Eagle Staff Writer

While most people had to settle for watching the Olympics on television, Chicora native Angela Wagner had the thrill of being there in person.

Wagner was one of 17 students from 15 colleges in nine states selected to participate in the first The Olympic Experience program, run by two professors at Tiffin University in Ohio.

Students in the program had to be enrolled in a sports management curriculum in college. Wagner is starting her junior year at California (Pa.) University, where she majors in sports management.

Bonnie Tiell, one of the organizers, said the event went better than expected.

"Despite the language obstacles, the significance of holding the Olympic Games in Greece was awe-inspiring," Tiell said. "The Greeks did a wonderful job of presenting beautiful new venues, making the games accessible to the entire world, to opening the Acropolis for daily tours free of charge."

The students arrived in Greece one week prior to the start of the Olympics and spent the first week being tourists.

"We went to the U.S. Embassy and had a lecture while we were there," she said. "They told us about the security and how it had been heightened for the event."

The second week there - the actual first week of the Olympic games - the students were assigned to help athletes, dignitaries and other VIPs associated with the event.

Wagner was assigned to the technical officials' village and was responsible for making sure the officials arrived at the games on time.

Wagner said her experiences with the Greek people also were positive.

"For the most part, they were very friendly people," she said. "Every once in awhile we ran into a Greek person who was anti-American, but that didn't happen too often."

Students in the program weren't cleared to attend all Olympic events.

Wagner said that aspect disappointed her because her clearance pass didn't permit her to be in the main Olympic stadium.

"I tried, but they told me I didn't have clearance to be in there," she said.

Her limited access didn't keep Wagner from meeting some important people while there.

"I went to all the USA softball games," she said. "Softball is my life. It's my favorite sport."

The USA women's softball team won the gold medal, but Wagner had left Greece before that game took place. However, she did get to meet the team.

"They were so great," she said. "The girls were real sweethearts."

It was at one of these games that Wagner got to meet her sports hero - Dot Richardson.

Richardson was part of the USA women's softball teams in 1996 and 2000 that won gold at those Olympic games.

"I got to meet my hero," Wagner said, giddy. "It was amazing. My heart actually stopped."

In addition to Richardson, Wagner said she also met several athletes from other countries while she was out and about in Athens.

"I also got to see the (Olympic) torch the day of the opening ceremony," she said. "They were bringing it down the street while I was out there walking. That was really exciting."

Wagner had to raise more than $3,000 to be able to attend the games, which she did through donations from the community.

Wagner said she is very grateful to those who donated money and plans to send thank you notes to every one of them.