"RUUUUUNNNNN!" screamed Phil as we dashed out of our ¥75 taxi ride to the entrance of the Bird's Nest, "THIS IS THE FREAKING OLYMPICS!"
BOCOG really did us international volunteers good, again. Tonight, we had tickets to the Athletics competition at the Bird's Nest from 7pm-11pm. Most people dressed in their full USA garb complete with bandannas, scarfs, flags and face paint. Some even had homemade shirts! I, however, had to work.
After transcribing quotes taken from the velodrome floor on to the computer all night long, I was seriously ready for some live Olympics action. The Keirin race was to be over by 7:30pm, so we had very high hopes of being out of there and in a taxi on the way to the Olympic Green by 8:30pm or so.
Yeah right. At 10:15pm I was pounding press conference quotes into the computer as fast as my little typist fingers would go. I finally got the last one in and sent. As we gathered our belongings, many of the group decided to flake out on the Bird's Nest event. The general thought was that we'd never make it in time, but I wasn't having a word of it. I didn't care if I went alone. I was going to that darn Olympic Green regardless. You see, the Olympic Green area is very exclusive. You can't even access the area without proper credentials or a ticket to one of the venues there (i.e. the Watercube or the Bird's Nest). Tonight, I had a ticket and I was going and nothing was getting in my way.
Luckily, a couple of other valiant individuals had a change of heart and realized the opportunity could not be passed up easily. We grabbed a cab from the 'drome and were well on our way by 10:25pm. This is where the "beating Bolt" part comes in.
We literally sprinted from the cab to the gate to a different gate through security to another gate up the stairs through more security up one more flight--pause for breathing--and finally into the concourse where we thought we were to be. An usher grabbed Jason to ask where we were going. We were in the wrong place, "But just come in here!" he said, "There are only 10 minutes left!" We ran, again, through the opening to the field and up to a couple of empty seats.
As we sit down, we glance at the video board. "Men's 100m Final," it reads, and there are 10 sprinters lined up in the blocks ready to make history. The gun blows, and in a flash, Jamaica's Usain Bolt is skipping around the track goofing in a way that puts Chad Johnson's touchdown dances to shame. The video board reads the finishing times, and then, in big bold letters, "NEW WORLD RECORD!" It took 9.69 seconds for him to make world history... 9.69 seconds!
We continued to watch as he danced around the stadium taunting the crowd for more and more cheers. He was SO outside himself with excitement, and we couldn't be more overjoyed to share it with him and 90,000 of our best Chinese friends! A fellow from Trinidad took the silver, while American Walter Dix came away with bronze. The race was the capstone of the night, the final event. And while we only got to see the one sprint, it was THE race. The 100-meter dash defines the Olympics. Tonight, I saw it happen at the Olympic Games and watched as they crowned a brand-new "World's Fastest Man."
Talk about goosebumps! I thought they would never go away!
XOXO
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BOCOG really did us international volunteers good, again. Tonight, we had tickets to the Athletics competition at the Bird's Nest from 7pm-11pm. Most people dressed in their full USA garb complete with bandannas, scarfs, flags and face paint. Some even had homemade shirts! I, however, had to work.
After transcribing quotes taken from the velodrome floor on to the computer all night long, I was seriously ready for some live Olympics action. The Keirin race was to be over by 7:30pm, so we had very high hopes of being out of there and in a taxi on the way to the Olympic Green by 8:30pm or so.
Yeah right. At 10:15pm I was pounding press conference quotes into the computer as fast as my little typist fingers would go. I finally got the last one in and sent. As we gathered our belongings, many of the group decided to flake out on the Bird's Nest event. The general thought was that we'd never make it in time, but I wasn't having a word of it. I didn't care if I went alone. I was going to that darn Olympic Green regardless. You see, the Olympic Green area is very exclusive. You can't even access the area without proper credentials or a ticket to one of the venues there (i.e. the Watercube or the Bird's Nest). Tonight, I had a ticket and I was going and nothing was getting in my way.
Luckily, a couple of other valiant individuals had a change of heart and realized the opportunity could not be passed up easily. We grabbed a cab from the 'drome and were well on our way by 10:25pm. This is where the "beating Bolt" part comes in.
We literally sprinted from the cab to the gate to a different gate through security to another gate up the stairs through more security up one more flight--pause for breathing--and finally into the concourse where we thought we were to be. An usher grabbed Jason to ask where we were going. We were in the wrong place, "But just come in here!" he said, "There are only 10 minutes left!" We ran, again, through the opening to the field and up to a couple of empty seats.
As we sit down, we glance at the video board. "Men's 100m Final," it reads, and there are 10 sprinters lined up in the blocks ready to make history. The gun blows, and in a flash, Jamaica's Usain Bolt is skipping around the track goofing in a way that puts Chad Johnson's touchdown dances to shame. The video board reads the finishing times, and then, in big bold letters, "NEW WORLD RECORD!" It took 9.69 seconds for him to make world history... 9.69 seconds!
We continued to watch as he danced around the stadium taunting the crowd for more and more cheers. He was SO outside himself with excitement, and we couldn't be more overjoyed to share it with him and 90,000 of our best Chinese friends! A fellow from Trinidad took the silver, while American Walter Dix came away with bronze. The race was the capstone of the night, the final event. And while we only got to see the one sprint, it was THE race. The 100-meter dash defines the Olympics. Tonight, I saw it happen at the Olympic Games and watched as they crowned a brand-new "World's Fastest Man."
Talk about goosebumps! I thought they would never go away!
XOXO
Jason, Phil and I after seeing Usain Bolt win 100m gold and set a new world record at 9.69 seconds!
Yes, Nanno, I'm really here at the National Stadium with the Olympic flame!!
The group photo opp between the Bird's Nest and the Watercube. From top left: Chris, Jason, Chad, Val, Caty, Jane, Alysha, Megan, Christina and ME!
4 comments:
O SWEET KELSEY.......
I reread your blog...and still trying to catch my breath.
What energies you exude........ I think your new friends will never forget your enthusiasm you possess.
Now....you won't ever have to feel "why didn't I take advantage of this regardless how tired I am.
You got it all together...YOU GO GIRL !
Thank you, Kelsey, for my special picture. You are there for sure.
HoldTights,
Nanno
Kels....for some reason I keep getting back required field must not be blank.
OK....twice I re sent this...this will be #3. Hope it goes thru this time IF you don't already have the original. That's your Nanno. Makes life interesting.
While looking for the blue army at the Velodrome... I thot every turquoise uniform I saw...it had to be you but I never found that fair child.
Sure happy you and the others made it. You'll never regret getting there..and seeing the most important race. Wow.
Surely this note will make it this time. Try, try again seems to be my motto.
Nanno
I toured Lucas Oil Stadium yesterday. Beat that.
Bolt = Amazing. That is so cool that you were there for that race. They kept doggin him on the news for celebrating. I thought is was classic. His 200 was just as good to watch even though he didn't showboat as much.
Live up your last few days there.
-Zach Clark
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