I am destined to be an intern with the Olympic News Service (ONS). Each group of ~15 students has been assigned to a sport. The Purdue group's assigned sport is cycling. This said, I will be spending many of my work days at either the Laoshan Velodrome, the Laoshan Bicycle Moto Cross (BMX) Venue or the Laoshan Mountain Bike Course once the Games begin. I've included a link to each venue's site in the "Links" section on the right.
To the extent that I've been informed thus far, my job will be to attend cycling events and pay close attention to the details and results of the races. Then, I will interview athletes in the mixed zones and gather quotes to be assembled on a flash quote report. I will also attend post-event press conferences to collect reactions from coaches and athletes about the competition. In a very short amount of time, I will be required to turn those raw quotes around and deliver them over a closed-circuit Internet-based program to the Main Press Center for the Olympic Games. From here, those reports will be made available to the various media outlets to be distributed to the masses across the globe.
When we were first assigned to cycling, I was somewhat disappointed. I was really hoping for a sport that I knew a little something about. My first reaction was, of course, "Lance Armstrong!" As it turns out, Lance doesn't ride in the Olympics and never has. Since February we've been studying our cycling. I've learned about the bikes, the courses, the races and all the athletes. It has been quite a task, and I'm sure there's tons more I have yet to learn.
The Games don't begin until August 8. Starting the morning of July 8, we will be enrolled in classes to continue to learn about the ways of the Olympic News Service and the Chinese people. The duality of this cultural and job-specific training will allow us to be fully-equipped to take on our duties as interns at the Olympic Games. As time has passed, I couldn't be more excited for the experience!
More as it emerges.
XOXO
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
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5 comments:
Kelsey, I know you're going to Boiler Up all the way to China and spread spirit as only you can!
Just a tip, maybe you already know, cycling can get pretty dangerous, and I think 'get the corpses off the field' is an entirely appropriate response to a downed competitor.
FIAFW,
Dave Phillips
Just a few things for a former study abroadist.
Please tell me that you are able to post pictures on this blog and also that you intend to do so. I love pictures of the scenary, buildings (especially city skylines), people, and food. Also, while in China, if you could get a picture of you at a mexican restaurant with a giant cardboard cutout of me and bando drinking margaritas and celebrating our heritage, that would be great too.
I'm pretty excited about cycling being your sport. I've been doing more and more biking lately. Please note that I say biking not cycling. I feel that in order to say you do "cycling" there is a certain level of intensity involved. I'm just not at that stage yet. Hopefully someday soon though. Let me just say, the hills here are intense. I'm going to come back to flat Indiana all hardcore. So, make sure to get some pictures of cyclists and feel free to tag me as a couple of them on facebook. No pressure. Maybe when you get back we can talk cycling over a large pitcher (of coke).
First off, I love my brothers' posts. Dave you are so right about the 'corpses' commment. Kels - you better do it! Second, I guess I am actually going to have to watch the cycling now... oh well... I can take one for the team. I will just have to picture matt's sexy body on the bikes to make it more interesting.
Random side note - Matt mentioned taking pictures of food. I first laughed at this but on second thought would enjoy this as well. Be sure to put what it actually is in the caption. This will be a learning experience for me.
Back to my post...
Thanks Kels for all of this. It will be a nice break from my daily work. I am constantly trying to find things to do instead of work and this fits the bill perfectly. Expect plenty of response.
Have fun and don't miss me suckling with my blanket on the couch too much. I know that is at the top of the list of things you will miss on the other side of the world... :)
I'm going to have to agree with Kelly here. I am planning on using this post as a way to fill slow time at work when I'm in the office. Just like today when I logged on to see if there was anything new.
I have another picture request. Any funny bathroom pictures. I'm sure there will be tons in China. Once in Mexico, we were using these TINY stalls. They were so small that your knees pressed against the door and your feet stuck out from under the door. So I had to take a picture of this while my friend was in the stall. Picture still cracks me up.
Oh yeah, make sure to take some form of immodium. There is nothing worse than having it out both ends.
ok, i ignored your most recent post so i could read it tomorrow at work. anyway, i thought you would enjoy this when you are far away from boilermaker country.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=DYYrAGyY2dA
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