On to Rio 2016...?

Despite all the fun and Games described in these blog posts, there are times when the thought of going to another Olympics is not an appealing one. Between the hour long bus rides, the 30 minute waits for the bus and having to go through airport-style security about five times a day, nothing is easy. All the cool sporting events I was able to see occurred at the end of a long day of work and getting to and from the venue was an ordeal. This was time that could be spent working, sleeping or eating.

That said, I wouldn't trade it for the world. The Closing Ceremony renewed my energy to stay in the Olympic movement for as long as it will have me, or at least another four years. The Closing was truly a party, which wasn't always the case with the tight security surrounding this Olympics. John Lennon and Freddie Mercury even made appearances. Surprisingly, Brazil's portion of the ceremony was one of the more subdued segments.

Right before the Closing, I was lucky enough to score a media ticket to the gold medal men's basketball final between USA and Spain. Until then, I had been sticking to the less popular sports because I didn't want to take a seat away from a reporter who's actually working the event. But I couldn't turn down this opportunity. The game was close and the crowd was into it, but Kevin Durant and Co. were too much for the Spaniards.

I leave on Tuesday, which gives me the rest of today to have some non-Olympic fun in London. I think I'll go for a bike ride.

Click HERE for my latest photos.
Click HERE for my latest press release.
Click HERE to see the Universal Sports interview I helped set up.

Sprint to the Finish

London 2012 Round 2 starts Tuesday for me as the flatwater sprint canoe/kayak racing begins for Team USA. We have two kayakers. Carrie Johnson is a three-time Olympian who will affectively retire  after these Games to begin a four-year veterinary program at UC-Davis. The other, Tim Hornsby, is a first-timer whose girlfriend just finished 9th in the pole vault.

Since my last post, I have been able to watch tennis at Wimbledon, women's water polo, men's basketball, rowing and table tennis. It was the first time I had seen many of these sports live, but seeing tennis at the All-England Club was special. It's the closest I might ever get to experiencing Wimbledon. I watched the Bryan brothers advance in men's doubles and Serena Williams do the same in women's singles. Both would go on to win Gold later. I also sat on "Henman's Hill" to watch Federer v. Isner (USA).

In the lull between slalom and sprint canoe/kayak racing, I've been able to set up interviews with BBC World News and Universal Sports. The sprint canoe/kayak venue is even farther away than the slalom venue, and the races are in the morning, meaning I will have to leave my dorm at around 6am to get there in time. I'm not sure if I'll have any time for sightseeing, but if I do tops on my list of things to do are Tower of London and trying out London's bikeshare system. Somehow I never saw the Tower of London during my semester abroad in this city.

Click HERE for my latest photos.
Click HERE for my latest press release.
Click HERE to see the BBC interview.
Click HERE to read one of the stories I helped set up.

An Olympic Reunion

When I'm not out at the faraway canoe/kayak venues, I'm generally at the Main Press Centre in Olympic Park or at my dorm at the University of East London - Docklands Campus. Seems like everywhere I go I run into people I know - some I expected to see, others were a surprise. It was the first time for me to meet 5 of the 7 canoe/kayak Olympians, two coaches and one of my co-workers. Then there's the 11 other Young Reporters that I knew from our adventures in Singapore and Austria. Then there's the good folks at the U.S. Olympic Committee and the other U.S. press officers at other sports. To think it all started with an internship in 2009.

Sadly, all five U.S. slalom athletes were knocked out of competition in the qualifying rounds, many in heartbreaking fashion. After a very busy first two days of competition, I find myself with more free time than I'd care for. Still, I'm working to garner as much media attention as possible while I am in the same city as these athletes. The two U.S. sprint athletes begin competing next Tuesday.

Yesterday, I was able to venture out into Central London for the first time. Olympic Park is in a part of East London that no tourist would have gone to before now. I was glad to finally see the London I knew from my study abroad experience in 2008. I was able to catch some beach volleyball near 10 Downey Street, where the Prime Minister lives. As I write this, I'm sitting in the press area watching Argentina take on Pakistan in field hockey. If I get a full day off, I'm thinking of going out to Wimbledon to watch some Olympic tennis.

Click HERE for some photos. More photos.

Click HERE to read one of my event recaps.

Click HERE to read one of the interviews I helped set up.

