Howdy Ya'll
We finally where able to get into the Olympic Green Area last night, we had tickets to a fencing match. It was our first time to see this event and it was interesting to watch. It is a very quick event, last about 1 and half hours. The good thing is that it was a medal event and the USA was fighting for the gold against France. It was the Epee versus of the sport. It did not start off well for the USA, they got down by 10 points quickly, a team needs 45 to win, and after the first two rounds it was 11 - 1. The USA made a strong attempt to make up the difference, but in the end the gap was to large. Although the team did not win the Gold, they did win a silver and it was nice to see a new event and learn about something new.
We then where able to spend sometime in the Olympic Green area and take some very nice photos of the birds nest and the water cube. I will say from our experiences at the olympics this is one of the top two for having great facilities. BCOG and the Chinese Government did a good job in being preparing the event locatoins.
So, today is our last day for events, we will be going to the baseball event, it is interesting, that back in 1992 we went to the first official baseball event and now will close our events with attending the last baseball event in the olympics. So, we have come full circle.
Well, we must be going, so more to come later.
UTOD
- UTOD China 2008
- Howdy Ya'll! Welcome to the Un-Official Texas Olympic Delegation China 2008 Blog. This is our 7th Olympic Journey. Stop In have a say and enjoy our journey.
18.8.08
14.8.08
Beijing Update
Howdy Ya'll So, the games are moving forward, today was a rainy day in Beijing...good thing we had an indoor event (Mens Basketball). We arrived at the game 1 and half hours prior to the game and where expecting to get into the venue, as all notices say that you can get in 2 hours prior. So when we arrived it started to rain heavy and people where taking cover. Of course we expected to be able to get into the building, but the first game was running late, and the crowd got stuck in the rain waiting to get into the building. Luckly, or unlucky, depending on how you looked at it, unlucky in my mind. We got stuck in a tent covering 10x10, with a number of people, and more kept trying to get in...It was hot from the crowd and we had to wait for 45 minutes in that area until they cleared the building from the first game.
We finally got to go into the building, and watch the national team of China play Angola. It was crowded, and a close game at the half, (2points) but the China team pulled away in the second half and won going away. We now have a couple of days before our next event, so we will be trying to locate some place to trade pins and plan on going to an acrobat show, and also visit the Great Wall.
Again we have been denied access to the Olympic Village,we hope that we can get in there within the next couple of days, and see the sites inside. It will be fun to get inside.
So, the days are long and nights are short, so I am going to head to bed for the evening. We will let you know what is going on in a couple of days.
We finally got to go into the building, and watch the national team of China play Angola. It was crowded, and a close game at the half, (2points) but the China team pulled away in the second half and won going away. We now have a couple of days before our next event, so we will be trying to locate some place to trade pins and plan on going to an acrobat show, and also visit the Great Wall.
Again we have been denied access to the Olympic Village,we hope that we can get in there within the next couple of days, and see the sites inside. It will be fun to get inside.
So, the days are long and nights are short, so I am going to head to bed for the evening. We will let you know what is going on in a couple of days.
13.8.08
The Games have Began!
Howdy Ya'll
Well we have been here for almost 1 week and sorry for not getting to this sooner, but we have had some challanges in getting access to the internet. This Olympic trip has not gone as planned, with housing becoming an issue which we have resolved, but a challange. It indeed is a unique country. The people in general have been ok, many have been very helpful, but as with any country it has some people that have been a challange to say the least. We have had some wonderful people go out of their way to help, giving us assitance in getting to specific locations and with our limited chinese language and their limited english skills we have been able to get through our barriers and reach our intended locations. I think it is interested the major differences in the cultures that are here from other countries, of course the local population is not as diverse as other countries so it is a challange for the host country. But we are getting by.
The games have begun and as thought, the opening of the games has you have seen where very successful. It was not as enjoyable as other Olympics as the security was extremly tight and did not really allow for a good viewing spot, other than the big screens through the city or from a television. We where able to see the fireworks from our position but we where a good distance away, photos are coming. The night was a hot humid night and the opening was very long 4 and1/2 hours.
The couple of days where interesting, our uncle made it into town, but we had problems getting together which caused us some problems caused the uncle to have to spend the night at the airport. We where just happy that we where able to finally get connected and get us all together. We are all now staying in our hotel and started our favorite past time, meeting and greeting and pin trading.......We have also been to the Temple of the Heavens and have our plans laid out for other places to see.
We went to our first event today, (Tuesday August12) it was a team handball game. For those in the states this is a game that is played on a court similar to basketball, with nets similar to soccer. It is a fun game, played in 2 halfs of 30 minutes, so you get to see two games when you attend. It is an interesting game, very fast, lots of scoring, some very good action. It is very popular in Europe and interesting that it not in the USA. It is a sport that we would enjoy. The games today where between France and China, which the host country was unable to have a victory, with the second game, Spain and Poland, being very exciting with Spain pulling off the victory in the closing minutes. VERY exciting.........
The venues are well done and tickets are very hard to come by, but it is interesting, that the Chinese Olympic committee has stated that all tickets have been sold and this is true, because we have met a number of people who have not been able to get tickets. The sad part is that there are a number, alot, of empty seats at the venues. It is evident that although it is "sold out" not many people are attending. It is to bad that the tickets have not been made avialble to the public, as a number of international people are here who want to witness the games and they can not get a ticket.
