Agnes
Well, the head of the IOC (the International Olympic Committee) was in touch with the Soviet leadership but was not successful. Peter was working through us more at the individual country level. And I think that was absolutely the right approach. And so, he chose a few countries on which to focus. I was becoming an Envoy, as he called us, for Romania.
Every participating national delegation of athletes would be shepherded by an Envoy from start to finish. We were internal ambassadors who reported to Peter on the well-being of each national Olympic delegation.
He had handpicked professionals and business people, whom he could confidently send to different countries. China and Cuba were critical, and Romania was very important.
Now, what was he aware of, in terms of my history? He knew that I had defected from Romania in my late teens.
This is why he asked me whether I was willing to put myself forward as an interpreter and key member of this delegation. It was not a walk into a familiar country.
