felt you needed to have a first hand bit of exuberance straight from the Games which I haven’t read in any newspaper since the games started. Just shows what a country can do - give healthy fun and be strict with discipline and those who want to win do so. Those who didn’t are as happy as everyone else.

When it comes to the Olympics I just need to watch the races and be part of the sports world. Sport is my love, just one of them, anyway I was at the famous Munich Olympiad in the 70s. The day after I sat basking in glorious sun in the Track and Field stadium, the saddest event took place. Many great sportsmen were caught in their rooms in the Olympic Village and then frog marched to a plane, but were shot in their seats before take off.

We didn’t have a way to see the competitions for 10 days, then we got the vital channel fixed and there I was darting from screen to work to chores to screen to sleep, and so on. I, too, watched Susanthika do her stuff. I was not enamoured with the yellow ribbon - I felt it could disturb the other runners, so when it was removed for the semis and final she showed her true sense of sportsmanship.

I was leaping all over the place as she ran the finals and it was clear she came third. What a race and what fun. Congratulations, Susanthika, the bronze is yours, but more important you deserve every bit of it. Next time a Gold!

Nobody seems to want to leave Australia and as I write many athletes and visitors are trying to change their flights and stay on for another few days of sightseeing.

What is the secret of the success of the Australian Olympiad? I think it’s the way the organisers made sure everyone was busy be they sportsman or visitor at any time of the day or night. Plenty to do, plenty to see, and a happy time for everyone.

Charming thoughtfulness for the 5000 voluntary workers was a seat for the final curtain on the last day. I saw a magnificent fireworks display over Sydney Bridge on my TV, I missed unfortunately the rest of the closing ceremony. But my young friend’s letter made up for that, it arrived today by e mail and I share it with you.

I am off for a swim. It’s never too late or too old to learn a sport!