Press Conferences.

Since 2001 when the IOC announced that Beijing would hold the 2008 Olympics, China has been preparing for the Opening Ceremonies and the next 16 days.  Being a part of this project has already transformed many of our lives so greatly, that to image how much these Games mean to the Chinese people is hard to imagine.   To celebrate the final arrival of the day, the 8th was announced as a national holiday and Beijing fell silent in the morning hours awaiting the much rumored about grand ceremony.  To celebrate the beginning of the end, a group of volunteers and I planned hours in advance to go to All Star, City Weekend's top pick for viewing the Olympics. Boasting 65 plasma screens, it was hard to resist.  Only when we arrived in the early afternoon, the hostess and the marketing manager announced the bar wouldn't be open until 7 that night.  As we stood gazing in, a few workers rushed past carrying stools into the restaurant.  Inside we could see paint glistening as more workers finished the white coat.  (I left later that night with a white dusting on my feet from rubbing against the bar.)  

We left, ate some Cold Stone, and came back for the wait.  Enticing us to stay was the thought that the U.S.A.'s basketball team might show up.   Through our patience (we waited two hours in the Beijing humidity) the manager let us go in first and get our choice of premium seating.  Half an hour before they opened the doors, the marketing manager had slipped Rene a note announcing his plan and the way she would have to follow.  It included cutting some people and putting up some fingers.    

The ceremony was fun, but long and by the sign of Diane's head resting on the bar, we needed to go home.  We needed sleep, we cheered too much for the U.S.A. (and heard quite the booing for President Bush).  

In the Main Press Center, the London Olympic organizers said after the ceremony, "Fuck, how are we going to make our torch cooler?"  Inside information from my roommate Stacie who worked there until 4 a.m.   

Today at work we listened to press conferences from Lindsay Davenport, watched Rafael walk into the room for his (drooled a little), and Elena Jankovic.  Lindsay talked about her knee injury and her singles withdrawal.