Unlike a lot of people you spot in the plaza, you're not relaxing or playing tourist. You're actually waiting for several other officials from your sport to arrive for a meeting. While most of the dozen or so meetings you've attended have been in IOC buildings, it was decided that an off the record discussion needed to be had, if nothing else to vent about some recent rule changes in your sport. The last thing any of you feel like doing is getting busted in the Village for such complaining, even though you know at least three other people here who fought the changes just as hard as you did.
It's very tough work being an Olympics official. You enforce the rules and assess performance while representing seemingly your entire country in the process. You've presided over world class events, including a prior Olympics. Thus, you know very well what is at stake during this gathering. Even after participating in the sport, you consider being an official to be the tougher job, especially when you're on this stage. During your time as an official, you've discovered that the degree of training and alertness you had as an athlete doesn't quite prepare you for being on the other side of the action. And then there are the fans. They're the reason you avoid the internet like the plague. It's one thing to watch the athletes get slammed, but seeing the rule and officiating decisions being, well, "discussed" really makes your blood boil. Sometimes, you want to drag some of these people into your zone for a day and show them what it's really like to make or break a competition. You do this because of your devotion to fairness in the sport, but some days it's much more difficult than others.
Looking up, you spot one of your peers on the other side of the fountain. You wave silently, hoping she'll catch the flicker of motion that is your arm in midair. She spots you after a couple moments and waves in acknowledgement before trotting around to meet you. If she's here, the others will probably arrive shortly. At least everyone knows each well enough that everyone can be identified in a crowd. Once you meet, though, it's time to talk shop. What sport will you be discussing?
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