Let the Games Begin

It's hard to believe, but the games have started. I hope everyone and their dog watched the Opening Ceremony. It was like China's coming out party and I feel that only a country of this size could pull something off like that. I watched most of it on TV (CCTV to be exact and they did a terrible job shooting it, but I guess it was live so I'm probably being a little harsh.) The fireworks alone were AMAZING. I was watching it with a bunch of people on TV (inside the NBC workspace) right across the street from the Bird's Nest and the second the torch was lit, we all bolted, nay, stampeded outside into the parking lot to watch the fireworks live. They were unbelievably loud, but still awesome. But the best view of the fireworks was on the TV because the aerial view allowed you to see all the ones going off around the city. Truly spectacular.

We shall see what happens next. But here are some pictures from work so far.

Yesterday I worked with these two crazy guys from Chicago. They are so goofy, working with them is really fun. This past week, Chicago's Mayor Daly is in town pushing his bid for the 2016 Olympics, so Phil and Ringo are on Mayor Duty – following him around town reporting on how the bid is going. We all went to the USA House yesterday for a press conference with Daly, and then they shooed us out of the building because George Bush Sr. was on his way. They couldn't get us out of there fast enough, so we stood outside, cameras off, and watched the Bush Sr. and his entourage of Secret Service hobble into the building. That was definitely a highlight of my day. That, and I got a sweet new pin for the Chicago Olympics 2016 Bid. Pin trading is growing fast and furiously. I'm trying not to get to wrapped up in it, but I dabble a bit. My collection is pretty amateur right now, but hopefully I'll get better at grabbing and trading new ones every place I go.

So yesterday after Chicago Mayor Duty, I got back to the workspace and my roommate (who is the head runner for the Today show) came over to me and offered me a ticket to Beach Volleyball. The ticket was for that night and the games started in an hour. I rushed over to my boss, told her the story and she just let me leave early! I hopped in a cab and rushed over the the Beach Volleyball venue. I watched the USA Womens kill the Netherlands and Germany Womens beat Cuba. There was a lot of excitement and there were people from all over the world. Plus they had dancing Fuwa's running around :-) haha

Today is my first day off, so I'm going to go enjoy myself. Probably get another wonderful foot massage. If you watch the Olympic Zone this week, look for the two segments I helped with...going to the silk market and the great wall with wrestler T.C. Dantzler. Also here are a few more pictures of the Olympic fever.