Beijing 2008

That's all folks

Sat, 23 Aug 2008 19:15 GMT

Sunday, Aug. 24

It's time for us to say, so long

by Brad Kelly

We started this journey with a friendly nee how, and now it is almost time to say czai jiaen.

It must be time to come home if we are starting to sound like Carol Burnett. Although, we have had a lot of laughs and giggles, much like Tim Conway and Harvey Korman.

We were sitting at supper reflecting on our time here, how the days have been long but the time has passed so quickly. We hope that you have enjoyed the journey along with us, the stories, the photos and the blog.

The highlights have been many for us. In no particular order:

• The soccer game in Tianjin the first day we arrived that pitted Canada against China. The atmosphere in the stadium was electric, like nothing we have experienced before. There was heat, a 3.5 hour bus ride and a day that ended at 3 a.m. The game produced Ron's favourite shot of Christine Sinclair scoring Canada's lone goal in a 1-1 tie.

He also consumed five bottles of water during the game because of the extreme heat, bringing an empty one home on the toilet-less bus just in case.

• Getting lost was an experience. There were two cab rides I had to take by myself, the first at 2 a.m. after the shuttle took me to the wrong media village, or was it the fact I got on the wrong bus? Can't remember. And another from softball to basketball one night. I arrived safe and sound both times, but there is an uneasy feeling about being in the back of a cab in a foreign country and not knowing where you are going.

• Ron enjoyed following Priscilla Lopes-Schliep through the eye of the camera as she celebrated her bronze medal victory in the 100m hurdles. It was an exciting night to come this far and cover a medal winner from our own backyard.

• At the other end of the spectrum, there was the emotion displayed by Sasha Mehmedovic in judo and Whitby's own Erin McLean in softball, both in tears after their Olympic dream came to an end. Trust us: there were many more that left venues in tears than there were with medals around their neck.

• The exclusive photos and stories we got. 'Exclusive' because it's a word that daily papers use to lend some kind of significance or importance to their story. To us, everyone we covered was important, and there were times when we were the only ones from Canada making sure that the stories of athletes in our communities were told. It was community journalism at its best.

• The blog. Never in our wildest dreams did we think that our daily diary would be as popular as it was. There wasn't a day went by that we didn't get a number of comments and emails from home, family, friends and neighbours commenting on how much they enjoyed it. It was nice to know people cared.

• Uxbridge's Chris Begg expressed his displeasure that baseball won't be included in the 2012 Olympics. He questioned how some of the others remain, but wouldn't be specific. We however will: dressage. Caught a little bit the other night on TV and we both agreed it's riders on drunk horses the way they stumble about the ring.

So that's it, as Carol croons softly in the background: We're so glad we had this time together. Seems we just get started and before you know it, comes the time we have to say, so long.

That's a wrap for Brad

Sat, 23 Aug 2008 00:03 GMT

Saturday, Aug. 23

by Brad Kelly

I'm sitting here trying to make this perfect, when in fact, before I even start, I know it won't be.

But here goes.

This trip has really been something. We had an editorial meeting months ago, and on that agenda, Ron and I were expected to give the rest of the staff a briefing on our Olympic adventure. I opened by asking, "What do you say about the trip of a lifetime?"

I still struggle to answer that very same question.

Perhaps this can put it into some kind of perspective. I have never really traveled or been away. In the last 25 years, I have gone to the Dominican Republic with my family back in 1986, and in 2003, took my own family to Florida.

That's been it.

My wife Debbie and I have never had the money to travel. There was always something else to spend it on, something more important than ourselves. It's not that we haven't had the time, we just never took the time. We went as far as getting some travel books five years ago, vowing we would go somewhere tropical for our 15th wedding anniversary. We never went.

How ironic, that on the same day as my 20th wedding anniversary, Aug. 6, I left for China. Not taking the time to go somewhere, anywhere, together is a regret.

Mind you, this has been no holiday. Our mandate was to get as many athletes from as many different areas within our newspaper chain as possible. It was a quantity without sacrificing the quality kind of mission. We pushed ourselves to produce, and on that, we have been successful. The interview and photo today with mountain bike racer Seamus McGrath concludes our Olympic event coverage. I wouldn't even want to begin to count the number of stories, columns, photos and blogs that we've produced. Nor would I want to add up the hours.

