Hey Everyone!Today we didn't have to go to NIS until 16:00 - it felt so weird walking to work as the sun was preparing to set. Men's floor and pommel horse along with women's floor and vault were on the docket today. It was a very confusing shift because we were separated into groups working the different apparatuses. I worked men's pommel horse and stationed myself with NBC Sports. I also got an interview with the BBC crew. It was crazier than a circus in the broadcast mixed zone. There is limited space and NBC is at the end of a small passageway. To get to the NBC box, you have to finagle your way through light stands, tripods and people. It's quite a tight squeeze!
I realized how much the Olympics is a contrast between the extremely happy and extremely disappointed. One Chinese athlete that did not place in the floor exercise was interviewed on the in-house video system. She fought back tears as she gave the interview, while behind her, the medal ceremony was taking place. There, the happiest gymnasts stood beaming from ear to ear. One woman competing in wrestling lost the match. So distraught, she laid face down on the floor and wouldn't move even after the officials tried to drag her off the mat. Finally, as she was walked off the floor, the winner raised her hands in victory in the foreground. It's quite a contrast, but that's what the Olympics is all about. Some win and others lose in the Olympic rapids of competition.
Ted
