A 28-year-old Malaysian woman, Jami recently flew to Paris to witness the Paris Olympic Opening Ceremony.
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Inspired by the Beijing 2008 Olympics, Jami had always dreamed of experiencing the Olympics firsthand.
Therefore, she registered for the Olympic volunteer ballot last year but was not selected.
Impressed by the government’s efforts
Although not selected as a volunteer, she eventually attended the event as a tourist.
Upon arriving in Paris, Jami told WeirdKaya that she was impressed by the efforts of the Paris city government and French governments’ efforts in preparing for the Olympics.
“The atmosphere in Paris is incredible, with so many people excited about the Olympics,” she said.
She noted the strong Olympic atmosphere in the city, with police patrolling and volunteers assisting everywhere.
“Everyone is so friendly, enthusiastic, and polite,” Jami added.
Attended the opening ceremony
Her primary goal was to attend the opening ceremony and secure tickets to other events, particularly those featuring the Malaysian team.
When not watching the Olympics, she planned to travel around Europe to soak in the local culture and atmosphere.
Before leaving for Paris, Jami bought a Malaysian flag to bring to the event.
She was fortunate to have a front-row seat, allowing her to stand and wave the flag for the Malaysian team.
“I was thrilled to be able to wave our national flag and cheer for our team,” she shared.
She also received a small Malaysian flag from a Singaporean friend she met at the venue.
Despite the rain and low visibility, Jami’s new Peruvian friend helped her identify the Malaysian team’s arrival, capturing great photos and videos for her.
“My Peruvian friend and a Singaporean buddy helped me get some amazing photos,” she said.
She excitedly waved the flag and shouted “Malaysia Boleh” to get the team’s attention, and reviewing the video later, she was thrilled to see that they noticed her.
“At first, the Malaysian team waved to the other side of the river. I waved my flag and shouted “Malaysia Boleh” to get their attention. I was very excited at the moment, and it all happened so quickly.“
“When I watched the video later, I realized they saw me! I felt so moved watching the video.” Jami recalled.
Jami also expressed gratitude for her Malaysian passport, which spared her the extra time and money needed for a European visa.
“I’m always thankful for my Malaysian passport when I travel. It really shows the strength of our country’s diplomatic relations,” she concluded.
Read more: M’sian Woman Flies All The Way To Paris To Catch M’sian Olympic Athletes In Action
