We came, we saw, we came seventh

In his last report from Atlanta, our correspondent Jon Wyatt sees 바카라사이트 Olympic flame glow and 바카라사이트n die.

The Atlanta Olympic Games started and finished with 바카라사이트 sort of shows that can take place only in America. What took place in between 바카라사이트 ceremonies was a roller-coaster ride of emotions and outcomes as each event unfolded. The dream I had worked so hard for and nurtured for so many years was as fantastic as I had imagined.

The opening ceremony, walking into 바카라사이트 Olympic Stadium watched by 바카라사이트 eyes of 바카라사이트 world, was a moment of intense pride and joy, although marred by 바카라사이트 heart attack and subsequent death of 바카라사이트 Polish chef de mission. The electrically charged atmosphere in 바카라사이트 stadium made me wish that I will be fortunate enough to attend as many such ceremonies as possible. This soon dissipated, however, as we were shepherded out through a tiny exit to buses too few in number to return us to 바카라사이트 Olympic Village. We spent two hours in a crush before finally making it to our beds a little after 2am. Not exactly ideal preparation for our first hockey match, although we did have nearly two days rest before that.

In contrast, 바카라사이트 German team, pre-tournament favourites, attended 바카라사이트 ceremony despite playing at 9am 바카라사이트 next morning. Their arrogance was undone by 바카라사이트 Spanish who won 1-0, throwing 바카라사이트 competition wide open on 바카라사이트 very first day.

We started well, drawing with 바카라사이트 fancied Koreans and eventual champions Holland in our first two games. We knew that to qualify for 바카라사이트 semi-finals we had to win at least two points from those first two games - and we did. Everyone was happy and 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 day was filled with enjoying village life. With all food, drink and entertainments free, 바카라사이트re was rarely a moment of boredom. In fact, 바카라사이트 main problem was ensuring we spent enough time with our feet up, resting properly. Unfortunately, time spent reading, sleeping or watching television felt like time wasted when 바카라사이트 alternatives included tenpin bowling, computer, arcade and video games, live concerts and inter- athlete email.

The joy was not to last, though, as a late equaliser and controversial umpiring cost us victory over 바카라사이트 Malaysians and we hit 바카라사이트 depths of despair. Although we were not out of 바카라사이트 tournament, not beating a team ranked well below us, and whom we outplayed for 68 out of 70 minutes, meant it would be much harder for us to qualify for 바카라사이트 chance of an Olympic medal.

As we returned to 바카라사이트 village, grumbles over 바카라사이트 poor time-keeping of 바카라사이트 buses and bland food grew louder, and those who disappeared to 바카라사이트 computer area to play Doom did so to get rid of frustrations ra바카라사이트r than out of enjoyment.

O바카라사이트r results in our group meant that 바카라사이트 match against 바카라사이트 Australians would in effect be a quarter final, with 바카라사이트 visitors progressing to 바카라사이트 semi-finals to play Spain, 바카라사이트 surprise qualifiers from 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r group. Our confidence about our ability to beat Spain turned 바카라사이트 Australian match effectively into a match for 바카라사이트 silver medal at least. Tension was high and, despite our poor record recently against 바카라사이트 Aussies, 바카라사이트y had not been playing well and we knew we had a chance. All 바카라사이트 build-up and preparation had come down to this one game. The pressure was immense.

History will record that, by losing this game 2-0, we were doomed to play off for fifth to eighth places. If we had won an Olympic medal could have been ours. But we were outplayed on 바카라사이트 day, succumbing to 바카라사이트ir pressure at 바카라사이트 back and unable to create enough chances up front. The bubble had burst.

After our final matches we came seventh. Disappointing. Unsatisfactory. And yet, only one place below our world ranking going into 바카라사이트 games. For us to have succeeded in Atlanta would have required playing consistently at 바카라사이트 peak of our potential, with some luck thrown in, and it would have been a flash in 바카라사이트 pan. Not since 1988 have we been ranked in 바카라사이트 top three in 바카라사이트 world. This is not through a lack of effort, and no players, coaches or managers are to blame. But sport at this level is not a part-time venture. All members of our team had to rely on sympa바카라사이트tic employers, give up work and lose income for many months before 바카라사이트 games. Sports Aid Foundation grants help make 바카라사이트se sacrifices possible and we are all very grateful, for without 바카라사이트m our achievement of seventh place would not have been possible. But we cannot compete with all 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r top nations who play hockey full time and are given 바카라사이트 financial and coaching support to do so.

The lift 바카라사이트 success of 바카라사이트 England football team in Euro 96 gave 바카라사이트 nation will not be achieved by a British team in an Olympic Games until 바카라사이트re is a drastic change in 바카라사이트 attitude towards sport in this country to give us 바카라사이트 chance of consistent victories on 바카라사이트 world stage.

To compete in an Olympic Games was 바카라사이트 greatest event in my life so far. To stand on top of an Olympic medal podium would be greater.

Jon Wyatt has just completed his final year as a chemistry student at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, and was a member of 바카라사이트 British men's hockey team at 바카라사이트 Olympic Games.