Click HERE to watch kayaker Caroline Queen's final run.

Let the Games Begin

The Opening Ceremony was great. It wasn’t overwhelming and over-stimulating as some of these events can be. It was relatively understated.

It started off with a flyover and a bit of rain. The clouds subsided and the fake English country side that was created in the center of the stadium gave way to a long drum-heavy journey through the nation’s industrial age. It told a story without ever using words. Then came a bizarre dream sequence from JK Rowling. Mr. Bean’s bit was funny, but I’m not sure it did justice to the very Olympic film tune "Chariots of Fire". The run through on British music could have been cut in half, because for every Rolling Stones, there’s a Prodigy, or worse. But I loved the choice to play Pink Floyd during the big firework finale and David Bowie’s “We Can Be Heroes” as the British team concluded the parade of Olympians. Paul McCartney’s performance of “Hey Jude” was very good. I can now say I’ve seen a Beatle live.

My canoe/kayakers start racing on Sunday, so it's the last bit of quiet before the storm. Go USA!

This is a Picadilly service to...

"This a Picadilly service to Cockfosters."

That's the first thing you hear after jumping in the Tube from Heathrow Airport. Not exactly the most regal introduction.

For me it's a reintroduction. I studied abroad in London in the Spring of 2008. I wasn't sure when I'd be able to return and I didn't think it would be for the 2012 Olympics.

I was able to sleep on the plane, which is good considering I arrived at 830am GMT and have lots to do today. I am without Internet or cell service as I write this. I took the Tube across town to my dorm and now I'm waiting to be checked in. Wish me luck.

Jumping in Headfirst

I'm waiting at my terminal at Dallas-Fort Worth airport, pecking away on my phone. In about 25 hours I will be hosting my first press conference, jetlag be damned. Things are about to get real hectic. Here goes nothing...

The US CanoeKayak Team starts competing on Sunday. Surprisingly, NBC will be covering much of it live on their main channel. Check nbcolympics.com for a full schedule. The Opening Ceremony is Friday. I'm hoping to snag a ticket.

Visit usack.org to see the media guide I put together.

London Calling

13 days. Less than two weeks to go until the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. I've been fortunate enough to experience Olympic Games of varying sizes. But this one should take the cake, or biscuit, or whatever they eat in England. The Games will mark my return to London after I spent a semester abroad there in Spring 2008. It will mark the culmination of two years of covering canoe/kayak for the U.S., after reporting on dozens of events from my couch and one from the actual venue. It will be the first time I meet five of the seven 2012 Olympic paddlers, whose names I've written about a thousand times.

I'll be staying in a dorm room at the University of East London campus in the Docklands. The industrial area of town adjacent to the Canary Wharf business district has been transformed into an Olympic wonderland for the Games. But I won't be spending much time there. Each morning I'll make the long commute to the faraway canoe/kayak venues. The first week is whitewater slalom racing at the brand new Lee Valley Whitewater Center in Broxbourne, just north of London. After that is flatwater sprint racing at the historic Eton Dorney venue near Windsor Castle, just west of London. I'm hoping to have one day off in between the two events, so that I may experience some other Olympic sports. I'm thinking tennis at Wimbledon or beach volleyball near Buckingham Palace or table tennis.

What sport do you think I should try to see on my day off?

Click HERE to read a feature on 2012 U.S. Olympic sprint team coach Stein Jorgensen.

Follow my adventure on Twitter @nickolivier and @usacanoekayak.

Seven Olympic Tickets

Seven. That's how many U.S. canoe/kayak athletes will represent Team USA at the London 2012 Olympic Games. That's the number of athletes I will be in charge of promoting and fielding their media requests. Four kayakers and three canoe athletes. Two flatwater sprint athletes and five whitewater slalom athletes. Six boats, including a two-man canoe slalom boat. The final two slots were earned this past weekend at the Slalom Pan American Championships in Brazil, which I covered from my apartment in Fort Worth. Click HERE to read my event recap.

Which athletes will fill each boat remains to be seen. The picture will become clearer after the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in April. I'll be attending the sprint trials Oklahoma City on April 20. For sprint kayakers Carrie Johnson (San Diego, Calif.) and Ryan Dolan (Kailua, Hawaii), it's "win and you're in." The media attention is already starting to really pick up.

