Olympic wrap up

Well, what a way to finish up. I’m still recovering from the hungover created by too many drinks last night and 25 straight days working but it’s been such an experience. I’ve worked with an incredible team of people, some who have been to every Olympics for the past two decades. I’ve actually learnt something about sport – the last time one country won more than 50 Gold medals was in Seoul 1988 (it was the Soviet Union), only six athletes tested positive to drugs in Beijing (they were expecting more than 40) and they had to stop using live doves in the opening ceremony because they kept on getting charred in the Olympic flame (well that’s not really sport but interesting!)

I’ve seen some incredible, heart stopping sporting moments. Some live, others cutting together packages and highlights. Although Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt will forever be remembered as the standout performances of Beijing, for me there were some more magical or dare I say ‘special’ moments.

Matthew Mitchum winning Gold – I’d been to the semi finals of the men’s diving in the morning and he looked like a medal chance then. I was thinking wow, he could get a Bronze. The Chinese were just too good and at least 30 points ahead of the next competitors but come the finals Matthew executed the highest scoring dive in Olympic history and no one seemed more shocked then him.Here’s a photo of his bum in the semi finals.



Steve Hooker – we all gathered around the TV in the Seven office to see the spine tingling final of the pole vault. Apart from the amazing ability to spring off a pole and over a bar, he just seems like such a cool guy. Ended up coming down to almost a jump off for Gold. One of those moments no one expected but now everyone will remember.

The Softball team – they ended up winning Bronze and most of the team was crying on the podium. It’s the last time Softball and Baseball will be played at the Olympics and the last time these girls will ever get a chance to win.

And off the field I had some highlights of my own:

Being Bruce McAvaney's assistant of course tops the list. The man is a sporting machine and if you think he sounds like he knows his stuff on tellie, you should try having a conversation with him. In his house, he has walls and walls of notebooks he compiles statistics in. He can’t use a computer but the books are filled with highlighted stats and times for competitors. He had about five of them here. He’s also quite possibly the nicest man you’ll ever meet.



Going to the swimming - I’ve blogged about it before so I won’t delve too much into it but it was such a thrill to see Michael Phelps in the pool and witness history first hand.

The Fuwas – I developed a slight obsession with the Beijing mascots. Here’s a photo of me with a Fuwa, in my Fuwa t-shirt. Unfortunately I chose the one with the pretty colours and then realised it was the Tibetan antelope. I hope by wearing it, I’m not showing my support for China’s treatment of Tibet. I could be shunned by other backpackers.