Global Q&A: ‘Is the Olympic experience what you expected? Would you like your country to host the Olympics?’

Montreal, Canada

Nikita Chicoine, 24, Wrestler and Student

Yes, it has met my expectations. It is very nice. [In Montreal] we are already well-known, but [if Montreal were to host the Olympics] even more people will see how wonderful Canada is. It is already a multicultural town.

Montreal, Canada

Sindy Martel, 32, Physiotherapist

Since Montreal already hosted the Olympics in ’76, like London did in ’48, it would be interesting to see how it would improve if it returned to Montreal, how to improve on last time.

Fukuoka, Japan

Mitsu Matsumoto, 30, Primary School Teacher

Many people can’t get the tickets and there are many extra seats. The opening ceremony was really fantastic. I watched the fireworks [from outside Olympic Park] and my brother in Japan asked me if it was really real fireworks—he couldn’t believe it. It would be good if the Olympics would come to Japan again.

Santa Fe, Argentina

Alejo Blesa, 29, Farmer

It is my first day here, so it is hard to tell. I expected more activities downtown, in the center of London. I hope to enjoy all activities in the 10 days I will be here. I think it would be great to have the Olympics in Santa Fe. In the Olympics you see many people of different cultures—that is the most important thing at the Olympics.

London, England

Emma Lewis, 25, Sporting Goods Store Manager

Quite hectic. I just knew it would be hectic living and working here, that is the only expectation that I had. I’m also one of the ones who did not get a pass [to enter Olympic Park]. It is nice to have different people around.

Seoul, South Korea

Young Jo Lee, 58, Professor 

I visit London sometimes and I never expected it to look so great, all the new development. We had the Olympics in 1988. It would be good [to host the Olympics again]; it is a great event, people all around the world come. It is good for a city; it brings new development.

Wuxi, China

Shan Hong, 42, Reporter for Wuxi Daily News

Yes [it’s met my expectations]. I think that London is a very beautiful city and our China team won the gold medal for diving.

Manila, Philippines

Rommel Mabunga, 43, Nurse

There are a lot of people here! We cannot sponsor the Olympics. We really want it, but I think it is too big for us.

London, England 

Ionie Young, 56, Teacher 

The torch was great. It went around everywhere and involved all the people, not just the people at Olympic Park. It got the party spirit going. In Jamaica we would love to host the Olympics, but we could not afford it. But it would be brilliant because we would be partying all the time.

London, England 

Chardonnae Deslandes, 13, Student **daughter of Ionie (above), 

The atmosphere is excellent. It was excellent how they had four young athletes light the torch. Also, it was free to go see the torch when it was traveling around. Although Jamaica could not afford to host the Olympics—they would have to build so many stadiums—it would be cool to have the Olympics on all the Caribbean islands, different events on each.

Look for the Global Q&A column every week. Epoch Times correspondents interview people around the world to learn about their lives and perspectives on local and global realities. Next week’s global question: What is the most inspiring moment for you in the Olympics?

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