1 00:00:06,707 --> 00:00:10,547 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,747 --> 00:00:13,347 Speaker 1: from Newstalk z'b Kelen Herolds. 3 00:00:13,387 --> 00:00:16,267 Speaker 2: Michael Burgess is on the ground in Paris for the 4 00:00:16,387 --> 00:00:19,827 Speaker 2: duration of the games, covering all sorts of sports, including burge. 5 00:00:19,827 --> 00:00:22,507 Speaker 2: I know, one of your favorite sports, the opening ceremony, 6 00:00:22,547 --> 00:00:25,307 Speaker 2: How was it? 7 00:00:25,467 --> 00:00:27,467 Speaker 3: Yes, Norma, I'm not a. 8 00:00:27,467 --> 00:00:29,747 Speaker 4: Big fan opening serumi, So this is amazing, mate, this 9 00:00:29,907 --> 00:00:32,627 Speaker 4: was This was the best ever. I mean, I was 10 00:00:32,667 --> 00:00:34,827 Speaker 4: lucky to be in Beijing in two thousand and eight 11 00:00:34,867 --> 00:00:37,387 Speaker 4: and that was incredible. Sidney was good, of course, London 12 00:00:37,467 --> 00:00:40,067 Speaker 4: was great with James Bond, but this was amazing. 13 00:00:40,187 --> 00:00:41,547 Speaker 3: This was the best ever. 14 00:00:41,667 --> 00:00:43,787 Speaker 4: I sort of got a feeling that this should be 15 00:00:43,827 --> 00:00:45,747 Speaker 4: the last one because no one's ever going to top this. 16 00:00:46,027 --> 00:00:49,227 Speaker 4: You know, it was just absolutely remarkable. No one thought 17 00:00:49,267 --> 00:00:52,387 Speaker 4: they could do it on a six kilometer stretcher river 18 00:00:52,707 --> 00:00:55,547 Speaker 4: and they did it. So yeah, the French of they 19 00:00:55,667 --> 00:00:56,587 Speaker 4: made themselves proud. 20 00:00:56,907 --> 00:00:58,547 Speaker 5: Pretty ambitious stuff, Burge. 21 00:00:58,547 --> 00:01:00,227 Speaker 2: As you say, you know, when you're when you're walking 22 00:01:00,227 --> 00:01:02,667 Speaker 2: into an Olympic stadium, you're kind of enclosed in a 23 00:01:02,787 --> 00:01:06,907 Speaker 2: in a finite area, but six kilometers of river, anything 24 00:01:06,947 --> 00:01:08,387 Speaker 2: could have gone wrong and I'm sure a couple of 25 00:01:08,387 --> 00:01:11,027 Speaker 2: things did behind the scenes, but overall you were, by 26 00:01:11,067 --> 00:01:13,187 Speaker 2: the sounds of it, utterly impressed by it. 27 00:01:14,867 --> 00:01:16,027 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean exactly. 28 00:01:16,107 --> 00:01:19,427 Speaker 4: Right up until about November October last year, they were 29 00:01:19,467 --> 00:01:21,747 Speaker 4: still talking about a plan B or a planc because 30 00:01:21,747 --> 00:01:24,707 Speaker 4: I'm still worried mainly about security, but also other things. 31 00:01:25,467 --> 00:01:29,747 Speaker 4: They had something like sixty thousand police and soldiers in 32 00:01:29,787 --> 00:01:34,067 Speaker 4: Paris today, but you know, mainly for security, and they. 33 00:01:33,987 --> 00:01:35,467 Speaker 3: Had, you know, all these boats on the river. 34 00:01:35,587 --> 00:01:37,507 Speaker 4: The weather wasn't great, the weather didn't come to the 35 00:01:37,547 --> 00:01:41,107 Speaker 4: party's rain windy, so it was pretty rocky out there. 36 00:01:41,467 --> 00:01:43,907 Speaker 4: But they did it. You know, they pulled it off. 37 00:01:43,907 --> 00:01:46,867 Speaker 4: They pulled off something that everyone thought was impossible. And 38 00:01:46,907 --> 00:01:49,347 Speaker 4: as I say, I think this will ever be top Mates. 