Just back from the Rio 2016 Olympic Games after winning a trip for two through the Visa Malta national competition, Bernard Cefai shares his experiences with The Sunday Times of Malta.

Bernard Cefai, winner of the recent Visa Malta national campaign which saw him win a trip for two worth approximately €25,000 to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, has just returned to Malta from the experience of a lifetime in Rio, Brazil. The Sunday Times of Malta met up with Bernard to find out more about his experiences there.

What was your reaction when you were announced as the winner of the trip to watch the Olympic Games in Rio?

Well, obviously I was quite shocked with the news that I actually won a prize to begin with. At first, being such a ‘too good to be true’ prize, I thought it was a joke and it took me a while to believe it was real. The campaign was run in Malta by Visa, and I knew it was legitimate as I had recalled hearing an advert on the radio and also verified that Visa is a worldwide sponsor of the Olympic Games. When it sank in that this was for real, I was overjoyed with the opportunity and immediately accepted the prizes. I was really looking forward to it.

Lots of people can only dream of going to see the Olympic Games, let alone the opening ceremony. Did you ever think that you would be one of those people to experience this?

Of course not. As many people do, I usually watch the opening ceremony on TV, so for this year’s Olympic Games, to have had this once in a lifetime opportunity was an unbelievable experience.

The view from Corcovado mountain was an amazing and beautiful experience

What was the atmosphere of the opening ceremony like?

As soon as we arrived at the Maracana Stadium you could feel the excitement building up. We were part of over 70,000 spectators, entering into a stadium with constant loud cheers, surrounded by people from all over the world. Such a fantastic moment.

The opening ceremony in itself was spectacular, full of colours and dancing, and there was an amazing vibe throughout the whole show. The organisation was fantastic and the energy inside the stadium was like no other. It was a great experience also to be there and cheer on our Maltese olympic team. I was amazed by the way the whole stadium welcomed the Olympic flame and, once it was officially unveiled, you could feel a sense of unity.

Aside from the Olympic Games, during your stay in Rio, Visa also gave you the opportunity to visit the Christ the Redeemer statue, which is a top landmark to visit in Rio. Was it as you expected?

Oh, most definitely. I was so thrilled I had the opportunity to visit one of the Seven Wonders of the World. One of the highlights was definitely getting to see the whole view of Rio from the Corcovado mountain which was simply mesmerizing to watch. It was such an amazing and beautiful experience.

What was the best moment of the entire trip?

I would have to say the opening ceremony… from start to finish. The whole show was awesome.

Given the opportunity would you go to Tokyo 2020?

Yes, of course, without a doubt. You simply can never decline these type of experiences.

How would you describe being at the Olympic Games to someone who has never been before?

I would most absolutely recommend this experience to everyone given the opportunity. No one should miss a once in a lifetime occasion. For me, personally, it was an experience I will never forget and I feel so lucky to have won such an amazing prize.

Sign up to our free newsletters

Get the best updates straight to your inbox:
Please select at least one mailing list.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing.