Mike Bullen

With just seven days to go to the Tokyo Olympics, event rider Mike Bullen reminisces about his own Games experience, something he “wouldn’t have missed for anything”, says Kate Green

- Kate Green

WHEN the Olympic eventing competition appears on our screens this month, one man will be viewing it from a, particularly interesting perspective. Along with James Templer, Mike Bullen is the last man standing from the British team that contested the 1964 Tokyo Games. Some memories remain vivid, others more patchy – and no wonder, for he spent part of the competition unconscious.

It hardly needs saying that Olympic preparation has changed out of all recognition. The first thing Mike and Capt Templer decided to do on arrival at the eventing site at Karuizawa – a five-hour round trip from the Olympic village – was to explore a volcano, not an activity that would be at the top of the list for today’s team officials reporting to UK Sport.

“It was the backdrop to the cross-country, smoking away quietly, so we thought it would be a laugh to have a look inside,” recalls Mike, always a fount of funny stories. “It wasn’t the most sensible idea and we came down rather hastily.”

Another thing that might be different from a pandemic later is the reception from locals.

“The one aspect typical of 1964 is that you were treated like a king or queen by the Japanese people,” recalls Mike. “The traffic lights stopped to let you through, people bowed. There was a vast tent for all the athletes, and by each flag, you would find food typical of that country. It was the most exciting thing to have been part of.”