I mentioned that Ruth’s favorite attraction on our recent trip was the Air Force Academy. Mine was also in Colorado Springs but a totally different kind of experience, the new Olympic & Paralympic Museum. It was, in fact, the reason why we included Colorado Springs in our itinerary. It well deserves USA Today‘s honor as the Best New Attraction of 2020.
WE were able to park on the street. Approaching this boxy but sleekly designed building was an added thrill as was walking over the pedestrian bridge that Is already a popular addition. We were able to do this because we were there right before this museum opened for the day. Purchasing tickets was easy and the greeting was sincere. I highly recommend doing what we did as soon as we entered. Ruth & I registered for a personal experience right away by giving our names and having our photo taken in front of a Tokyo 2020 logo. As we were happily photographed by a professional photographer, Mexico and Brazil were competing in soccer on the live Olympic screen nearby because the Tokyo Olympics were in progress at the time. It was noted and acknowledged by us that Colorado Springs is the home of the USA Olympic training facilities. After we paused for the free family photo we took the elevator to floor 3 to continue our Olympic journey with a stunning history of the Olympic games.
Ruth and my involvement in Olympic pursuits goes back to the 1988 Calgary Summer Olympics. Shortly after they were played, Ruth and I visited Calgary with our son and his new wife Jennifer. We went to the Olympic facility and were able to sign up for an Olympic bobsleigh ride. It was thrilling, over before we realized we were doing it, and especially hard on the 4th person of our team who was in the back. Our son in 4th position practically experienced whiplash. It was both memorable and unrepeatable. The Canada Olympic Park is still a much used venue that includes Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame, and bobsleigh rides are still offered. We were so encouraged by this experience that we signed up to work at the 2000 Sydney Australia Olympic Games. We were, however, rejected. We were in China and travelled to the city of Tsingtao the summer that this city was the venue for many Olympic water events.
Back in the new museum in Colorado Springs, we listened to several interviews with participating athletes about aspects of their Olympic experience and admired the complete array of Olympic torches that were on display. This experience reminded me of the display of Olympic torches that we saw in Melbourne, Australia, several years ago. It’s the only other place in the world where I have experienced a collection of Olympic torches.
The new Olympic Museum in Colorado Springs is hyperly interactive. The next attraction that got our full attention involved visitor participation in several Olympic events like speed walking and archery.
To be continued.
Hank
