Olympic Diary: The Taxi Driver from Ecuador

Pouring rain and temperatures of 18 degrees - that's how I'm greeted at the "Summer Games" in Paris on Saturday. But the high-speed train TGV, which races through France at up to 320 kilometers per hour, is punctual to the minute as it arrives at the eastern station "Gare de L'Est".

I get off with relief, because the day before there had been arson attacks on the express train network in France. But after the acts of sabotage on the opening day, train traffic has returned to normal. The train is fully booked when I change in Mannheim. Many Olympic tourists from Germany don't want to miss the games just three hours from home, after all, the Summer Games are being held in Europe for the first time in 3 years.

The setting in Paris is fantastic. © APA/afp / LUIS TATO

"You must have tickets for weightlifting," says an older lady to a man as tall and heavy as a tree. "No, we have tickets for table tennis, tennis and basketball. We're not interested in weightlifting." Perhaps the family of three from Germany stopped by Debora Vivarelli yesterday or Giorgia Piccolin today. We start chatting. "Jannik Sinner isn't here, so it'll be easier for Alexander Zverev to repeat his Olympic victory from Tokyo," says the Olympic fan.

French instead of English Then in Paris, in this weather, we have to take a taxi instead of walking after the long drive to pick up our accreditation. My taxi driver is called Victor and is from Ecuador, after he somehow managed to explain it to me in Spanish. He doesn't speak English, only French, after all he has lived here for 26 years. "I come from Quito, where it is often cold at 2800 meters above sea level. But Paris is beautiful."

When I then ask him whether he is looking forward to the Olympic business, he plays it down. "There aren't many tourists here, it's too expensive for them. Also, many streets in the center are closed during the Olympics, so we have to take detours, which they don't like at all." When I then ask him about Andres Gomez, his eyes light up. The Ecuadorian won the French Open in tennis in 1990, defeating Andre Agassi in the final. "I wasn't in Paris then, but Gomez is a legend here. The gold medal in tennis goes to Carlos Alcaraz, who won the Grand Slam tournament here a few weeks ago. He's the best."

“And Jannik Sinner?” I want to know before I get out. “Yes, he’s good too, but he’s not here.” On Sunday, the weather is perfect for the Summer Games, with a nearly brilliant blue sky.

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Olympic Diary: The Taxi Driver from Ecuador

Editor Stefan Peer is following the Olympic Games live on site in Paris. In his first diary, he gives an insight into what is going on in the city of love these days.

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