39 00:01:49,387 --> 00:01:51,707 Speaker 2: Seriously, all right, well, you've been on the ground in 40 00:01:51,747 --> 00:01:55,307 Speaker 2: Powis for a week or so. Now just give us 41 00:01:55,387 --> 00:01:57,787 Speaker 2: a feel of the city of Paris as it prepares 42 00:01:57,827 --> 00:02:00,947 Speaker 2: to host the biggest sporting event on the planet. 43 00:02:02,947 --> 00:02:04,827 Speaker 4: It's been a funny one, mate, because I've talked to 44 00:02:04,907 --> 00:02:07,507 Speaker 4: quite a few locals and there's sort of there's mixed feelings. 45 00:02:07,547 --> 00:02:09,547 Speaker 4: There's quite a few locals that you know a bit 46 00:02:09,587 --> 00:02:11,227 Speaker 4: negative about the games, and then there's a lot that 47 00:02:11,267 --> 00:02:14,787 Speaker 4: are so excited. But one thing I did notice today 48 00:02:14,947 --> 00:02:18,227 Speaker 4: really is that all these people have just flooded in. 49 00:02:18,387 --> 00:02:19,987 Speaker 4: I just sort of was walking through the center and 50 00:02:20,027 --> 00:02:22,867 Speaker 4: you're just suddenly seeing all these fans like they've just 51 00:02:22,907 --> 00:02:25,907 Speaker 4: derived from somewhere so or you know, Cuban fans, an 52 00:02:25,907 --> 00:02:29,147 Speaker 4: American fans, Danish in the end. So there's a real 53 00:02:29,187 --> 00:02:31,587 Speaker 4: sense that the games is about to begin. 54 00:02:31,667 --> 00:02:32,787 Speaker 3: The preamble is always good. 55 00:02:32,827 --> 00:02:35,267 Speaker 4: I mean we've already had, of course football and handball 56 00:02:35,267 --> 00:02:38,707 Speaker 4: and rugby seven's, but it all gets underway tomorrow and 57 00:02:38,827 --> 00:02:42,547 Speaker 4: I think I think Paris is buzzing. There's so much 58 00:02:42,627 --> 00:02:47,587 Speaker 4: excitement about this French team. The president macarn has already 59 00:02:47,627 --> 00:02:49,107 Speaker 4: come out of said he wants them in the top 60 00:02:49,427 --> 00:02:52,147 Speaker 4: top five. I think there are eighth to ninth in 61 00:02:52,187 --> 00:02:55,147 Speaker 4: Tokyo and they could have their best ever Olympics. So 62 00:02:55,227 --> 00:02:58,587 Speaker 4: that that has really got the nation going, because France 63 00:02:58,667 --> 00:03:00,627 Speaker 4: is such a proud sporting nation and they're so good 64 00:03:00,667 --> 00:03:02,027 Speaker 4: at so many different sports. 65 00:03:02,267 --> 00:03:03,187 Speaker 5: Incredible stuff. 66 00:03:03,187 --> 00:03:07,267 Speaker 2: In the first couple of three days around the Burgeon, 67 00:03:07,347 --> 00:03:10,107 Speaker 2: it's been all over I think every media outlet everywhere 68 00:03:10,107 --> 00:03:12,067 Speaker 2: in the world as have you been by the sounds 69 00:03:12,107 --> 00:03:16,027 Speaker 2: of it with drone gate around the Canadian football team. 70 00:03:16,107 --> 00:03:18,027 Speaker 2: Can you give us just a bit of an idea 71 00:03:18,067 --> 00:03:20,147 Speaker 2: of how big this story has become. 72 00:03:21,947 --> 00:03:23,467 Speaker 3: Oh, it's been huge, mate, it's been. 73 00:03:23,747 --> 00:03:26,667 Speaker 4: It's been one of the biggest stories we've covered. You know, 74 00:03:26,787 --> 00:03:29,907 Speaker 4: just wandering around the media center in Paris and you 75 00:03:29,907 --> 00:03:31,787 Speaker 4: know there's journalist river in the world when they see 76 00:03:31,787 --> 00:03:34,187 Speaker 4: you in New Zealand Herald t shirt or you're talking 77 00:03:34,267 --> 00:03:37,387 Speaker 4: and they there's people from orderful places that want to 78 00:03:37,387 --> 