Opening Ceremonies here was an incredible success. I can't believe that was only five days ago—it feels like much longer. I watched it from the Media Center on TV—at least the first part of it. And I was impressed by it's elegance and it's simplicity. The ice seemed so obvious, yet I don't know if it has been used before in an Opening Ceremony.
The Opening Ceremony also brought a wave of emotion for me, during which, I gained a whole new appreciation of this spectacular opportunity that I get to be a part of. Prior to Opening Ceremonies, I had been feeling exhausted, and wishing that this whole thing was over. I know it sounds ungrateful, but when you are working 15-hour days and getting 4 hours of sleep a night, it is easy to start feeling like it isn't worth it. That changed however, and I actually starting getting a bit somber about the fact that there were only two weeks left.
I won't try and recreate the two or three days post Opening Ceremonies, and even my journal has felt the sting of neglect, but I
finally picked it up again, which makes it easier to tell you about the last few. Mid-afternoon I learned that the Olympic Medals Plaza was understaffed, so I talked to Bruce ( the Press Chief) to tell him I was willing to go over there, but I didn't have accreditation. He gave it to me. I was truly happy to help, but there was the small ulterior motive of seeing one of my favorite bands—Lifehouse—as well. I thought at least if I got to hear them, it would be worth the extra hours.
When I got there they told me they wanted my help in the Mix Zone guiding athletes through the different press agency booths. So, I got to interact one-on-one a little bit with the medaling athletes. That job finished within ten minutes of Lifehouse starting their set, so I then got to go to the `Trib' area—a corralled section right up front for media (of which, there were only four). So I'm right up front, practically in my own section, watching one of my favorite bands. I can't even begin to describe how cool it was. And this is my first `true' Olympic experience. Even though I've met some amazing people and been involved in a very public sector of the Olympics, so far, it has been all work and no play. Sunday changed that, and it was incredible.
They played my faves: "Breathing" and "Hanging by a Moment". Now every time I hear those songs, I will think of that experience. The stage was incredible. It was designed by the guy who created the toys that expand into giant spheres, and has a cauldron on it as well. The band played such a great live show.
I was trying to leave before they locked things down for the fireworks, but I missed it. My only reason for attempting it, was to
be able to get on TRAX before the mad rush, but I got locked in, and had to stay for the pyro-show. I was actually glad I did, though, and totally enjoyed them.
Sunday, February 07, 2010
Saturday, February 06, 2010
tuesday at 9:30 row 3
what THAT means, is that thanks to a generous gesture, melissa n. and company are taking me to see this:
it's the brand new cirque du soleil show that just opened in vegas at the new aria casino. i am UBER excited!
it's the brand new cirque du soleil show that just opened in vegas at the new aria casino. i am UBER excited!
Wednesday, February 03, 2010
2002: part 3
anybody still out there? i realize i slacked off on posting for awhile, but that's no reason to stay silent and bitter!
at any rate, the 2002 rewind continues...
Friday and Saturday were the same ol' same ol'. Can you believe it? Less than a week and I'm saying that it is the same ol' thing. I willsay that I finally took advantage of the free massage offered by thelicensed massage therapists on-site. As it happens, I am their on- site contact, so I think a little special treatment is in order! We also have a day spa at the venue, being sponsored by Nu Skin. The rates are phenomenal ($10 haircut, $6 manicure, $12 facial), and all the staff are taking time from their regular jobs, where they make $50 a haircut, to volunteer. It is actually a pretty amazing venue.
We have a cafeteria, for which the staff receives breakfast, lunch,and dinner coupons. We have an office supply store, a dry cleaner's—pretty much everything you could need to never have to leave. That isa little frightening though—maybe that is the point!
This week has largely been spent figuring out what I will be doing come games' time. I'm responsible for scheduling the three Press Conference rooms--the largest of which currently holds about 250 people. However, there will be situations, like one on the 7th,where we will have to open up the airwalls and turn the three rooms into one. We'll be joined by the IOC President then, and the room will hold approximately 900-1000 people then. This, of course, created somewhat of a scheduling nightmare, since we had pressvconferences scheduled in the two smaller rooms, and had to figure outvhow to bump them without creating havoc. All seems to be taken care of though. I am also responsible for coordinating the volunteers, assigning their responsibilities, and making sure they have a clue what they are doing. I coordinate with the audio visual people to make sure everything set, with the caterers to make sure any 'special requests' are met, and with the staff of each of the organizations, weather it be Olympic committees, or sport committees. The difference is that the Olympic Committees are all organized by country (except the IOC) and the sport committees are obviously coordinated by sport. I also have language duties, to make sure the translators have the information they need, that the electronic board is programmed, and that translation headsets are working and distributed properly. And of course, I am also the lucky one that gets to print the 'tent cards' for the dais, to identify who the speakers are. On average, it takes about an hour to prepare for each press conference, and on days like the 7th, when we have 13, you can imagine how long a day that will be.
Initially I was meant to be a floating supervisor, covering the Bullpen area, Main Street, Print and Photgraphy Distribution, but the Interview Rooms have become so consuming (unparallelled in any other Olympic games, apparently)that this will take up 95% of my time. My friend Sara and I are splitting duties and schedules so that hopefully, we will both remain alive throughout the duration of the games. If it is a close call, I'm sure Dr. Mike will do his best to keep us breathing long enough to make it through Closing Ceremonies!
An added bonus from this experience, is the people I am getting to work with. Everybody is not only incredible to work with, but they are so impressive. I've never worked with such a generally high class of people. And, because we are all working so many hours, no one has to feel guilty about taking their 'me' time. Most of our staff have had massages, and yesterday I sat myself on a couch and watched the last twenty minutes of the Jazz game--they beat the Blazers by the way, though not that it really matters.) And, lucky me, I've also met a nice young man (a 25 year old RM) who is making things even more fun than they normally are! In fact, it turns out that he lives just up the street, so we will be carpooling (meaning I don't have to take the bus) on any occasion that will allow it.
I got to speak with Dad last night, and it occurred to him that he will be able to see more of the games than I will. This is absoulutely true, since I will be lucky to see any of them. But, as I told him, I'd much rather be working the Media Center than watching the games on tv! I am absolutely exhausted, and when I start to get a little whiny, my 'grateful' mode kicks in, and I remind myself how lucky I am to be here, and I truly am. It's worth some fatigue to have an experience like this.
We are expecting guests like Desmond Tutu, Dorothy Hammill, Wayne Gretzky, and of course 95% of the Gold Medal winners, so even though I'll miss the events, I will get to interact with the big names.Unfortunately, to be taking pictures or asking for autographs is not going to be appropriate for me, so the journal keeping effort is progressing steadily, in the attempt to keep some of these memories alive for many years to come.
at any rate, the 2002 rewind continues...
Friday and Saturday were the same ol' same ol'. Can you believe it? Less than a week and I'm saying that it is the same ol' thing. I willsay that I finally took advantage of the free massage offered by thelicensed massage therapists on-site. As it happens, I am their on- site contact, so I think a little special treatment is in order! We also have a day spa at the venue, being sponsored by Nu Skin. The rates are phenomenal ($10 haircut, $6 manicure, $12 facial), and all the staff are taking time from their regular jobs, where they make $50 a haircut, to volunteer. It is actually a pretty amazing venue.
We have a cafeteria, for which the staff receives breakfast, lunch,and dinner coupons. We have an office supply store, a dry cleaner's—pretty much everything you could need to never have to leave. That isa little frightening though—maybe that is the point!
This week has largely been spent figuring out what I will be doing come games' time. I'm responsible for scheduling the three Press Conference rooms--the largest of which currently holds about 250 people. However, there will be situations, like one on the 7th,where we will have to open up the airwalls and turn the three rooms into one. We'll be joined by the IOC President then, and the room will hold approximately 900-1000 people then. This, of course, created somewhat of a scheduling nightmare, since we had pressvconferences scheduled in the two smaller rooms, and had to figure outvhow to bump them without creating havoc. All seems to be taken care of though. I am also responsible for coordinating the volunteers, assigning their responsibilities, and making sure they have a clue what they are doing. I coordinate with the audio visual people to make sure everything set, with the caterers to make sure any 'special requests' are met, and with the staff of each of the organizations, weather it be Olympic committees, or sport committees. The difference is that the Olympic Committees are all organized by country (except the IOC) and the sport committees are obviously coordinated by sport. I also have language duties, to make sure the translators have the information they need, that the electronic board is programmed, and that translation headsets are working and distributed properly. And of course, I am also the lucky one that gets to print the 'tent cards' for the dais, to identify who the speakers are. On average, it takes about an hour to prepare for each press conference, and on days like the 7th, when we have 13, you can imagine how long a day that will be.
