Day 45 - Rain on the Beach

Hey Everyone!

Today was the men's final for all-around.  We got to work around 9AM for the 11AM start time and got our seats in the press tribune.  It was another great competition as we watched China's superstar, Yang Wei, perform.  The U.S. team did very well, too, but not enough to place.  By the time everything was done, it was raining out - pouring actually.  The media entrance by our ONS office was buzzing with international reporters putting on bright pink ponchos and waiting for their rides.  It was a privilege to meet Richard Engel, NBC's international reporter often seen in Iraq (and basically anywhere that is really dangerous).  We got some ponchos and headed out after we were done putting our quotes into the computer.  Three of us headed to the beach volleyball venue - remember that day we stood in line for 5 hours getting tickets?  Despite the rain, we felt it would be a waste if we didn't at least go.

There was hardly anyone in the stadium, but we held onto our ponchos and umbrellas and watched four matches.  We got to see the U.S. men play an incredible match!  It was the first time we were able to cheer because we weren't working.  It kind of felt weird doing it, too!  The rain let up eventually and we were able to just enjoy the evening.  It was actually cool and felt like an October evening.  Unfortunately, both times we've come to beach volleyball, it's been raining.  I guess we weren't meant to see beach volleyball the stereotypical "sunny" way.

Day 42 - The "Tonight" Show

Hey Everyone!

Man, it was an incredible day today - but what can you expect when you're in China for the Olympics?  This morning we went to Beach Volleyball qualifications bought by BOCOG.  It was a really pleasant surprise!  We arrived early to make the 9AM start time.  The sky was dark.  Officials were handing out ponchos - and about half an hour in, we needed them.  It didn't really rain too hard, and most of us were so into the matches anyway it didn't matter.  It was a really awesome venue and the DJ did a pretty good job at getting everyone rowdy.  Random 80's dance music would cut in between each point.

 The Chinese "cheer" Lynette was talking about in an earlier blog post was resounding throughout the morning.  We got to see Latvia and Argentina play in addition to three other matches.  The Chinese women were especially fun to watch because the crowd was really into it.  I got my hands on some "thunder sticks" (with help from Shawna!) which helped me cheer and blend in with the crowd.

In the evening, we headed to the Green to be in the crowd for the Today show...or should I say Tonight show.  Due to time zone changes, the morning show is done live at 7PM here to be shown live 7AM on the east coast.  It was SO cool to be there.  I called home and told my mom to watch it.  They took several bump shots - shots in and out of commercial break - of the crowd and many of the interviews done with athletes were done with the Mizzou crew in the background.  Al Roaker even mentioned Mizzou before a weathercast!  The talent came down to say hi during breaks and we got some great pictures.  

Everyone was really nice and appreciative we were there.  We also saw Cullen Jones and Sarah Brightman do some interviews and watched the Today Show crew try their hands at noodle-making.  It was an amazing evening.  Anne Curry spoke to us off the cuff during a break and told us journalism students some really great things.  She said that journalism is alive and it is only as good as the people that are doing it.  Fame isn't great - but it can help you do great things and help other people.  I think that that was one of the coolest things of the evening - getting to hear Anne speak.  It was totally in the moment and she was just seemed down to earth.  It's probably easy to just hate coming to see the mobs of people that just want to take pictures and get autographs.  Everyone, however, was genuinely happy to see us - something I'll always remember.

Ted