We started working the minute we landed, chasing high jumper Nicole Forrester through the Beijing airport to get our first story and picture. We haven't stopped since. Sometimes we pushed it a little too hard, not stopping to take the time to enjoy what was around us. The only event we have been to for pleasure was a U.S. against Spain men's basketball game on a Saturday night. But we paid the price for that little indulgence, arriving home at 2 a.m. and getting up at 6 a.m. to get to field hockey for an interview with a Great Britain player, Matt Daly, who used to live in Uxbridge.

Sightseeing? Well, we went to Tiananmen Square. But most of the sights we have taken in have been through the window of the countless shuttle bus rides we have taken, staring out at the countryside or the streets as we pass through.

This trip hasn't been lost on me though. I take a moment every morning to look out the window of our 17th floor apartment at the landscape below. Arriving home at night I do the same, absorbing all of the lights and beauty. It serves as a reminder of where I am and what I am doing.

The best part has been the opportunity to share this journey with someone. Ron and I have had a hoot. We have laughed. Man, have we laughed and enjoyed the days here.

There are two more sleeps left here, and then it's time to go home. We land in Toronto Monday night around 7 p.m. after flying for 13 hours, have been given Tuesday off, then back to the office Wednesday.

Back to reality.

That's a wrap for Ron

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 04:17 GMT

Friday, Aug. 22

by Ron Pietroniro

A few observations as we wind down our first ever Olympic Games.

There doesn't seem to be any driving rules in Beijing. Cars, buses, pedestrians, bikes all flow through the intersections at exactly the same time. It seems chaotic, yet traffic flows pretty smoothly. Mind you there have been some near misses, but we've yet to see anyone run down by a media shuttle.

In one of our many freebie bags of goodies we were given lovely little compact Beijing Olympic umbrella's with a small official Beijing Olympic Games mascot on them. Mine is pink. Yet every time you pass through security and the x-ray machines , the kind security people ask you if you have an umbrella which they proceed to take out of you're bag examine and than put it back. Not certain what security risk a small pink umbrella has except maybe emabarasment if I ever have to use it.

There only seems to be one chocolate bar in the Olympics and that's the official Olympic Snickers Bar. What happened? Did the Caramilk and Twix bars fail some sort of warped and unfair candy drug test.

I'm writing this while photographing rhythmic gymnastics -- yes I've learned to multi task. It takes over 40 judges and officials just to score this event and there's only one person on the floor at a time. I mean 40 people, who's paying for this? They all look miserable, like they'd rather be somewhere else. Not one of them looks like they even like the sport, perhaps an official Olympics Snickers Bar would cheer them up but its doubtful.

Also in our freebie goodie bags we were given soap, shampoo, body wash and not the cheap perfume stuff, I mean we are talking Johnson's Baby Shampoo and Baby Body Wash, the good stuff. Remember the commercials: It's gentle enough for babies yet strong enough for old photographers. Yet I believe that a portion of the photographic community has yet to find these products if you get my drift, and the drift does not smell very fresh. Perhaps some are saving them for the perfect day like the closing ceremonies. For the sake of all us, please use these products. I know it's hot and we work long hours, but please please please just try them once. You'll smell like a freshly washed baby and we'll all be happy.

I hear journalists complaining all the time about how awful this is, the work load, the hours. Just to put this into perspective, two weeks ago I was photographing the Canada vs. China women's soccer game in front of 50,000 cheering stomping crazed fans on the hottest night in our time at the Olympics. Next week I'll be taking pictures of mom and tots story time at the Ajax Public Library. I mean, no offense to the Library Board, but the Olympics is from a photographic stand point hard to top.

Last but certainly not least, despite the constant 15 hour days, no sleep, skipped meals or no meals, rushing to deadline, the heat, getting wet and than freezing in the air conditioning because you're wet, bad hygiene (not ours), I think I speak for both Brad and myself when I say we cannot wait to do this all over again. We were proud to bring you the best athletes the Durham Region and the GTA had to offer as they made their bid for Olympic glory. Perhaps we can start this all over again say in Vancouver next time. Just a hint.

