The Birds Nest
Yesterday I got to work my first event live at the “Birds Nest” aka China’s freshly built National Stadium. Just by me being here it obviously brought luck to my fellow Yanks as we had our best day thus far at the track. A sweep in the men’s 400m hurdles and another gold in the women’s discus throw topped off a good evening at athletics. I’ll be at the track for the next three days so hopefully we can maybe put a dent into China’s commanding lead in gold medals. Probably not! Can Phelps run?
Yesterday was also the first day since opening ceremonies that got into a cab and ate a meal outside of the media village (home) and the MPC (office). With the crew from the track we went to a Thai place and had a nice meal. It was nice to get a different flavor after eating nearly 90% of my meals at the MPC. The MPC food tastes pretty much the same no matter what you order. My staple has been the make your own salad and then if I’m lucky (have time for) dinner then I try to get a wrap. They do have Beijing duck but it sells out so fast everyday that I still haven’t had the chance to try it. I’m sure the duck we had the first week is much better anyways.
The weather the past couple days has been fantastic during the day and then rainy at night. It’s nice because the rain cools it down but sucks to walk back to the MPC in. Hopefully we can continue to keep the nice light for the next couple days at the track. The screaming light makes such a difference for the photos. It gives the photogs and editors the ability to be a little creative. With haze aka smog it really hurts photos. I hope I don’t sound to negative.
Day 10 already, seems like it just started. Well, not really, I have now been in China for three full weeks. One more week to go. I think the thing I’m looking to most is of course seeing Toni then probably avoiding getting into a shuttle/bus. I hate how they pack 50 people into a bus (worse than the London tube) and the majority of them don’t have the same cleaning habits we do. Not a pleasant way to start/end your day, especially when it’s hot and humid.
I tried watching TV last night and literally feel asleep with the remote in my hand and the TV on a Chinese station. Nothing like waking up to a bunch of Chinese broadcasters screaming at me (or at least that’s what it sounds like) when I wake up. Sleep can and will be had nearly anywhere. Dean feel asleep in a cab yesterday and Streeter the day before took an hour nap in the office hiding behind my desk. Kolbe feel asleep on a media shuttle on the way home the other night and didn’t wake up until he was woken up by a volunteer. Problem was, he was at the wrong media village.
Streeter sleeping
If you haven’t heard the song “Forever Friends” its literally played 500 times a day. The song is so damn catchy it sticks in your brain the entire day and night. I’m sure you can download it on ITunes if you don’t know what I’m talking about. Or turn on NBC and watch some of the coverage and I’m sure you can hear it in the background.
If you want to see our best images from Day 10 of the games go here:
http://mm.gettyimages.com/mm/nicePath/GYI_Multimedia?object=a116010662
Yesterday I got to work my first event live at the “Birds Nest” aka China’s freshly built National Stadium. Just by me being here it obviously brought luck to my fellow Yanks as we had our best day thus far at the track. A sweep in the men’s 400m hurdles and another gold in the women’s discus throw topped off a good evening at athletics. I’ll be at the track for the next three days so hopefully we can maybe put a dent into China’s commanding lead in gold medals. Probably not! Can Phelps run?
Yesterday was also the first day since opening ceremonies that got into a cab and ate a meal outside of the media village (home) and the MPC (office). With the crew from the track we went to a Thai place and had a nice meal. It was nice to get a different flavor after eating nearly 90% of my meals at the MPC. The MPC food tastes pretty much the same no matter what you order. My staple has been the make your own salad and then if I’m lucky (have time for) dinner then I try to get a wrap. They do have Beijing duck but it sells out so fast everyday that I still haven’t had the chance to try it. I’m sure the duck we had the first week is much better anyways.
The weather the past couple days has been fantastic during the day and then rainy at night. It’s nice because the rain cools it down but sucks to walk back to the MPC in. Hopefully we can continue to keep the nice light for the next couple days at the track. The screaming light makes such a difference for the photos. It gives the photogs and editors the ability to be a little creative. With haze aka smog it really hurts photos. I hope I don’t sound to negative.
Day 10 already, seems like it just started. Well, not really, I have now been in China for three full weeks. One more week to go. I think the thing I’m looking to most is of course seeing Toni then probably avoiding getting into a shuttle/bus. I hate how they pack 50 people into a bus (worse than the London tube) and the majority of them don’t have the same cleaning habits we do. Not a pleasant way to start/end your day, especially when it’s hot and humid.
I tried watching TV last night and literally feel asleep with the remote in my hand and the TV on a Chinese station. Nothing like waking up to a bunch of Chinese broadcasters screaming at me (or at least that’s what it sounds like) when I wake up. Sleep can and will be had nearly anywhere. Dean feel asleep in a cab yesterday and Streeter the day before took an hour nap in the office hiding behind my desk. Kolbe feel asleep on a media shuttle on the way home the other night and didn’t wake up until he was woken up by a volunteer. Problem was, he was at the wrong media village.
Streeter sleepingIf you haven’t heard the song “Forever Friends” its literally played 500 times a day. The song is so damn catchy it sticks in your brain the entire day and night. I’m sure you can download it on ITunes if you don’t know what I’m talking about. Or turn on NBC and watch some of the coverage and I’m sure you can hear it in the background.
If you want to see our best images from Day 10 of the games go here:
http://mm.gettyimages.com/mm/nicePath/GYI_Multimedia?object=a116010662
1 comment:
what an amazing experience! i'm so jelly!
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