Initially I was meant to be a floating supervisor, covering the Bullpen area, Main Street, Print and Photgraphy Distribution, but the Interview Rooms have become so consuming (unparallelled in any other Olympic games, apparently)that this will take up 95% of my time. My friend Sara and I are splitting duties and schedules so that hopefully, we will both remain alive throughout the duration of the games. If it is a close call, I'm sure Dr. Mike will do his best to keep us breathing long enough to make it through Closing Ceremonies!
An added bonus from this experience, is the people I am getting to work with. Everybody is not only incredible to work with, but they are so impressive. I've never worked with such a generally high class of people. And, because we are all working so many hours, no one has to feel guilty about taking their 'me' time. Most of our staff have had massages, and yesterday I sat myself on a couch and watched the last twenty minutes of the Jazz game--they beat the Blazers by the way, though not that it really matters.) And, lucky me, I've also met a nice young man (a 25 year old RM) who is making things even more fun than they normally are! In fact, it turns out that he lives just up the street, so we will be carpooling (meaning I don't have to take the bus) on any occasion that will allow it.
I got to speak with Dad last night, and it occurred to him that he will be able to see more of the games than I will. This is absoulutely true, since I will be lucky to see any of them. But, as I told him, I'd much rather be working the Media Center than watching the games on tv! I am absolutely exhausted, and when I start to get a little whiny, my 'grateful' mode kicks in, and I remind myself how lucky I am to be here, and I truly am. It's worth some fatigue to have an experience like this.
We are expecting guests like Desmond Tutu, Dorothy Hammill, Wayne Gretzky, and of course 95% of the Gold Medal winners, so even though I'll miss the events, I will get to interact with the big names.Unfortunately, to be taking pictures or asking for autographs is not going to be appropriate for me, so the journal keeping effort is progressing steadily, in the attempt to keep some of these memories alive for many years to come.
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
the olympics, it's all about bringing people together
all this olympic nostalgia prompted me to start hunting down former salt lake colleagues. there's a short list of those i'd like to reconnect with, and many of them i've tried, without luck, to find before. one in particular has remained a complete and total enigma since after the 2002 games. unfortunately, she has a very common name (beth), and though i've tried multiple times over the last several years to track her down, i've met with failure after abysmal failure.
the reason she plays so prominently in my hunt for days of yore, is that she alone was responsible for my experience at the games. when i was just starting out my career as an event assistant at the salt palace convention center, she was our director of marketing. i didn't report to her, but i worked with her often, and enjoyed doing so. i must have done something to impress her, because shortly after i moved back to virginia in 2001, i received a phone call from her. she had recently been appointed the chief marketing officer for the winter games, and as she put it, had to have me on her staff. when i think about it now, i can't help but wonder what she was thinking. it was certainly a lot of responsibility, and a very public opportunity for failure that she was giving this 26 year old, just starting to find a groove in event planning. but she trusted me, and she gave me the most significant opportunity of my lifetime to date.
i learned while at the games that she had had to 'sell' her colleagues on both myself and my 'partner in crime', sara. they were hesitant as neither of us had games experience, but they were willing to trust her like she was willing to trust us. and even if there had ever been a moment or a desire for slacking, that alone would have compelled me to perform at my highest ability.
by all accounts both she and the rest of the sloc senior management were more than thrilled with our performance, and i was certainly thrilled at having had the experience. needless to say, she was single-handedly responsible for my most defining moment, and you can imagine why i would want to stay connected to her.
as amazing as the games were, they were also hard. for six weeks, i worked an average of 16 hours per day and had one day off. when you're in the moment, adrenaline just keeps you going. but when the torch is snuffed, your body and soul know it, and they demand major decompression. at that point, beth literally fell off the face of the earth. there were rumors of her activities and whereabouts but no one really KNEW anything. so all the traditional avenues were blocked years ago, and the non-traditional ones failed to yield any results.
until today.