An explanation is deserved

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 02:23 GMT

Thursday, Aug. 21

by Brad Kelly

We owe everyone an explanation.

The email system in our Oshawa office has been out of service since Monday, so we have had very little if any contact with anyone from home.

When we started this blog, we made sure to take a minute or two to reply to everyone who sent us a comment. It showed you cared, and we wanted you to know how much we appreciated it. We responded to everyone, right up until the last couple of days.

The system is starting to correct itself, and some emails are starting to trickle in. Today, we received some comments that were sent three days ago, so it's not quite up to date just yet. If you haven't heard from us, there has been a good reason. Still, we feel bad, but now you know the reason behind our silence.

• • • •

I can't handle girls crying.

Been at this almost 20 years now, and have seen my share of tears along the way. Usually it's guys, and usually after a team has been eliminated from the playoffs.

The other night at women's softball, Whitby's Erin McLean came into the mixed zone for an interview after Canada had just been eliminated by Australia in the semifinals. She had been crying, and as we spoke, tears rolled down her cheeks.

It's a good thing that her eyes were filled with tears, because it probably prevented her from seeing how cloudy mine were as we spoke. A lot of us from the office have commented on what a sweetheart Erin is -- always accommodating for interviews and video, upbeat and full of energy with an engaging smile, and willing to go that extra mile for us through her blog. Sometimes the right thing doesn't happen for good people.

She has a bright future ahead.

• • • •

As I gaze out the windows of the shuttle buses that take us from venue to venue, it's an odd site to see how the Chinese, particularly the men, rest on the street.

I mentioned a few days ago about how they roll the bottom of their shirts up over their stomachs, resting just below the chest on hot days. They also squat, like a catcher in baseball, on the sidewalk while waiting for buses and such.

• • • •

Just to finish of my little tirade from last night about a lack of food -- Ron and I finally ate when we got back to the Main Press Centre.

It was McDonalds, and it was midnight. Last time I did that was probably years ago, half in the bag after a night of drinking.

One step too short

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 20:06 GMT

And it's over. Four years with a team, representing your country internationally, traveling the world, playing a sport you love...it all comes down to seven innings. I knew we couldn't extend our Olympics forever but when the final out came...

No rest for the weary

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 03:47 GMT

Wednesday, Aug. 20

by Brad Kelly

No rest for the weary here, as we end.. whatever day it is.

It's a constant question among journalists here, as the days start to string together. The days are categorized by the next event, the next venue, the next interview and the next story.

Days are referred to as yesterday, today and tomorrow. Trying to figure out the date and day takes too much time. It's just easier narrowing it down to a three day week at this point.

Meals also don't follow the traditional pattern of breakfast, lunch and supper, either. While breakfast has been relatively normal, lunch and supper, if they happen at all, are all over the map.

For instance, today we ate breakfast at 9 a.m. after shutting it down at 2 a.m. following the bronze medal win by Priscilla Lopes-Schliep. We boarded a shuttle bus to the Main Press Centre, and then another to the softball stadium to arrive at 11 a.m. for a noon semifinal game between Canada and Australia. Lunch consisted of some Ritz crackers packed from home and a Coke around 1 p.m.

Then it's on the 3:30 p.m. shuttle bus to Wukesong for the men's baseball game between Canada and Chinese Taipei that begins at 6 p.m. Upon arriving, there are stories to write on Pickering umpire Greg Pipher, and a women's softball wrap. Then up to the media area to get set for the game, only to find there are no food concessions here. Supper consists of a couple of oatmeal cookies packed from home.

After the game that went into extra innings and took four hours to complete, it's back down to the media workroom here at the ballpark to write a story on Chris Begg of Uxbridge, file a blog, and then hope and then catch the 11 p.m. shuttle back to the Main Press Centre, arriving at 11:30 p.m.

Hopefully there is something left to eat when we get back. If not, by the time we get to bed, breakfast is only six or seven hours away.

The travel from venue to venue, carting around two laptops, not eating, getting little sleep and the heat should help you understand why we have reduced the week to just three days.

Boy it's nice to come on here and have a place to vent.

• • • •

Not sure if it is customary at all Olympic Games or just this one, but there are no souvenir stands at the venues.

