Australian expats in Boulder, Colorado got to see the stars of the St Kilda Football Club, which hosted their pre-season training camp in the picturesque foothills city. It’s fun to read about the reaction of having these Australian stars in town and the ease of access to them:

[Mathew Hayward] posed for a picture with Saints midfielder Lenny Hayes, shook his hand and congratulated him on a great career.

“It would be like an American from Boulder going to Melbourne and being able to have a chat to Peyton Manning and have their photograph taken,” said Hayward, beaming. “You’d have to go to Melbourne to appreciate the significance of these guys in our city. These people are household names. To have the experience of looking in his eyes and wishing him well, I would never get the opportunity in Australia.”

As someone who used to live there, I can tell you I completely understand why the Saints chose to hold their pre-season camp in Boulder. So many sunny days in a visually spectacular location.

I wonder if anybody out there in the expat world has encountered athletes or celebrities abroad and what the reaction was like if you approached them? People do tend to act a bit different away from home sometimes, right?

Over the last two weeks, Expats all over the globe tucked themselves into pubs, restaurants and anywhere else they might be able to enjoy their countrymen as they competed in the London Summer Olympic Games.

Here’s an article that described what it’s been like for expats watching the Olympics the world over:

The London games were an unbelievable success, and I know that I for one wish that I could have been there. Even as an American, perhaps my favorite moment of the games was when Andy Murray finally broke through and beat Federer. Having watched him come up short in the Wimbledon finals, it was so remarkable to see him take the gold and capture a permanent place in British sports history.

A recent survey by Lloyds TSB International, and highlighted on Yahoo.com, describes the reaction of British expats to the London games, which are set to open just a bit more than 3 days from now. First, there are a ton that are going home for the games, and it’s seen as an important even by many:

I have to admit that I was surprised by such a large percentage. Twenty one percent is a big number!

I also thought the following was also noteworthy:

It’s amazing how leaving home can make you appreciate it!

Expats in Europe – or elsewhere – planning to go to Switzerland this year for some of its world famous skiing are in for an eye-widening experience when it’s time to take out their wallets.

The Swiss Franc has strengthened so much that the exchange rates are a big problem for tourists and expats alike:

In December 2009, Switzerland registered 555,800 arrivals from foreigners, who stayed for 2.5 days on average, according to the Swiss Federal Statistics Office. Including Swiss residents, hotel bookings that month topped 1 million, a roughly 2% rise over December 2008.

That feat is unlikely to be repeated for 2010, after the franc has risen more than 10% against major currencies over the past 12 months.

In a country that is already one of, if not THE, most expensive country in Europe to visit, there is going to be a major impact on what people can afford and will want to purchase. Many of those that normally can afford this type of vaction are going to feel the pain. And here is a quote from someone that was there recently:

“Ski passes, ski hiring and food have been extremely expensive,” Mr. Butler said. “We paid some £150 [$234] for two people for a regular dinner in a normal restaurant. This would have bought me an exquisite dinner at a great London restaurant.”

In response to the sky-high franc, tourists from Italy, France and the U.K., who in the past accounted for around half of foreign overnight stays in Switzerland, are choosing to stay at home, to ski elsewhere or to cut the length of their stay in the country.

It’s too bad when situations like this happen, because it means many expats that ordinarily are able to make the journey and enhance their expat life in Europe won’t be able to do so this year. Here’s hoping the currency situation improves.

Jaws dropped late last week when the 2022 World Cup was awarded. But Expats were excited that Qatar was given the World Cup honors. Rachel Morris, an Australian freelance journalist and consultant living in Doha, Qatar, has penned an article for the Sydney Morning Herald that provides some insight into this Muslim nation that happens to be the smallest on continental Asia:

On the demographics:

The population is 1.7 million and of that, 1.5 million come from somewhere else. This imbalance is the result of massive growth fuelled by the decision to tap the [natural] gas reserves.

Separating Myths From Facts:

Yes, Qatar is a monarchy and an Islamic state. There are no elections and attempts to introduce them have been met with ambivalence. Sharia law is in place but there has been an unofficial moratorium on the death penalty since anyone can remember. Women wear the traditional abaya but they also have careers and run companies.

And some humor:

Needless to say, I’m taking bets on what will happen when the first drunk, sunburnt, incoherent English football fan strips off and tries to climb the oryx statue on the Doha Corniche. Expect Amazing, as they say here.

As for me, all I can say is that I’m glad I don’t have to play in that heat! As with past events, whether it’s the Olympics or the World Cup, it’s fun to watch nations scramble to make all the preparations necessary to make it happen. Looking forward to watching Qatar get it done. Talk about this on the Expat Exchange Qatar Network!

Interesting to note that Rugby will be added to the Olympic slate in 2016, when the games will be hosted in Rio. Not only have expat women been playing Rugby in Asia, but one has even played on some of the men’s teams there!

Alana Padilla, 30, is a Filipino expat who has lived in Hangzhou, China for three years:

She was instrumental in making the Hangzhou Harlequins Men’s 15s side a competitive team, after it was originally founded by Brit Simon Whitton in 2006. She plays in the men’s 15s matches. She also plays for Shanghai’s women’s sevens team, Shanghai Sharks. She said she was “honoured” to play in the first ever Philippines national women’s team. She added: “I am very proud that we shut out the four teams we faced on Sunday.”

It will be very exciting to see Rugby added in the Olympics in 2016. Now, is American Football next!?

Canadian expats all over the world are celebrating the gold medal in ice hockey that was snatched out of the hands of the upstart youngsters of the American team who thought they were mounting a historic comeback. Well, as an avid American hockey fan, it pains me to do it, but I have to give props for the Canadian hockey team. I almost wish that the U.S. would have lost in regulation rather than get teased with the near come from behind victory that would have only been bested by the 1980 miracle on ice team. That being said, congrats Canada, and also to the Americans who should feel better about the silver as time goes on.