i figured i had nothing to lose, so i started my search up again. i was shocked when i got a hit that looked like it could be the woman i was looking for, and even more shocked to see that it was the california state university, long beach website. i did some additional hunting, called the school, tried a different google search pattern, and voila, i had a number.
that number, it turned out, was correct, and i found myself having a lovely conversation with her sister, in which i learned two things. one, she lives in long beach, which is oh, about 10 miles from me, and two, she is currently in vancouver doing something or other with the olympics. both items came as fantastic news. her sister gave me her cell phone number, and now i'm keeping my fingers crossed that we will be able to connect while i'm in vancouver. and, if not, a think a lunch date is easily manageable.
i'll admit that i've begun having all kinds of fantasies about getting hooked up at the olympics, or longer term, getting hooked up with a gig in an industry that completely enthralled me. and while it's possible they will remain fantasies, i am, at the very least, extremely excited about being able to reconnect with someone who once meant so much in my life.
here's to 2010, y'all, it's off to a good start!
the reason she plays so prominently in my hunt for days of yore, is that she alone was responsible for my experience at the games. when i was just starting out my career as an event assistant at the salt palace convention center, she was our director of marketing. i didn't report to her, but i worked with her often, and enjoyed doing so. i must have done something to impress her, because shortly after i moved back to virginia in 2001, i received a phone call from her. she had recently been appointed the chief marketing officer for the winter games, and as she put it, had to have me on her staff. when i think about it now, i can't help but wonder what she was thinking. it was certainly a lot of responsibility, and a very public opportunity for failure that she was giving this 26 year old, just starting to find a groove in event planning. but she trusted me, and she gave me the most significant opportunity of my lifetime to date.
i learned while at the games that she had had to 'sell' her colleagues on both myself and my 'partner in crime', sara. they were hesitant as neither of us had games experience, but they were willing to trust her like she was willing to trust us. and even if there had ever been a moment or a desire for slacking, that alone would have compelled me to perform at my highest ability.
by all accounts both she and the rest of the sloc senior management were more than thrilled with our performance, and i was certainly thrilled at having had the experience. needless to say, she was single-handedly responsible for my most defining moment, and you can imagine why i would want to stay connected to her.
as amazing as the games were, they were also hard. for six weeks, i worked an average of 16 hours per day and had one day off. when you're in the moment, adrenaline just keeps you going. but when the torch is snuffed, your body and soul know it, and they demand major decompression. at that point, beth literally fell off the face of the earth. there were rumors of her activities and whereabouts but no one really KNEW anything. so all the traditional avenues were blocked years ago, and the non-traditional ones failed to yield any results.
until today.
i figured i had nothing to lose, so i started my search up again. i was shocked when i got a hit that looked like it could be the woman i was looking for, and even more shocked to see that it was the california state university, long beach website. i did some additional hunting, called the school, tried a different google search pattern, and voila, i had a number.
that number, it turned out, was correct, and i found myself having a lovely conversation with her sister, in which i learned two things. one, she lives in long beach, which is oh, about 10 miles from me, and two, she is currently in vancouver doing something or other with the olympics. both items came as fantastic news. her sister gave me her cell phone number, and now i'm keeping my fingers crossed that we will be able to connect while i'm in vancouver. and, if not, a think a lunch date is easily manageable.
i'll admit that i've begun having all kinds of fantasies about getting hooked up at the olympics, or longer term, getting hooked up with a gig in an industry that completely enthralled me. and while it's possible they will remain fantasies, i am, at the very least, extremely excited about being able to reconnect with someone who once meant so much in my life.
here's to 2010, y'all, it's off to a good start!
2002: part 2
the continuation of my unedited (even when i really want to correct typos and bad grammar!) 2002 olympic experience recap:
The buses on the night-route are, at the very least, not easy. Tuesday evening was particularly difficult because…well, basically, I wasn't well-prepared, though I thought I was. The short of it, is that after standing outside waiting for a bus for over an hour on the `coldest night in Salt Lake in six years,' I finally called Aunt Shannon and begged her to come get me, which she did graciously.
On Tuesday, we had another SLOC briefing, at which several local media were in attendance, but no recognizable national reporters. I did get introduced to several members of the IOC staff, and since it has been pounded into our heads that this is the IOC's games, and we are only here to serve them, those introductions, were perhaps a little more nerve-wracking than necessary.
