Aug. 25, 2003
Missouri senior forward Evan Unrau is a member of Team USA at the World University Games in Daegu, South Korea. Here is a journal entry upon the team's arrival:
Today I feel honored to have the opportunity to share with you all the last few days' events here is South Korea. Our first game completed - a victory against Hungary - jitters were evident, everyone started the game with an air of uncertainty of what to expect of the Hungarians and of the foreign game itself. However, we held on and ended the day with a victory, the first step in our quest for the gold.
What followed in the day's events weighs heavier than any game I have ever played in my life as an athlete - the Opening Ceremony.
The 12 of us, dressed in matching blue shorts, white polos and blue USA baseball caps, entered the pre-ceremony organizing field. Here, the athletes of 172 countries endured three hours in the sweltering heat and humidity all dressed in distinct clothing bearing the names and characteristics of the countries which we represented. We eagerly sought out different countries to trade small pins with the USA emblem printed on them. We collected pins from countries such as Vietnam, Iran, Australia, South Africa and the prized pin shaped as a tequila bottle with the Mexican flag as its ribbon.
Finally, we gathered as a country and began our journey into the stadium, which has been home only to the World Cup Soccer finals. As we made our way through the tunnels, our anticipation increased as to what was waiting inside this massive cement structure. My wildest imagination couldn't have predicted what I saw and felt when we entered that arena.
Over 90,000 people screaming, lights flashing, music blasting and the 16 other members of our basketball party in the middle of it all. We circled the track in awe, open-mouthed and trying desperately to find some understanding of why in the world we were in the middle of it all - simply enjoying the moment.
Each step we took affirmed how amazing this experience has been, we couldn't push the buttons on our cameras fast enough, trying desperately to capture some hint or glance into the emotional and physical beauty of what lay all around us. We clicked our cameras hoping to forever freeze the truly phenomenal sight and to get a picture of ourselves inside of it - affirming to ourselves and to others that we really were there being celebrated as an athlete by 90,000 screaming fans.
As the other countries paraded in, I found myself reflecting and slipped upon the recognition that it was one of life's rare defining moments. A moment where, for a brief time, everything comes together and you just understand and have the answers to questions that allude athletes. Why do I play basketball? Why do I sweat, condition and hurt for a game? The answer was very clear at that moment, that night and that "feeling" and sense of pride is why I picked up a ball all those years ago. The only thing we could do was share a glance and a huge smile and we found ourselves repeating phrases such as "can you believe this," "how did I get here" and "amazing."
We stood together and listened to the words of the South Korean president who welcomed us and challenged us to celebrate the unity of 172 countries and 7,200 athletes all together in the only divided country in the world. Tonight, however, the Koreans were united as both the North and South athletes walked through the tunnel together. The already rowdy crowd roared to an elevated decibel. We enjoyed fireworks, authentic Korean dances and found some eager Swiss men to trade shirts and hats with.
It was soon over and the bus ride back to the Athletes Village proved to be the perfect ending to the day. We rode back with a few members of the Iranian men's soccer team and I had the privilege to ride with a 25-year-old athlete named Ali. We rode 45 minutes home together and he expressed his love for America and our ideologies and voiced his contempt for his country where "to love is forbidden." We discussed how simple it seemed that the two of us were capable of enjoying each other's company as individuals and not two feuding nations. Why our governments and the governments of the world couldn't find simple common ground and celebrate the world's differences without conflict.
The ride ended, we exchanged pins and wished one another luck in the following day's competition. We shook hands with a sense of accomplishment and significance of a bond that represented what the World University Games are about - athletes coming together to compete, represent our countries and unite without the burden of politics, history or violence hanging over our heads. My conversation with Ali made me realize how fortunate I am to be an American and to have the freedoms that Ali and others strive and long for daily to achieve. What a day - memorable indeed.
Wish us luck. Stay tuned for more exciting stories of life on the road in South Korea.