Yesterday I got to go to the Olympics. We bought the tickets – men’s synchronized diving finals – and finally had our moment.
We didn’t sit that close. Still, we got to go.
It started with a tour of the Park, during which I stood 2 feet away from Matt Lauer while he did his broadcast of the Today show.
(You maybe aren’t as familiar with the back of his head as the front.)
And it was brilliant, the energy of the Park. When I boarded the train it was with teams of Team GB fans. The Tube was carrying fans from every nation – USA, Brazil, Australia, France, Germany, Kenya, UK. All over the Park people wore their colors.
I chose which side I was going to support, too.
We started at the Aquatic Center.
It was exciting.
Very.
Although Team GB didn’t win. But America is.
And we got to watch the medal ceremony, where America took the Bronze.
I got the chance to go with my favorite sporting partner, too, as his shift ended just before the game.
Alastair continues to work hard (while fortunately getting to enjoy the fruits of his work by seeing games and bits of games). Some have asked what he has done, and as we’re in telecoms it’s probably clear whom he works for if he’s dealing with the Olympics. Every single image carried from the Olympic games to your TVs (or not carried, in the case of NBC censorship) is carried by his company. The work he has been doing is to make it so that we can all upload our photos and videos at each Olympic site, of the joyous news (We won!) to the not-so-joyous (We didn’t win!)
That was my last foray into the Olympics. My parents flew over here for a visit and got to see the Dream Team play on Sunday (for which they were suitably attired).
And they tried to bring the twins in on it.
Although we fought back later in the week and made sure things were even:
Melissa saw Horse Eventing on Tuesday. Alastair continues to work there almost every day, and for us we can sit back and feel like we were (for a few days) a part of something bigger.
All done talking about the Olympics now. Next up – normal life. For us, anyway. Alastair’s life continues to be mildly crazy until end of September.
-S.
PS – Up here, dying mah hair.
That looks like such fun!
You joy shines thru your post. I get to vicariously share.
Loving it here. And I confess I did not know synchronized diving was an event until this Olympics. But super fun to watch.
That’s pretty cool. Chances like that don’t come along too often in life.
Angel1 & Angel2 have been watching the Olympics non-stop during the day, and it’s all we’ve watched in the evenings. I don’t really look forward to the Olympics, but I get wrapped up in them when they’re here and miss them when they’re over.
BTW, I won’t hold you to that promise of “no more Olympic posts.” I think it’s cool to hear about it from someone right there. Obviously it’s your blog, but if you encounter any other news, nuggets, tid bits, or just generally interesting facts about the Olympics, I (for one) would love to hear about it. I’ve never been in or near a city that hosted the Games.
Funniest Olympic moment so far: after the Men’s 10m synchronized diving championship, NBC was showing the 3 winners. It went something like this,
(Show the Americans wildly celebrating) “So the Americans take 3rd” (show the Mexicans wildly celebrating) “and Mexico gets the silver,” (show the Chinese just standing there) “and business as usual for China.”
I hope you’ll do at least one more Olympic post. Maybe at the end you could give your favorite Olympic moment and encourage others to do the same.
I would love to be a part of and see many of the Olympics games!! You are lucky.
keep posting about the olympics, no slight homage to your roots?! Shannon…..
What a fun experience for you and your family. I can imagine the hours away for Alastair are draining, but what an opportunity.
That picture of the two of you? Fabulous.
I have a secret theory that NBC is pulling these moronic stunts for the simple reason that they can’t get their reputation any lower, so might as well get “NBC” into everyone’s consciousness in any way they can. Bonus points if “NBCing it” becomes a verb.
I would compliment Alastair’s work but my TV doesn’t show pictures unless it’s at a 30 degree angle. So I can’t honestly say I know if they’re showing up or if it’s just a picture of a porcupine giving a thumbs up being broadcast 24/7.
Do you have any idea of how beautiful you are? We all know about your inner beauty, but my gosh Shannon, as you get older you are getting even more stunning!
ps Sorry we didn’t get to catch up – have seen fencing three times, dressage, one athletics event, and tennis. Am knocked out by how friendly and helpful all those volunteers are – not so much the ones at the park, but the hundreds that are on the street and in the underground stations.
I’m still watching the Olympics—I was out-of-state for the two weeks, so my husband DVR’ed everything. We have watched the closing ceremonies, though, and Eric Idle took my very grumpy husband and turned him happy, so I will take that as the best part of the games.