On the Inside

Some of you may remember that I was attempting to get inside the two nearest venues to where I work, the Bird's Nest and the Water Cube.  Friday, was do or die day.  Our infinity passes were good through Friday, so the mission was defined and it was my last chance.  The players in the mission were myself and Lincoln.  We arrived at the IBC complex via taxi at 1100, with known duties to report at 1300 hours.  I had a side mission if importance of wanting to purchase a swimming event ticket.  I never hold out too much hope on getting event tickets because its very difficult to secure them, and the chances of being able to purchase them at the box office seemed remote.  Still, I thought it was worth a try.  While I determined the location of the venue box office, Lincoln thought it sounded less than appealing to walk the distance I would have to walk to arrive there, and he decided to just hang out at the ultimate mission location and find out what he could.

I began walking and walking and walking, until I got all the way to the location on the map of the venue box office.  I found nothing.  The box office was not where it was listed to be.  I had walked for a half hour on a grueling hot and humid day.  I was not in the mood to have to walk too much further.  I found an information booth and the lady manning the post told me the box office was at the third light and take a right.  I went to the edge of the street and could only see one light.  Right there I decided I was not meant to get any tickets for this event, and I only had enough time to walk back to where I came from in order to not be late.  So there I went sweating and empty from the failed side mission.  By the time I got back it was time to go straight into work.  I found Lincoln, who then went on to tell me how he not only got inside the Water Cube, but took pictures right down by the pool, on the Olympic Stand, and from the blocks!  They were incredible.  I congratulated him on the successful nature of this mission and began plotting how I might get a taste of the same success.

I determined that at 1500 hours I could break away from the overstaffed crew and make a beeline for the water cube for my chance at the pics.  I took off following a carefully drawn map Lincoln made me to help navigate the various points of peril.  I made it through the first entrance, then I walked around the venue to the main gate.  I flashed my pass and a Chinese hello, and I was waved through.  Okay, I'm in, I snapped a photo of the outside and then with purpose walked into the venue.  I could taste the victory now, wow these pictures were going to be great, what a cool venue, and then as quickly as the thoughts came to mind, they were dashed by the sound of an all volunteer rally being held in the main pool venue.  Thousands of volunteers populated the stands, and people stood around the deck making any attempts at casual photos a risk too great to take on.  I snapped a cool photo from the outside and stuck my head in the door on the inside down by the pool to take the whole scene in but, was definitely bummed at my luck.  I got back to IBC and shared the news with Lincoln he laughed at my fortunes and then gave me his pics to download, and they are on my Facebook page to view.

On a positive note, I managed to secure a second set of the uniform when many others were being turned away, somehow I circumvented the system (for once).  So in summary, I did get to see some new sites, I got inside the Water Cube and saw it, didn't get to stand on the medal stand like Lincoln, but it sure made for a funny story to laugh at for the rest of our work day.  I am moving locations in a few hours, so until I settle my new internet situation, this will in fact be the last post for a day or two.  Enjoy the inside view.