Sunday, March 12, 2006
Flying home...
Finally...59 days later, I'm off.
Look! It's Quebec City!
Even better...New York City!
I know these photos kinda suck, but I thought I'd post anyway. May need to click it to make sense of it.
Look! It's Quebec City!
Even better...New York City!
I know these photos kinda suck, but I thought I'd post anyway. May need to click it to make sense of it.
Advertising and "Look of the Games"
GE spent a LOT of money advertising in Torino. The Monogram (or meatball) was everywhere.
The "look of the games was pretty impressive". These are some shots from around Palavela (figure skating and short track speed skating).
The "look of the games was pretty impressive". These are some shots from around Palavela (figure skating and short track speed skating).
Palasport
There isn't major theme or point to these posts...just a bit of housekeeping. I wanted to make sure that these pictures get posted before they get lost and/or forgotten.
The Palasport hockey venue was absolutely gorgeous (as I've mentioned before). Here a few more pics that I found during this housekeeping effort.
Most photos are also being uploaded here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/96495635@N00/
The Palasport hockey venue was absolutely gorgeous (as I've mentioned before). Here a few more pics that I found during this housekeeping effort.
Most photos are also being uploaded here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/96495635@N00/
This rock was OSHA-approved
The stairs leading to the bus mall saw a LOT of traffic each day. Finally, near the end of the games, one of the metal steps "split". A quick thinking volunteer realized that this situation was unnaceptable and fixed it. He jammed a rock underneath the step for support.
In all fairness, they did fix the stair later that day.
In all fairness, they did fix the stair later that day.
Saturday, March 11, 2006
Sauze D'Oulx
One of the last venues that I visited during the games was Sauze D'Oulx. This was the venue for Freestyle (moguls and aerials). It wasn't a beautiful afternoon, but the venue was still impressive.
The "Alpine Group" of the Army was used at a number of venues to prepare the field of play.
Entering the field of play...
Would you ski down that?
And launch yourself off of one of these?
Maybe it's best just to walk down. Good choice Andy.
The "Alpine Group" of the Army was used at a number of venues to prepare the field of play.
Entering the field of play...
Would you ski down that?
And launch yourself off of one of these?
Maybe it's best just to walk down. Good choice Andy.
Monday, February 27, 2006
I got a credit!
Rumour is: I was included in the credits after NBC's coverage of the Closing Ceremonies! Nice.
K saw it, so did somone at her office, along with a collegue of mine in LA. It's my first credit that I know of. I'm pleased.
I hope to get a tape of it when I get home and perhaps post a screen capture (for my massive ego).
K saw it, so did somone at her office, along with a collegue of mine in LA. It's my first credit that I know of. I'm pleased.
I hope to get a tape of it when I get home and perhaps post a screen capture (for my massive ego).
Golden!
Last week I used my credential to get into the Women's Gold Medal Hockey game, and sat in the "Press Observer" seats. Not something I do very much (don't want to abuse the priviledge), but this was too good to pass up. There are some photos below, and more here.
I'm still here
Wow, it has been a while since I was able to post anything. As I mentioned last week, it had been much quieter. That actually posed a bit of a problem (for updating the blog) becuase there were too many other people around! I really didn't want the rest of the office to watch me while I updated the site.
It ain't quiet anymore.
Today is the first day of load-out at the IBC. Also known as strike. Not a strike where everyone holds-up placards and stands around a barrel burning wood pallets. The kind of strike where you take everything down and get out of Dodge.
Load-out started a few days ago at some of the venues, as soon as competition was over. I spent all-day on Sunday in the mountains "observing" the load-out at the Sestriere Colle venue (where our Alpine Skiing crew was located). This compound was huge! Our cabines, trucks and equipment covered ~1600 sq. m (nearly 2000 sq yards). There were 2 OB trucks and 2 tender trucks, At least 12 cabines and a crew of over 100 people.
During the set-up and gamestime, we had some serious safety issues at this location due to the material that the Host Committee decided to put on the ground (covering a golf course). They installed huge metal plates that became extremely slippery whenever there was a bit of snow on them. Traction was made even more difficult as the compound was on the side of a gently sloping hill. Seeing as this was the WINTER olympics, this was a bit of a problem. In fact, it was so slippery that the OB vans needed to be towed-out by a huge front-end loader.
In anycase, it was a great day. No injuries, 80% of the equipment was gone by 5 pm, and it was sunny and beautiful all day. I even got a bit of a tan.
It ain't quiet anymore.
Today is the first day of load-out at the IBC. Also known as strike. Not a strike where everyone holds-up placards and stands around a barrel burning wood pallets. The kind of strike where you take everything down and get out of Dodge.
Load-out started a few days ago at some of the venues, as soon as competition was over. I spent all-day on Sunday in the mountains "observing" the load-out at the Sestriere Colle venue (where our Alpine Skiing crew was located). This compound was huge! Our cabines, trucks and equipment covered ~1600 sq. m (nearly 2000 sq yards). There were 2 OB trucks and 2 tender trucks, At least 12 cabines and a crew of over 100 people.
