The journey began three weeks ago. In the morning, Liszt Ferenc International Airport was busier than usual, and the plane carrying the Hungarian Olympic team was constantly shuttling between Budapest and Paris. While other passengers were sipping their morning coffee and wiping their eyes, our athletes, dressed in bright red and full of energy, were eagerly awaiting takeoff. And not only the newcomers from the five rings, but also the routine classics, after all, the Olympic Games are special precisely because you never know what to expect.
We did not know this either, but we were hoping for a successful performance, because we had every reason to do so based on the work done and the results of the “truncated” three-year cycle.
Then the fire broke out, and we managed to push the Hungarian athletes for more than two weeks. As the days passed, the purpose of the Olympic flight also changed: it no longer needed to transport the delegation members from the French capital to Budapest, but to Paris. After the closing ceremony on Sunday evening, the golden machine also took off on Monday afternoon, filled with happy passengers – and a large amount of precious metal. During the security check, of course, the medals also had to be illuminated, and our Olympic taekwondo champion, Marton Viviana, carefully placed the gold medal in a separate box.
“We wish you a pleasant evening from the cockpit! Please allow me to express our congratulations and thanks on behalf of the flight crew and all Hungarians for the amazing results you have achieved in the colours of Hungary at the Olympic Games. It is a great honour to fly the plane home, laden with the weight of so many medals.” The captain said before takeoff, and his impromptu speech was met with a storm of applause on board, as we learned from the Hungary team's website. From video recording.
Our Olympic Games were still in the air when fans gathered in Puskas Zoborpark, and when they saw the plane, they even waved to the athletes. The two air marshals, Erzsébet Fazekas and Ákos Léderer, tested the knowledge of those interested with a short quiz, and they couldn’t ask such a difficult question that sports fans didn’t know the answer to. From swimming to fencing to rowing, successful sports were on the table, and in addition to the Parisian heroes, the greats of the past were also recalled, and the music was provided by DJ Szecsei, the favorite disc jockey of the men’s water polo team.
Meanwhile, the youngest member of the men’s sabre team, Christian Raab, ran with his Olympic silver medal around his neck, happily handing out autographs to those waiting on the other side of the hoop. Many tried to withstand the scorching heat by taking shelter in the shade of the trees, but as soon as it was announced that the athletes’ buses were already on their way to Népliget, fans gathered in front of the stage.
In addition to the State Secretary responsible for Sports, Adam Schmidt, the President of the Hungarian Olympic Committee, Zsolt Gyulai, and the Secretary General of the organization, László Fabian, they led the delegation to the stage, where they were greeted with a great cheer from the audience. Free from desire The Parisian heroes waved bouquets of flowers in their hands, and we spotted graduation balloons among the crowd, in addition to Hungarian flags.
“I have fought the noble battle, finished my race, and kept the faith. Zsolt Gyulay began his speech with a quote from the Bible, thanking the athletes, their coaches and sports managers. “We have achieved a result we can be truly proud of. Our Olympians have brought joy to fifteen million Hungarians here and abroad. The Olympic Games had a bumpy start, but they ended fantastically. We had unforgettable moments in the Grand Palace, the swimming pool, the kayak course, the Palace of Versailles and more. In the last 128 years, we have always brought home the gold medal from the Summer Olympics when we participated. Our position in the medal table and the points table shows how successful Hungarian sport is.”
With the help of the audience, the medal winners were called out separately: the presenters said their last name, the fans said their first name – in other words, they were shouted at. We also heard a drum solo during the tribute to Olympic silver medalist hammer thrower Bence Halas, and Michelle Golias, who won our last gold medal in Paris, was supported by a large and probably the most tired audience on stage.
Finally, the coaches, doctors, pastry chefs, nutritionists and psychologists, the professionals who helped the athletes prepare for Paris in the background, were celebrated. Although they have not been in the spotlight for the past two and a half weeks, they too received the same applause as the competitors, who met and talked to the crowds after the celebratory welcome.
The numbers never lie. Six gold, seven silver, six bronze, that's 19 medals, 14th place in the medal table. And what lies behind them: extraordinary achievements, tears of joy, special stories, unforgettable moments. Paris truly deserves a requiem.
