CHAMBLEE, Ga. — Greta Meyer is closely watching the Olympics in Paris. Her mother, Erin, said she could see the inspiration on her daughter's face while watching on the lawn outside Chamblee City Hall.
"This will be the first one she watches," Meyer said. "There's the community, the camaraderie, the sportsmanship. She’s playing soccer these days, learning how to swim. So being able to see women and girls doing these types of sports, seeing herself reflected in those moments is part of the whole package.”
Meyer has made watching the Olympics a family tradition. Americans all over Metro Atlanta waved tiny American flags while watching giant flags from around the world on the biggest stage. Even some pets were clad in red, white and blue.
Sherry Addison said the Olympics could not have come at a better time for a country battling with political turmoil.
"I love the Olympics, especially right now with the political environment the way it is," Addison said. "I love anything that pulls us together as a country. What better way than to support our athletes. I think it gives us a common thing to champion. You can’t, regardless of politics, get upset about cheering on our athletes.”
Mia Anderson and her girlfriends are cheering on their favorites, such as flagbearer Lebron James. Her memories of the Olympics go back nearly 30 years.
"I just remember back in 1996, Atlanta had the Olympics here, and I attended a track and field event, so I've just always loved the Olympics," Anderson said. "To see this community still come together as a whole and support the Olympics at a watch party regardless what your views are and what you feel as a culture.”
In a world often split with division, Erin Meyer is just glad to see the world become one in France, at least for a couple of weeks.
"I think it's just a reminder the world is a large, beautiful place with lots of different types of people in it," Meyer said. "The Olympics are the one things we can all agree on, that brings us all together."