During the set-up and gamestime, we had some serious safety issues at this location due to the material that the Host Committee decided to put on the ground (covering a golf course). They installed huge metal plates that became extremely slippery whenever there was a bit of snow on them. Traction was made even more difficult as the compound was on the side of a gently sloping hill. Seeing as this was the WINTER olympics, this was a bit of a problem. In fact, it was so slippery that the OB vans needed to be towed-out by a huge front-end loader.
In anycase, it was a great day. No injuries, 80% of the equipment was gone by 5 pm, and it was sunny and beautiful all day. I even got a bit of a tan.
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
It's oh so quiet...
Good Morning. It's Tuesday morning and not too much is doing. I thought I'd take a few moments and post an update.
Once the games have started and we are "on-the-air", things start to settle down for me. There are a couple of reasons for this:
I was here for over a months before the games started, there was plenty of time to get familiar with the venues, compounds, and how to get there.
People know me and has asked for assistance instead of me chasing down problems.
I've become better at asking for what I know that I need (regardless how big the problem is).
People are better at responding to my requests because they understand what I am trying to do.
Here's a good example of asking for something big...
One of our compounds was a major problem due to poor preparation by the host, slow contractors, and a lot of rain and snow. As a result there were some pretty pissed-off people who were saying it was totally unnaceptable. They were right. (Someone said it looked like Max Yasgur's farm after Woodstock, he was right too.)
After some very basic measuring and drawing, I estimagted that we needed about 85 sq meter of planks and a dump truck full of gravel. I figured that I would submit my report/drawings and who ever said "NO" could deal with the people who had to live with the muck and mess.
The next morning, this is what I saw at 8 am.
I was pretty shocked.
Several hours later, the compound was finished.
I didn't build it. I'm not taking credit for it...but it was a good result.
Once the games have started and we are "on-the-air", things start to settle down for me. There are a couple of reasons for this:
I was here for over a months before the games started, there was plenty of time to get familiar with the venues, compounds, and how to get there.
People know me and has asked for assistance instead of me chasing down problems.
I've become better at asking for what I know that I need (regardless how big the problem is).
People are better at responding to my requests because they understand what I am trying to do.
Here's a good example of asking for something big...
One of our compounds was a major problem due to poor preparation by the host, slow contractors, and a lot of rain and snow. As a result there were some pretty pissed-off people who were saying it was totally unnaceptable. They were right. (Someone said it looked like Max Yasgur's farm after Woodstock, he was right too.)
After some very basic measuring and drawing, I estimagted that we needed about 85 sq meter of planks and a dump truck full of gravel. I figured that I would submit my report/drawings and who ever said "NO" could deal with the people who had to live with the muck and mess.
The next morning, this is what I saw at 8 am.
I was pretty shocked.
Several hours later, the compound was finished.
I didn't build it. I'm not taking credit for it...but it was a good result.
Sunday, February 19, 2006
K was here...
Saturday, February 18, 2006
I love it...
Yesterday was a GREAT medals day for Canada. Nice!
(Grabbed from the CBC.ca/olympics website)
On another note...I'm a dumb ass. Katherine and I went to the Canada vs. Finland women's hockey game, but I didn't bring my camera. Ugh. No pictures of the handshakes. Sorry.
(Grabbed from the CBC.ca/olympics website)
On another note...I'm a dumb ass. Katherine and I went to the Canada vs. Finland women's hockey game, but I didn't bring my camera. Ugh. No pictures of the handshakes. Sorry.
Friday, February 17, 2006
K's pics
USA vs Kazakhstan
Last night K and I were given hockey tickets to see USA vs Kazakhstan (men) at Torino Esposizioni. It looked like the US was going to blow-out the Kazakhstanis (or is that Kazakhs?) when they scored 3 goals in the first period. But, despite the low "shots-on-net" stats, the Kazakhs actually made a game of it.
More info about the game here and here.
Face-off at the start of the 3rd period.
Face-off right in front of us. No pucks flying our way unfortunately. One of the guys onthe far side (left wing, #80) is Nik Antropov from the Toronto Maple Leafs. He is one of only two NHL'ers on the Kazakh team).
He shoots...misses.
We (USA) win!
Good game, good game, good game, good game...
Good game, good game, good game, good game...
Good game, good game, good game, good game...
Tonight we are going to the Women's semi-final, Canada vs Finland. More photos soon I hope!
More info about the game here and here.
Face-off at the start of the 3rd period.
Face-off right in front of us. No pucks flying our way unfortunately. One of the guys onthe far side (left wing, #80) is Nik Antropov from the Toronto Maple Leafs. He is one of only two NHL'ers on the Kazakh team).
He shoots...misses.
We (USA) win!
Good game, good game, good game, good game...
Good game, good game, good game, good game...
Good game, good game, good game, good game...
Tonight we are going to the Women's semi-final, Canada vs Finland. More photos soon I hope!