00:03:40,187 Speaker 4: talk about this story because it's just it's just a 79 00:03:40,307 --> 00:03:42,987 Speaker 4: zinger of a story. You know, the Espinas are spying, 80 00:03:43,107 --> 00:03:44,467 Speaker 4: the cheating, it's something that. 81 00:03:45,027 --> 00:03:47,427 Speaker 3: It's really a perfect story in a way. 82 00:03:47,307 --> 00:03:51,187 Speaker 4: Media wise, and it's just so bloody bizarre and the 83 00:03:51,267 --> 00:03:54,227 Speaker 4: fact that it started off and it's just rumbling and 84 00:03:54,307 --> 00:03:57,027 Speaker 4: rumbling and getting getting bigger and bigger, and we've seen 85 00:03:57,027 --> 00:04:02,387 Speaker 4: the consequences and the Canadian media still can't believe it. 86 00:04:02,947 --> 00:04:04,867 Speaker 4: But yeah, it's been in the it's been in all 87 00:04:04,907 --> 00:04:06,707 Speaker 4: the French papers, the Spanish papers. 88 00:04:07,787 --> 00:04:10,467 Speaker 3: No one can quite understand what's gone on. 89 00:04:10,547 --> 00:04:15,307 Speaker 4: And the fact that New Zealand's involved has made it. 90 00:04:14,507 --> 00:04:17,467 Speaker 3: Well, it's made it pretty cool for us, hasn't it, Piny. 91 00:04:17,427 --> 00:04:18,467 Speaker 5: Oh, it has. 92 00:04:18,507 --> 00:04:21,987 Speaker 2: It's as you say, it's been leading the news and 93 00:04:22,027 --> 00:04:25,427 Speaker 2: sports news cycle for forty eight seventy two hours. But 94 00:04:26,267 --> 00:04:28,947 Speaker 2: I guess what we're finding out now is that this 95 00:04:29,027 --> 00:04:31,747 Speaker 2: isn't necessarily just a one off thing. They're now talking 96 00:04:31,787 --> 00:04:36,507 Speaker 2: about this being something that's been going on for years, Burge. 97 00:04:36,907 --> 00:04:41,267 Speaker 2: If some rumors are to be believed, that's the thing. 98 00:04:41,347 --> 00:04:43,107 Speaker 4: Like when this first broke and I did a bit 99 00:04:43,147 --> 00:04:45,827 Speaker 4: of digging, I had some Canadian sources telling me, Oh, 100 00:04:45,907 --> 00:04:49,547 Speaker 4: this guy Lombard, he's gone rogue. He's done it, you know, 101 00:04:49,947 --> 00:04:53,107 Speaker 4: as most guys do. They're trying to either impress their 102 00:04:53,107 --> 00:04:55,267 Speaker 4: mates or impress a girl. You know, he's done something 103 00:04:55,307 --> 00:04:58,827 Speaker 4: stupid to do that. Yeah, but no, that was completely wrong. 104 00:04:58,947 --> 00:05:02,227 Speaker 3: It's not. He's just he's one of the victims. 105 00:05:02,227 --> 00:05:04,467 Speaker 4: The assistant coach has been in on it, other people 106 00:05:04,467 --> 00:05:07,747 Speaker 4: have been in on it. It's you know, I think 107 00:05:07,787 --> 00:05:10,547 Speaker 4: you wrote in your column the other day, spying does 108 00:05:10,587 --> 00:05:12,787 Speaker 4: go on in football. There's all sorts of weird stuff 109 00:05:12,827 --> 00:05:15,307 Speaker 4: that goes on in South America, even in the Premier league, 110 00:05:15,347 --> 00:05:16,947 Speaker 4: and it's gone on back in the day as well. 111 00:05:16,947 --> 00:05:19,747 Speaker 4: But probably we're not used to it at the Olympics, 112 00:05:20,667 --> 00:05:23,427 Speaker 4: so that's what makes it weird. But the fact this 113 00:05:23,467 --> 00:05:26,227 Speaker 4: has been going on for years, you know, you start 114 00:05:26,307 --> 00:05:29,507 Speaker 4: to think about Canada's gold medal in Tokyo, you wonder, well, 115 00:05:29,547 --> 00:05:32,547 Speaker 4: wait a minute, and you also start to think