I became increasingly confident that we could create the security guarantees and the conditions for them to say Yes. But, you know, from there to them signing and getting approval from the head of the country, that was a big step. The main excuse that the Soviets had come up with was that they couldn’t let their bloc’s athletes come to L.A. because L.A. wouldn’t be safe for them. That their athletes could be exposed to some serious security breaches.
So, this is why I lived with the hundred-plus Romanian athletes who resided at the village. Our security guys were outnumbering the athletes.
They were my allies to be sure that nothing would happen, especially to Nadia, who was still a young woman. She would want to go shopping, and she’d like to do all sorts of fun things. We were terrified of anyone creating an incident that could then be used against the Romanian decision to attend the Games.
At the Closing ceremonies, I ran up to Peter and said: “Congratulations. Wasn’t this extraordinary, and aren’t you relieved that all went well?”
He said: “I am not exhaling until the last athlete is up in their airplane and off the ground safely.” That’s how preoccupied we were.
