Living History

The Olympic Village

My friend George and I were working at the Repatriation hospital, the Olympic Village was just up the road. On our day off we visited there.

At the time there was a lot of young people outside the village. George and I were in our mid-twenties at that time. We visited a few times and we found ourselves being surrounded by the young people, asking ask to sign autographs, for some reason they thought we were athletes.

We had arrived from Austria a year before and I guess we looked different and sounded so, and had crew cuts which at that time were not the in thing here.

We said we are not athletes, but they would not believe us so here we were signing autographs.

Meantime we met a nice young Russian athlete, we enjoyed watching watching him training in a park near the village. He invited us to come and meet his mates inside the village. He gave us each a Russian Sickle and Hammer Badge and on showing we were allowed into the village.

We visited different Nationalities it was great fun and an experience I will never forget.

Joseph, Caloundra, Queensland

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