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Jackie's IOA Journal: Opening Ceremonies

Olympia, GRE, June 27, 2011

Today was the first day of the Academy that we did things as a group, besides having meals. It was great to go together as a group to the Acropolis! I met people from Egypt, Turkey, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand and Aruba. I actually met many more people, but I didn't get a chance to talk to them all. It was interesting to learn about their sport system and see how similar we all are! Still lots more to learn from them…perhaps on the bus ride tomorrow.

The highlight of the day was the Opening Ceremonies on the Hill of Pnyx. We heard the President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee and International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge speak. The message to us was to keep the spirit of Olympism alive, to share our knowledge with each other and to try to live Olympic values every day. Shortly before the ceremony ended with a declaration that the 51st session of the International Olympic Academy Young Participants Sessions is open, one speaker told us to rejoice because the whole world is here together and I truly feel like that is true. Game on!!

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