Game On!

The Games have begun! I worked the Opening Ceremonies, and for our department it was anything but a ceremony. The most troubled opening I’ve worked in Commentary Switching. Between equipment failing due to the absurd heat and humidity in the National Stadium, to standup position camera guys failing to show up, it was a rough night. I still got enjoy much of the ceremony watching throughout. The fireworks were something else weren’t they! I stood outside during the last set. It was amazing to see fireworks going up from as far as you could see left to right across the horizon.

Now that competition has begun, there is a lot of stuff going on. Everyday there will be competition from 9 am until past midnight. While you’re watching let’s say the US women play volleyball, there are 4-6 other venues going with their own competition. Its a lot to keep track of. What makes the Olympics so unique, is that unlike most other events of any size, they tend to be centered around one thing or sport. This runs the gauntlet of setups and needs. For instance, there are special kinds of wireless camera feeds for the cycling road race, and then there is the robotic camera inside the weightlifting floor to look up at the competitor (though a closeup of the female weightlifters is a debatable need), and then of course there are the track cams that go alongside the swimmers and runners. What’s really crazy to think about is that only covers the video coverage of the sports. There is a whole other side to the Games you never see. Food service for all workers and athletes, accommodations, travel around the city, security, merchandising, etc. Its an amazing amount of work that goes into two weeks.

Speaking of merchandise. Wow, this has to be the most heavily marketed games in history. I’ve never seen so much merchandise. Here is an interesting trend I’ve found. In past games there has been a lot of clothes you can buy. Not so here. Much more limited in clothing options. Though the prices are cheaper than in the past (pricepoint so Chinese can afford to buy), there aren’t as many shirts and pants available. In China, the marketing materials of choice have been the mascots and mascot things for children and trinkets. My gosh, there are more Olympic trinkets available to buy than you can believe. Crystal miniatures of the Water Cube, the National Stadium, the mascots. There are gold plated miniatures of the National Stadium. There are dozens of different types of keychains and pins for each venue, sport, and mascot. There are official Olympic pins for major Chinese landmarks. There are tea sets, coffee mugs, a whole line of Lenovo sponsored computer items like flash drives and mouse pads.

The Chinese have been buying everything! Many of the women’s soccer stuff has sold out. They bought all the Olympic tickets. Everything venue in Beijing is sold out for the Games. First time that has ever happened. If there was ever a place to be concerned about for post Olympic depression its Beijing. It’s been shown in past studies that the Games being over has a depression effect on the host city. In Beijing, these people have lived for this for years. Most of the way of life here has been centered around preparing for the Games. National pride for hosting a great Games has been the motivation for much of life around here. It will be interesting to see what will happen when the Games are done. I’m sure there are people waiting to do studies on just this after the Games have concluded.

I made a visit to the common Olympic domain the other day. One giant sponsor commercial. The major Olympic sponsors have built temporary exhibition spaces to show off whatever they deem to show off for the Games. Adidas for instance has former displays of gear worn by former Olympic Champions. A neat history lesson, because it includes athletes from Games that occurred decades ago. Its interesting to see how athletic gear has evolved. At Coke’s display you walk through a Chinese centered exhibit looking to recreate the spirit of the Games. There are videos and lights, and it ends with a Coke design contest that went across China. As you are walking out of the space they of course send you on your way with a refreshing, ice cold Coca-Cola. That was really welcomed by me because it was 95 degrees outside with 60 percent humidity. You stand, you sweat, you walk, you sweat more.

One last note. As you’re watching the medal ceremonies, watch the Chinese athletes. Anything less than Gold is failure here, because the Chinese government is attempting to prove that its academy system of plucking children from their homes to place them in intense training environments is the most successful system. If they do not win the most gold medals, it will be considered a blow to their philosophy. So already I’ve seen one Chinese athlete be almost sad by winning the silver. The goal is gold. Something to keep an eye on.