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A Personal Recollection by Nigel Collin, Absurd Entertainment
My accountant phoned the other day and asked me to look back over my last year’s dairy to find some key dates. Doing so I noticed an appointment I had with SOCOG just over a year ago. Had it really been that long? Yes indeed and in fact it had been longer, first contact was almost two years ago.
As with many people, and organizations, the games had consumed a great part of my life. Especially the 3 to 6 months leading up to it. And now that it’s all over and I’ve had time to reflect – much as everyone else in this town has – I thought I’d jot down some thoughts.
Not so much what I did but what stands out in my mind. The experience of it all.
So here goes.
Firstly, I always remember sitting in Stadium Australia watching the Opening Ceremony. I was amongst the guests of an American client and felt extraordinarily proud. And why not, didn’t we roar when Australia came out. Didn’t we cheer as Cathy Freeman lit the Olympic Torch. And I remember thinking to myself, ‘wow this is cool, after so long and so much effort this is it. Here we go’.
I remember spending an afternoon in the city with my three year old daughter as she chanted ‘Aussie! Aussie! Aussie!’, while waving a French Flag.
I remember talking with our performers and hearing them rave about the crowds. About how playful and receptive everybody was. It was the perfect audience.
I remember having my photo taken on the final night with my good friend Stuart Katzen and looking at the print, seeing how tired we each looked.
I remember the vibe and team spirit in the office as everyone pulled together and went to extraordinary lengths. I know that sounds a bit coy but it’s true.
But my favourite and must etched memory is this. I remember sitting up on a lifesavers chair entertaining patrons as they made their way to various venues and seeing an endless sea of people moving towards me. From the top of Olympic Boulevard all I could see was a wall of hundreds of thousands of people, shoulder to shoulder, all moving in one direction. And the most amazing thing is that it stayed that way for hours. I have never seen so many people in on place at one time. And everyone was in a happy state of mind. It was quite amazing.
At a party we held afterwards for all our performers who were involved, I was asked if I enjoyed it all? Absolutely. Like many, it was the biggest thing I had ever done and at the end I felt immense satisfaction.
There was definitely something about the Olympics. Some kind of magic, that brought us all together, and left each of us with a unique set of memories.
Nigel’s company ‘ Absurd Entertainment’ was involved in co-ordinating and producing street entertainment during the games period. His company coordinated over 350 individual performance calls. Nigel was also an advisor to the Paralympic Arts Festival.
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