I took advantage of our on-site doctor today, who has been dispensing free flu shots and B-12 shots. I got both. I don't remember this from watching the games, but apparently, in Nagano, there was a rampant flu outbreak that affected huge numbers of people. As a result of that, our medical staff is striking preemptively, with the hopes that a similar situation will be entirely avoided.
On Thursday, we had our regular SLOC briefing, and the remainder of my time was spent putting out small fires, and continuing to familiarize myself with the venue and all its little intricacies.
Security, for me, has been a breeze—much to my surprise. They are still working out the kinks, and there have been some breaches, but it has never occurred to me to feel unsafe there. And as I've said before, if there were to be any attempts at an attack of any sort, I doubt the Media Center would be a target, since most nutjobs like to have their `work' publicized.
At any rate, it is still an adjustment for me to have Secret Service, regular police, and military guys with BIG guns, everywhere I go. Those guys with the big guns are also in the mag and bag tents (our playful nickname for the magnetometers and bag searches), so the idea of setting off the mag, brings on an entirely new fear. So far, I haven't done so, and know that it wouldn't really be that big a deal, yet the sooner I'm out of the tent and away from the Uzi's, the better!
For Dylan's sake, I'll mention here, that the Russians are crazy. I also mention it because they have been the surprise entertainment of my games so far. We have these nutty Russian translators—a man and woman, who always arrive in more fur than most animals have on them, and leaving us to wonder if, at 10:00am they have already started the daily vodka regimen. They like to sing Russian folk songs very loudly, if that paints any kind of picture for you. Today, another of our Russian guests—a reporter—had a heart attack, and refuses to go to the hospital. Word on the street is that he has a little thing with our rather busty, blonde, Russian translator, and is hesitant to leave the venue on that account. The even crazier thing is that I am not kidding.
The buses on the night-route are, at the very least, not easy. Tuesday evening was particularly difficult because…well, basically, I wasn't well-prepared, though I thought I was. The short of it, is that after standing outside waiting for a bus for over an hour on the `coldest night in Salt Lake in six years,' I finally called Aunt Shannon and begged her to come get me, which she did graciously.
On Tuesday, we had another SLOC briefing, at which several local media were in attendance, but no recognizable national reporters. I did get introduced to several members of the IOC staff, and since it has been pounded into our heads that this is the IOC's games, and we are only here to serve them, those introductions, were perhaps a little more nerve-wracking than necessary.
I took advantage of our on-site doctor today, who has been dispensing free flu shots and B-12 shots. I got both. I don't remember this from watching the games, but apparently, in Nagano, there was a rampant flu outbreak that affected huge numbers of people. As a result of that, our medical staff is striking preemptively, with the hopes that a similar situation will be entirely avoided.
On Thursday, we had our regular SLOC briefing, and the remainder of my time was spent putting out small fires, and continuing to familiarize myself with the venue and all its little intricacies.
Security, for me, has been a breeze—much to my surprise. They are still working out the kinks, and there have been some breaches, but it has never occurred to me to feel unsafe there. And as I've said before, if there were to be any attempts at an attack of any sort, I doubt the Media Center would be a target, since most nutjobs like to have their `work' publicized.
At any rate, it is still an adjustment for me to have Secret Service, regular police, and military guys with BIG guns, everywhere I go. Those guys with the big guns are also in the mag and bag tents (our playful nickname for the magnetometers and bag searches), so the idea of setting off the mag, brings on an entirely new fear. So far, I haven't done so, and know that it wouldn't really be that big a deal, yet the sooner I'm out of the tent and away from the Uzi's, the better!
For Dylan's sake, I'll mention here, that the Russians are crazy. I also mention it because they have been the surprise entertainment of my games so far. We have these nutty Russian translators—a man and woman, who always arrive in more fur than most animals have on them, and leaving us to wonder if, at 10:00am they have already started the daily vodka regimen. They like to sing Russian folk songs very loudly, if that paints any kind of picture for you. Today, another of our Russian guests—a reporter—had a heart attack, and refuses to go to the hospital. Word on the street is that he has a little thing with our rather busty, blonde, Russian translator, and is hesitant to leave the venue on that account. The even crazier thing is that I am not kidding.
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