EGN NEWS DESK
(PARIS) — Covered with pins and adornments, Vivianne Robinson is difficult to overlook within the streets of Paris.
The Olympics superfan has attended seven Summer Games over the span of 40 years. But this journey to Paris got here at a hefty worth — $10,000 to be exact.
Robinson, 66 and from Los Angeles, maxed out her bank cards and labored two jobs to afford the journey and the 38 occasion tickets she bought. She labored on Venice Beach through the day, placing names on rice necklaces, and bagged groceries at evening. She mentioned she has to work two extra years to make up for the cash she spent following her ardour for the Summer Olympics to Paris.
“It was onerous to avoid wasting up and it’s an enormous funds, however it’s a thousand instances value it,” she says.
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Even nonetheless, she was dissatisfied to pay $1,600 for the opening ceremony solely to finish up watching a display screen on a bridge. “You understand how lengthy that takes to make that a lot cash?” she asks, finally including: “But issues occur in life and life goes on and also you win should you lose a couple of.”
During her interview, a passerby suggests Robinson use her fame to open an account and ask individuals to assist fund her ardour.
“That doesn’t matter. I could make the cash finally,” she responds.
Robinson’s fascination with the Olympics began when her mom labored as a translator for athletes on the University of California, Los Angeles, through the 1984 Olympics within the metropolis. Her mom would come dwelling after work with pins from athletes that she handed to her daughter.
Her newfound interest of gathering pins led her to Atlanta 1996, the place she made rice necklaces for athletes in change for his or her pins.
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“I bought all of the pins and I bought to fulfill all of the athletes. And in these days, it wasn’t excessive safety like now,” she remembers. “Now you’ll be able to’t even get close to the athletes’ village.”
From there: Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, London 2012 and Rio 2016. She secured a visa for Beijing 2008, however could not in the end afford the journey. Tokyo was equally doomed: She purchased tickets, however bought refunded as COVID-19 soared and the Games have been held with out spectators.
Robinson’s outfits began merely however have turn out to be extra advanced over time. She spent a 12 months engaged on her Paris outfit, adorning it with a whole lot of adornments. Tens of Eiffel Tower ornaments hold from her hat, simply above her Olympic ring earrings. Affixed to her garments are patches, pins and little flags.
Her outfit attracts consideration. Not a minute goes by earlier than somebody stops Robinson to take a photograph with or of her. She does it with a smile on her face however admits that it could get an excessive amount of.
“It is a little bit bit overwhelming. I can’t actually get wherever as a result of everyone stops me for footage. It takes a very long time to get to the venues, however it’s OK,” she says.
And she says she feels a little bit just like the celebrities she’s so excited to have seen — like Tom Cruise, Lady Gaga and Snoop Dogg at gymnastics.
As quickly as these Olympics finish, she is going to begin engaged on the subsequent Summer Games, from engaged on outfits to saving up for tickets, it doesn’t matter what it prices — although it’s on her dwelling turf, in Los Angeles.
“Oh, I’m going to do it without end. I’m going to avoid wasting all my cash and simply think about Olympics,” she mentioned.