about 116 00:05:32,667 --> 00:05:35,787 Speaker 4: their underperformance of the World Cup last year in Australia 117 00:05:35,787 --> 00:05:38,627 Speaker 4: New Zealand, because maybe there's something a bit wrong with 118 00:05:38,627 --> 00:05:42,107 Speaker 4: the culture. So yeah, there's quite a few strands to this, 119 00:05:42,267 --> 00:05:44,427 Speaker 4: and I'm hearing that it's still rumbling on. Because the 120 00:05:44,467 --> 00:05:47,307 Speaker 4: other thing that surprises me, Piney is that normally the 121 00:05:47,387 --> 00:05:50,307 Speaker 4: IOC would have made a decision before that game against 122 00:05:50,347 --> 00:05:54,707 Speaker 4: the Ferns, but they can't because there's so many layers 123 00:05:54,747 --> 00:05:55,027 Speaker 4: to it. 124 00:05:55,107 --> 00:05:56,827 Speaker 3: So they're still investigating. 125 00:05:56,867 --> 00:05:58,747 Speaker 4: You know, it's still and this is not great because 126 00:05:58,747 --> 00:06:01,987 Speaker 4: the game has been played, the competitions on, So I 127 00:06:02,027 --> 00:06:04,187 Speaker 4: think this is going to roll on, you know, obviously 128 00:06:04,227 --> 00:06:05,307 Speaker 4: at least into tomorrow. 129 00:06:05,987 --> 00:06:08,547 Speaker 5: Such an interesting tale. What's the weather like? 130 00:06:08,947 --> 00:06:10,667 Speaker 2: You talked about it not being great for the opening 131 00:06:10,707 --> 00:06:13,387 Speaker 2: ceremony temperature wise, but warm? 132 00:06:13,507 --> 00:06:14,907 Speaker 5: Is it sticky? What's it like? 133 00:06:17,067 --> 00:06:18,787 Speaker 3: Yeah, there's been he's been warm. 134 00:06:19,027 --> 00:06:21,747 Speaker 4: I'm not going to complain mate, because everyone else in 135 00:06:21,787 --> 00:06:23,427 Speaker 4: New Zealand is at home in winter. So I hate 136 00:06:23,467 --> 00:06:26,467 Speaker 4: people who are overseas reporting and their campaigning about the heat. 137 00:06:26,507 --> 00:06:28,787 Speaker 3: But it is. It's warm. It's that kind of heat 138 00:06:28,787 --> 00:06:30,907 Speaker 3: where you sort of you know, you walk from. 139 00:06:30,787 --> 00:06:33,067 Speaker 4: The metro to the video and then you're sort of 140 00:06:33,667 --> 00:06:35,467 Speaker 4: sweating and your shoes and all that. 141 00:06:35,387 --> 00:06:36,947 Speaker 3: And you're sort of sweating all day. So it's that 142 00:06:37,067 --> 00:06:37,467 Speaker 3: kind of heat. 143 00:06:37,507 --> 00:06:39,987 Speaker 4: But as I say, I'm not complaining at all. And 144 00:06:40,027 --> 00:06:43,627 Speaker 4: then today it's been a bit rainy and gloomy. Unfortunately 145 00:06:43,867 --> 00:06:46,867 Speaker 4: there is rain forecast for tomorrow, so there's a lot 146 00:06:46,867 --> 00:06:49,867 Speaker 4: of events on tomorrow and that will disrupt a few 147 00:06:49,867 --> 00:06:51,867 Speaker 4: of them, especially I'm thinking of the tennis with lu 148 00:06:51,907 --> 00:06:55,067 Speaker 4: Lusan and Aaron Routlift due to play rolling barrass So 149 00:06:55,147 --> 00:06:58,467 Speaker 4: hopefully the rain stays away. But yeah, there is rainforllcast 150 00:06:58,547 --> 00:07:01,787 Speaker 4: for tomorrow. But in general the weather has been has 151 00:07:01,827 --> 00:07:03,947 Speaker 4: been good, nice, nice summer, warm weather. 