Are You Watching The Olympics?

Hi Everyone,

Sorry I’ve been gone for so long. I had some health issues come up.

Today we’re going to veer away from photography a little. Like many of you, I have been watching the Olympics, and it has brought back many happy memories. Over the years I’ve been involved with the Olympics in one way or another.

It started in college when I met Dr. Jack Rose. He was a teacher at, Calif. State University Long Beach (CSULB), and became a dear friend. Jack was an Olympic track and field coach, and volunteered or visited every site of the modern Olympics, except for the games in the USSR, as America boycotted them. But thanks to a friend of mine in the Czech Republic, I have an official USSR Olympic pin that was given to most people in the USSR.

When you went to Jack’s home, it was like visiting an Olympic museum. It started at his front porch where he had an original bench from when the LA Memorial Coliseum held the 1932 Olympics. You then walked into his front door and faced the fireplace, where two oars from one of the US scull boats were crossed on the wall. Jack loved to give people a tour of his home, explaining all his Olympic memorabilia, both big and small.

But his pride and joy was his hot water heater. He volunteered at the Los Angeles games, and was given permission to light a kerosene lamp from the Olympic flame. He took this home, went to his hot water heater, turned off the pilot light, then lit it with the Olympic flame. This gave him an eternal Olympic flame in his home. I doubt anyone else can say that.

The thing about CSULB is that a lot of Olympic athletes from the US, and all over the world, would train there. I used to park my car in a lot next to the track and field area so when I ate lunch I could watch the athletes practice. I remember one day walking to my car and watching a Russian female shot putter practicing. And a few minutes after getting into my car, Dwight Stones showed up and stared practicing the high jump about 40 feet away.

I took several classes from Jack, with my favorite being The History of the Olympics. On the first day of class I walked in and took a seat. We were all waiting for Jack to show up. A woman sitting behind me tapped me on the shoulder. I turned around and was shocked to see that she, and her friend, were Olympic gold medal winners in running that I had seen many times on TV. They would also be competing in the 1984 games. She asked me a question about the class, which I answered, then turned around, still in shock.

I did manage to spend a day at the LA Olympics in 1984. It was an amazing time. I was a member of Nikon Professional Services, so I had access to the Nikon Press Center. I went in and was able to borrow a 300 mm mirror lens, and they fixed a stuck shutter in one of my Nikons, at no cost. I then headed over to watch Team Handball and Women’s 3 meter Springboard diving.

Following are a few of the images I took at the Olympics on Kodachrome 64 film. I hope you enjoy them.