Bill
When I was working in Estonia, I stayed in the Olympic village. Part of the 1980 games in Russia were held in Estonia. The Olympic athletes (and later I) were sleeping in small bedrooms. The beds were short and stiff. The bathrooms were minimalist. It was dormitory living. So, what was it like for you and the athletes? Were they used to that kind of harsh living in a dorm room?
Agnes
Well, our dorm rooms were wonderful compared to what they were used to. So, there was no hardship. And there was a commissary, cantina, or dining room that was open 24 hours a day. With the most healthful delicacies you could wish for. So, these kids were very well taken care of. And they were delighted to be there. This was not a hardship. LA really did take care of all the athletic delegations beautifully. And my colleagues in transportation, security, and all of these support functions were absolutely amazing.
Bill
I know it’s hard to generalize, but what did you think were the perceptions of the Romanian delegation about being in the United States? There had to be some complexity in their own reactions.
Agnes
You know, when people are on a mission, they are there to compete and win. But the LAOOC were also hoping that there wouldn’t be any defections. And that every athlete who came would get back on the plane. Defections would have caused a big disruption.
Of course, I was torn, because I had found a way to escape that prison called Romania under Ceaușescu at the time of my departure.
I was torn about what to wish for the athletes from Romania. On the one hand, I was empathetic with their justifiable wish to leave Romania. On the other hand, I knew that it was important that their accomplishments and their participation go down historically in a positive light. And that their accomplishment became a victory for them as a team.