I was expecting to find a wide array of merchandise that is sport specific as we bounce around from venue to venue every day, but that isn't the case. There is a small souvenir shop where we are staying, and another larger one about three blocks away, and that's it.

I find that a little strange. Surely there are hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost revenue because of this.

Living in a cocoon

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 05:58 GMT

Tuesday, Aug. 19

by Brad Kelly

The Chinese do things a little different in the souvenir shop located about four blocks from the media village.

When you decide on what it is you want to purchase, one of the sales clerks gets the size you want, puts it in a bag, and then writes out a receipt, listing the items and price. You then take that receipt to a cashier, who rings up the sale and stamps the receipt.

You then take the receipt back to the sales clerk, who then hands over the items you have purchased.

For the most part, everything here in China has been like clockwork. It was the first time I came across something that was a little inefficient.

• • • •

Ron and I are starting to have what we call 'Blank' moments.

It might be age, but we would prefer to think is has something to do with the 15 hour days we are putting in.

There are times in the middle of a conversation, where one of us will pause, losing track of our train of thought. There have been other times when our recall memory just isn't as sharp.

Today during supper, Ron asked me what it was I just said. I never uttered a word. We laughed, chalked it up to another one of those 'Blank' moments, and moved on.

It's a tough grind, with long days and short nights.

• • • •

As part of the media covering the Olympics, we really are in a cocoon here.

Shuttle service is provided for media, with our own entrance and seating at every venue. No lineups, no wandering around, no fighting through crowds at any entry point.

Even when we are shuttled back to the media village, it is gated and protected by an 10-foot high, barb-wired fence. There is security everywhere 24 hours a day. When the shuttle arrives, the gates are swung open to let us in, then closed right behind us.

We really are sheltered from anybody else here but the athletes.

• • • •

Had some thoughts of home this morning when I got up.

The hockey team I coach, the Minor Peewee AA Toros, had their first practice Monday night in your time zone -- early hours of the morning here on Tuesday. They are in capable hands with the rest of the coaching staff, but it's a reminder that this journey is coming to a close, and there is life outside of what has consumed us the past two weeks.

By the way boys, how did practice go? First player to reply gets a free pass from the first conditioning skate when I get back.

Second Tournament

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 16:44 GMT

So here we are, the day before the first playoff game. Team Canada Softball will face off against Australia tomorrow and the winner will be guaranteed a medal and a spot in the semi final. Despite losing to Japan last...

People are just people

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 01:43 GMT

Monday, Aug. 18

by Ron Pietroniro

To quote a famous Babs song, 'People, people who need people are the luckiest people in the world.'

You realize when you travel to a far away land what you miss and value the most -- it's the people. The folks you love, my wife and kids all my extended kiddies, friends, pets all the things that comfort you in your daily life.

Truth is there is really not much difference between people. We all struggle and work hard. There are happy times and sad, good times and bad and some have more than others. The people in China are probably on most parts the same as most Canadians, they work hard for their families, are proud of their country. They struggle to make ends meet but at the end of the day they are just people like you and me.

It's impossible to gauge exactly what this country truly is about in a few weeks. I'm not naieve or gullible, I understand that there are things about this place that most of the world does not agree about and rightfuly so.

It's difficult to imagine that the acts of a few are necesarilly the feelings of most of the people here.

I heard a group of journalists talking about how the staff at the media village where we are staying are a liitle too friendly, a little over the top. What a ridiculous statement. Imagine complaining that people are being too nice to you.

The world just isn't that big anymore, it only takes half a day to travel to other side of the globe. There is a great song by the Eagles called The Last Resort. In it Don Henley croons "There is no more new frontier, we have got to make it here."

The truth is, we must cherish the days we have and the people we spend them with. We are thankful for all the emails, messages and comments from home about our little adventure here in Beijing. We hope that the people we share our work with are enjoying it as much as we are enjoying presenting it to you.

Soon this will all be over, people will return to their daily lives and the world will keep on spinning.

This is dedicated to all the people that make a difference and make the world a better place. This is for my wife and kids who I love.

Cheers from Beijing.

Own the Podium

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 15:54 GMT

It's been a tough two days on the field. We've had some later games and we've spent the mornings preparing, watching game tape and getting rested up. That hasn't left a lot of time for blogging...although I'm glad I waited...