Well, it is very late here in Beijing, and I just want to say Xie Xie Ni, (Thank you) for all those local people we have met that have helped us and showed us some kindness. It is a different place indeed, but well worth the trip and the experience.
Will write more later........GO USA!
Well we have been here for almost 1 week and sorry for not getting to this sooner, but we have had some challanges in getting access to the internet. This Olympic trip has not gone as planned, with housing becoming an issue which we have resolved, but a challange. It indeed is a unique country. The people in general have been ok, many have been very helpful, but as with any country it has some people that have been a challange to say the least. We have had some wonderful people go out of their way to help, giving us assitance in getting to specific locations and with our limited chinese language and their limited english skills we have been able to get through our barriers and reach our intended locations. I think it is interested the major differences in the cultures that are here from other countries, of course the local population is not as diverse as other countries so it is a challange for the host country. But we are getting by.
The games have begun and as thought, the opening of the games has you have seen where very successful. It was not as enjoyable as other Olympics as the security was extremly tight and did not really allow for a good viewing spot, other than the big screens through the city or from a television. We where able to see the fireworks from our position but we where a good distance away, photos are coming. The night was a hot humid night and the opening was very long 4 and1/2 hours.
The couple of days where interesting, our uncle made it into town, but we had problems getting together which caused us some problems caused the uncle to have to spend the night at the airport. We where just happy that we where able to finally get connected and get us all together. We are all now staying in our hotel and started our favorite past time, meeting and greeting and pin trading.......We have also been to the Temple of the Heavens and have our plans laid out for other places to see.
We went to our first event today, (Tuesday August12) it was a team handball game. For those in the states this is a game that is played on a court similar to basketball, with nets similar to soccer. It is a fun game, played in 2 halfs of 30 minutes, so you get to see two games when you attend. It is an interesting game, very fast, lots of scoring, some very good action. It is very popular in Europe and interesting that it not in the USA. It is a sport that we would enjoy. The games today where between France and China, which the host country was unable to have a victory, with the second game, Spain and Poland, being very exciting with Spain pulling off the victory in the closing minutes. VERY exciting.........
The venues are well done and tickets are very hard to come by, but it is interesting, that the Chinese Olympic committee has stated that all tickets have been sold and this is true, because we have met a number of people who have not been able to get tickets. The sad part is that there are a number, alot, of empty seats at the venues. It is evident that although it is "sold out" not many people are attending. It is to bad that the tickets have not been made avialble to the public, as a number of international people are here who want to witness the games and they can not get a ticket.
Well, it is very late here in Beijing, and I just want to say Xie Xie Ni, (Thank you) for all those local people we have met that have helped us and showed us some kindness. It is a different place indeed, but well worth the trip and the experience.
Will write more later........GO USA!
4.8.08
Howdy Ya'll! Well the day has arrived and most of the delegation (P1) you will be missed, but we will keep you informed!, is making the trip across the seas, from Flordia, Washington, Utah and Singapore for the gathering of The Unofficial Texas Olympic Delegation in Beijing. So, with the various departure locations, you may be wondering how we got the name. Well, the name started in 1992 because we where all living in Texas, most are native, we have a adopted a couple "like minded" people over the years. But this is the 16th year of our journey, starting in Barcelona, we have made each summer games since. Hummm....I wonder of our brother in arms from Japan will be there this year.....He has been traveling to the summer games since 1964. Hope to see him.
One of goals each journey is to be volunteers, but we did not make the list this year, it does leave a little hole in the heart, as being a volunteer allows you to be a very important part of the games. But we still have one of the members on the inside, so we can still see a few things that not all spectators will get to see. (Thanks P2 or is that P1.5 did it change? I will so find out.)
So who is joining us this time:
The Sequel = Me
Double G = The other me (twin brother)
Your Uncle = ok, our uncle...hahaha...
P2 = The adopted member.
Who is not going to be here:
P1 = Well, he is not able to make it, he is doing well, just life events, which we all go through..
The Aussie Team = Robert and Natile, thanks for thinking about us with the Aussie Team.....
Where is Jason....hummm...wonder if he is going to be here...
So, well, I am needing to get on the plane, so I better finish this up....hummm....interesting when we started this journey there was not internet to speak of, and now look at how we communicate, play and work over this tool called to the World Wide Web......Keep looking for new updates and the stories and photos to come...
Adios, mi aigos!
XieXie
The Sequel...................
One of goals each journey is to be volunteers, but we did not make the list this year, it does leave a little hole in the heart, as being a volunteer allows you to be a very important part of the games. But we still have one of the members on the inside, so we can still see a few things that not all spectators will get to see. (Thanks P2 or is that P1.5 did it change? I will so find out.)
So who is joining us this time:
The Sequel = Me
Double G = The other me (twin brother)
Your Uncle = ok, our uncle...hahaha...
P2 = The adopted member.
Who is not going to be here:
P1 = Well, he is not able to make it, he is doing well, just life events, which we all go through..
The Aussie Team = Robert and Natile, thanks for thinking about us with the Aussie Team.....
Where is Jason....hummm...wonder if he is going to be here...
So, well, I am needing to get on the plane, so I better finish this up....hummm....interesting when we started this journey there was not internet to speak of, and now look at how we communicate, play and work over this tool called to the World Wide Web......Keep looking for new updates and the stories and photos to come...
Adios, mi aigos!
XieXie
The Sequel...................
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