2008 Olympic Games - KOMU Coverage

Day 55 - An Extinguished Flame (Supplemental)

Hey Everyone!

Again, last night was such an amazing experience.  We left NIS for the last time and got to take pictures on the floor of the handball court.  I talked with our venue manager and he was saying how depressed he was now that the Games are over.  We're depressed, too, but I think for the Chinese it's much worse.  I would compare it to hosting a huge party.  This party has been seven years in the making.  They threw it well, but now there's the clean up - and nobody likes cleaning up after parties.  Seven years is a long time to wait and prepare for an event like the Olympics (well, maybe not as long as some workers would have liked).  There's still Paralympics that will be held in eleven days.  We even saw workers at our university placing placards up to show where traffic should go for the event.  Here are pictures and video of the last day!

Ted

Day 55 - An Extinguished Flame

Hey Everyone!

I can't believe it's been two weeks since we started...and now it's over!  The entire day was filled with "lasts" - last time to check into security, last time to walk on the Green and last time to enter NIS.

The Olympic News Service volunteers gathered at a local bar to watch the closing ceremonies live on a big screen projection.  It was incredibly awesome to watch it and be a part of it all.  I couldn't help but feel sad as this was the end to the Olympics and our volunteer experience.  It was also a celebration for our hard work the past two months.

So tired right now.  I'm going to bed but I'll post pictures and video from the last day tomorrow.  I feel like I've pushed so much to get as much as I can out of this experience and am really looking forward to some R and R.  It has been so worth it!!!!

Enjoy the Closing Ceremonies - amazing visuals and use of people.  As other news agencies have commented, Beijing has set a new standard for the Olympic celebration!

Ted

Day 54 - Women's Finals

Hey Everyone!

Saturday we worked again for women's handball.  We got to watch two matches including the gold medal match between Russia and Norway.  I didn't know too much about handball going into the competition, but after watching a couple of matches, I find it much more interesting.  I didn't realize how much each team scored during a game (sometimes getting as high as 30 points).  We didn't do to much at the press tribune so it was nice to be able to just sit and watch the games.  the rest of the day was spent trading pins and shopping at the super store.

Ted

Full Circle

As my mother has been finishing up her ritual summer cleaning, she came across this news article. I am pictured to the left; this was during my gymnastic days, as an aspiring 11-year-old gymnast. Competing in gymnastic competitions was my life, and I loved every minute of it!

As I mentioned in my very first blog post, as a young girl, Shannon Miller was my idol. When I was just two-years-old, my mother enrolled me in gymnastic classes. I loved gymnastics, and I looked forward to class every week!

Shannon Miller once said, “Love what you do, do what you love.” Even though my dream, as an 11-year-old, to become an Olympic gymnast didn’t come true, covering gymnastics during the Olympic Games is definitely the next best thing! I’ve come full circle, and it’s amazing for me to look back on this journey. It’s been better than I ever could have imagined.


Tonight is the closing ceremony, and I can’t believe the end is finally here. Time flies when you’re having fun! Since the next Olympic Games will take place in London, London 2012 will unveil its blueprint in the Beijing 2008 closing ceremony. I’ve heard it will combine the best of British rock, glamour, culture and sport. If it’s anything like the opening ceremony, it’s guarantied to be absolutely phenomenal! Rock legend Jimmy Page and singer Leona Lewis will perform a stunning new version of the Led Zeppelin classic Whole Lotta Love, while footballer David Beckham will also have a guest appearance!

Hope you enjoy! I know I will!

Sarah