Who are the People in Your Neigborhood...

I think one of the most fun and interesting things about being at an Olympics is the number of new people you get to meet. The nature of the setup here, particularly in the Media Village, is close quarters for a lot of people. By default you are going to have the opportunity to greet somebody new around every corner.

One day for me was like this: Get up and get ready and head to breakfast. On the elevator, meet another guy from host broadcaster BOB, who is from Spain. At breakfast, interact with Chinese catering hires for Aramark Catering. Sit down to breakfast and talk with some Canadian engineers at next table. Get on the bus to work, and sit next to one of the head engineers for CBC (Canadian Broadcasting) whose been a part of every Olympics since Atlanta. At work throughout the day interact with 3 new people from 3 different countries on installation testing; New Zealand, NBC, Japanese TV. Go visit Korean Broadcasters to pick up equipment. Leave work, get on bus sitting with new contingent of Channel 7 personnel (Australians) Get a pin from them for nothing. Awesome! Help them orient themselves to Beijing sights and transportation, exchanging emails for further talking. While taking down laundry in the evening ride elevator with a Television Director from Finland.

Not bad for a day! I’ve really enjoyed getting to interact with and chat with these different people from different cultures. My sense of humor has come in particularly handy when we’ve been together trying to figure out how to make the washer/dryer combo, wash and dry as a combo. The fact that I can become close enough friends with a Greek guy that he is contemplating a visit to Atlanta, is proof that the Olympic experience is really a special time of relationship building. The one thing I haven’t been able to translate yet: this friend’s main request if he visits is to see the Atlanta Hawks play. Oh well.

Update on the work. We are testing every venue right now for the first time, making sure all the audio commentary and producer coordinating circuits work. There are standup positions that the various rights holders can rent for broadcasts at the National Stadium, Tiananmen Square and the IBC. NBC has a spot in the Square and when you see them use that location, know that the Bob location shares the same stage and is next to it. Things are starting to get really fast and hectic and new personnel, particularly the reporters and producers are arriving by the busloads everyday. Yesterday I worked extensively with Beach Volleyball and a few of the Indoor Arenas holding boxing, basketball, and weightlifting.