Radio Australia Today Editorial

The Olympics. The Longest Homecoming.

26 August 2008

Ever since they finished competing at the Games, Olympic athletes have had one thing on their minds: getting home to have a rest and let the adrenaline out of their systems.

For years they have been building to the last two weeks. Getting up every day, training for hours, building their bodies and building the weight of expectation.

Then the games.

Then it’s over.

Sorta. Competition finished on Saturday. The big closing party was on Sunday, and then late on Monday the Australians boarded two specially-chartered planes to Australia. This morning they arrived in a hangar at Sydney airport to a crowd of hundreds of their relatives and choirs and bands.

A procession of bleary athelets walked down the stairs to the welcome of the prime minister, Kevin Rudd. When asked about the shenangans on the plane, they said there weren’t any. There was no alcohol on-board and they just slept all the way.

By the time the television rights-holder got through with all the interviews and the official proceedings, it was a wonder the athletes could even stand.

I covered the corresponding event for television after the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. It was the same hangar, with probably the same choir and the same band. The athletes were just as tired and just wanted to see their relatives and go home for a good sleep.

But just like this morning, they performed for the media, throwing us all the bones we needed, and it amazes me now that we didn’t and don’t consider these athletes. They have worked like trojans for years, making us, who do nothing but watch a TV set, feel good. They have given enough, surely.

Now comes the welcome home parades, which I remember from 1996, was a highlight for the athletes because they would have had their rest and were pumped for a bit of adulation.

Stephanice Rice, Eammon Sullivan, Grant Hackett, Libhby Trickett, all you guys have done plenty for us. You’re part of history and you’ve given a lot of joy. Enjoy your lives now, and we’ll try to leave you alone.

– Phil