152 00:07:04,467 --> 00:07:07,827 Speaker 2: And as a member of the working media at the Olympics, 153 00:07:08,267 --> 00:07:10,867 Speaker 2: I know it hasn't you know, started proper yet and 154 00:07:10,907 --> 00:07:13,867 Speaker 2: it will really ramp up. But are the facilities good? 155 00:07:13,987 --> 00:07:15,747 Speaker 2: Is it easy to find out what you need to 156 00:07:15,747 --> 00:07:17,387 Speaker 2: find out? And get to where you need to be. 157 00:07:19,267 --> 00:07:22,907 Speaker 4: Yeah, it's pretty well organized, like the French always don't 158 00:07:22,947 --> 00:07:26,987 Speaker 4: have a great reputation for I guess organization compared to 159 00:07:26,987 --> 00:07:30,387 Speaker 4: some other European nations. But but look at the stereotypes. 160 00:07:30,387 --> 00:07:34,107 Speaker 3: I'm throwing in blood. But no, they've they've been amazing. 161 00:07:34,627 --> 00:07:38,867 Speaker 4: The the media centers are great, the transport's pretty good, 162 00:07:38,907 --> 00:07:40,507 Speaker 4: but the main thing that stood out is. 163 00:07:40,427 --> 00:07:45,187 Speaker 3: The volunteers and just all the locals. 164 00:07:45,307 --> 00:07:48,627 Speaker 4: Like you know, most of us media don't speak much 165 00:07:48,667 --> 00:07:50,467 Speaker 4: friends or any friends, but they're so helpful. 166 00:07:50,507 --> 00:07:53,587 Speaker 3: They're prepared to put up with our lack of the language. 167 00:07:54,467 --> 00:07:58,267 Speaker 4: So I think it's it's I've got a feeling, mate, 168 00:07:58,267 --> 00:08:02,427 Speaker 4: that this is going to be best Olympic Games of 169 00:08:02,467 --> 00:08:06,187 Speaker 4: the century, better than Beijing, better than Sydney, better than 170 00:08:06,427 --> 00:08:08,747 Speaker 4: and then obviously better than the last two because of 171 00:08:10,387 --> 00:08:12,147 Speaker 4: COVID and also Rio it was a bit weird because 172 00:08:12,147 --> 00:08:14,027 Speaker 4: it was so far away. So I think this is 173 00:08:14,067 --> 00:08:17,227 Speaker 4: going to be absolute beauty, mainly because of the venues 174 00:08:17,267 --> 00:08:19,427 Speaker 4: being all in the city, all these classic venues and 175 00:08:19,907 --> 00:08:22,827 Speaker 4: talking to the athletes, they're so excited about being able 176 00:08:22,867 --> 00:08:26,107 Speaker 4: to perform at some of these iconic stadiums. 177 00:08:26,227 --> 00:08:27,467 Speaker 3: And venues. 178 00:08:27,987 --> 00:08:30,147 Speaker 2: Even hearing you talk about a burge, I'm getting excited 179 00:08:30,147 --> 00:08:33,027 Speaker 2: about what lies ahead over the next sixteen days or so. 180 00:08:33,027 --> 00:08:34,467 Speaker 5: So good to have you on the ground setting the 181 00:08:34,507 --> 00:08:35,227 Speaker 5: scene for us, mate. 182 00:08:35,427 --> 00:08:38,147 Speaker 2: Look forward to chatting regularly, I hope across the next 183 00:08:38,147 --> 00:08:39,307 Speaker 2: two and a half weeks. 184 00:08:39,947 --> 00:08:41,907 Speaker 3: Yeah, me too, mate, And great to talk to you. 185 00:08:41,947 --> 00:08:43,107 Speaker 3: And yeah, we can't wait for this. 186 00:08:43,187 --> 00:08:44,987 Speaker 4: So I think it's going to be There's going to 187 00:08:44,987 --> 00:08:46,947 Speaker 4: be some really good New Zealand performances coming too. 188 00:08:47,027 --> 00:08:49,507 Speaker 2: Yeah, I agree, I agree, burg Thanks indeed, Michael Burgess 189 00:08:49,507 --> 00:08:50,747 Speaker 2: on the ground in Paris. 190 00:08:51,507 --> 00:08:54,667 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fain, listen live 191 00:08:54,787 --> 00:08:58,187 Speaker 1: to News Talk ZEDB weekends from midday, or follow the 192 00:08:58,227 --> 00:08:59,707 Speaker 1: podcast on iHeartRadio.