Hey Everyone!
Today was our first official day of Olympic training. We hailed a cab this morning and headed to the Mengxi hotel which was really close to the BOCOG headquarters in Beijing. The morning was spent with introductions and overviews of the ONS organization and what we'll be doing. Throughout the day, we were briefed on the ONS style guide and general issues like preferring open-ended questions rather than closed. Later, we met with our venue groups to discuss details on our actual jobs. Not all of the volunteers will be doing flash quotes and interviewing athletes. Other people will be in the press center of the venue writing copy. I guess the thing that surprises me the most is that if you're not working on the floor of the venue, you won't be watching the event and have to watch it on a television in one of the press rooms.
Anyway, the gymnastics group is going to be very busy these next few weeks. As of now, we only have two days off between now and the end of the Olympic games! Sally, our international manager from Australia, is coordinating things for our venue. She worked the 2006 Olympic Games in Torino. She seems really on top of things and I am looking forward to working with her.
We also learned we have to wear our uniforms starting next Monday! Still haven't gotten them yet, but apparently the package is quite nice and we get to keep all of our clothes right down to the Adidas Olympic-branded athletic shoes. There's also the gymnastics gala which is apparently the third most sought out event at the Olympics behind the opening and closing ceremonies. She's working on getting us into the event since we'll be working for that sport! Tomorrow is more training. Let the games begin!
Ted
2 comments:
Ted, FYI, the word is that the selection camp for gymnastics will play out like this: girls arrive in TX tomorrow, training Thursday, AA competition Friday, two-event competition Saturday, selection committee announces team Saturday evening, one day before previously stated announcement of July 20. No new word on injuries or how things are going with various gymnasts. And, different subject: you aren't the only gymnastics journalist! I had an article accepted for publication in International Gymnast, the big gym magazine, for their pre-Olympic issue coming out in a few weeks. So there! Not exactly Beijing, but something! Take care. Kathy
Ted, These are great blogs! It is like going to China again this summer! Jane Massey
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