CAROL SHARP

The former international athlete was in Rio as a spectator to support her daughter Lynsey, who came six thin the 800 metres. For me safety was always the going tobe biggest concern in Rio, and I know other parents who decided against going for that reason. But my desire to see Lynsey race outweighed that concern, was and in fact it never in my mind not to go. I stayed witha Brazilian coach about two kilometres away from the athletics stadium, but Inever felt safe in the street. It was a case of taking off your jewellery when were walking you around during the day, and not going out at night at all on yourown. I was expecting big crowds and an atmosphere similar to London 2012 and Glasgow2014 , at least for the finals sessions in the evening, but that wasn’t the case. In fact there was a strange lack of atmosphere, and attimes itwas almost as if the spectators weren’t paying any attention to the events. From that point of view it was disappointing, and so were the ticket prices. I paid around £70 for a ticket for one of the morning session, and tickets for the with Lynsey’s session final were about £300, which made me realise why alot of Brazilians chose tostay away. The route to the stadium took us past a favela, were and there crowds the rega thered round Itwas the TVs. Brazil versus Germany football match, which they all had more interest in than the other Olympic sports. So I wouldn’t rush back. But atthe same time, with the benefit of hindsight, yes, I’d do it again.