Countdown to London: 135 days

The photo above is of me interviewing an Iranian alpine skier through an interpreter at the 2012 Winter Youth Olympic Games in Innsbruck, Austria. The photo appeared in the sports section of the local German-language newspaper.

So Long, Farewell

Auf Wiedersehen, Innsbruck. My third Olympic Games might have been my most productive. After many trips to the mountains and many interviews conducted through interpreter or broken English, I have some stories to show for it. I learned a ton about writing and reporting while working with some awesome mentors and senior reporters. Never will I get to work with such great sportswriters and editors in a situation where it's expected for them to show me everything they know.

I had a great time hanging out with the other young reporters. Never will I get the chance to spend two weeks eating, drinking and working with 14 other people from different countries. The experience of talking with others about their native culture, food and politics is the next best kind of cultural exchange after visiting those countries themselves. I've gained a tour guide should I visit Barbados, Vancouver, the Canadian Arctic, Montevideo, Tel Aviv, Vienna, China, Singapore, Australia, Dakar, Senegal, Delhi, Riga and Ukraine.

Click HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE for four more of my stories.

Click HERE for more photos of my Austrian adventure.

German translation of the day: beer = bier

A Winter Sports Wonderland

Click HERE to read my first event review of the Games.

German translation of the day: achtung = caution

The Final Stretch

The past two days were spent away from the mountains. I was able to watch speed skating, some hockey and engage in the Culture and Education Program that is unique to the Youth Olympics. Friday, I return to Patscherkofel to cover alpine skiing. It will be my first time writing a standard event review since arriving in Innsbruck. I'm excited for the challenge.

There's only three more days left in this crazy trip. There's still about five sports across three venues I've yet to see. Once I return to the States, there will be 185 days until the Opening Ceremony for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Click HERE to read my latest story, which I'm surprised hasn't caused more of a stir.

Click HERE to see more photos of my Austrian adventure.

German translation of the day: guten tag = good day, hello

Patscherkofel, Khutai and Seefeld

Those are names of the three mountain venues for winter sports around Innsbruck. After six straight days working assignments at these venues, Wednesday will bring a welcome change of pace. I will get to stay inside Innsbruck city limits. Somehow, I've been dubbed the mountain man of the Young Reporters. I've covered primarily the outdoor sports: ski/snowboard halfpipe, luge, alpine skiing, and ski jumping. Two days ago was probably the coldest I've ever been in my life. The weather in the mountains was -10 celcius, or 14 degrees Fahrenheit, not counting wind chill. Not fun conditions for standing around outside all day.

I've been able to catch bits of hockey, curling and for the first time Tuesday - figure skating. With only five days left of competition, I hope to catch the remaining winter sports I haven't seen live: speed skating, biathlon, bobsled and skeleton.

I've interviewed lots of people and written some cool stories, but THIS one might be my favorite of the trip.

Click HERE for more photos of my Austrian adventure.

German translation of the day: auf wiedersehen = goodbye

Opening Ceremony

I took these quotes from athletes at the Opening Ceremony for the inaugural Winter Youth Olympic Games in Innsbruck, Austria, but they never got used.

So here they are. Try to imagine the accents when you read them.

James Lelliot (Great Britain), bobsled, 18

“It’s absolutely amazing. I can’t believe how many people have turned up for it. It’s an honor. It’s going to be absolutely amazing. I think for anyone who hasn’t realized how big this thing is, they’ll realize after this.”

Linus Birkendahl (Germany) snowboard slopestyle, 16

“Super stoked to be here, it’s awesome. The crowd, all the people, it’s just an awesome feeling. I’ve never been to anything like this. There’s 70 countries here. It’s so good.”

David Panyik (Hungary) biathlon, 16

“Really exciting. The show was beautiful. Amazing performance, everything. Nations come together and celebrate together this event. So I think it’s amazing.”

Anne Michiels (Belgium) speed skating, 15

“It’s amazing. It’s just a big experience to be here and I like it very much. It’s so nice you can meet other people. It’s beautiful.”

Georgi Mihaylov (Bulgaria) snowboard slopestyle, 16

“It’s amazing, the atmosphere and everything is perfect. The whole country’s coming. We exchange some pins. It was cool. The feeling is good.”

Click HERE to read my latest story.

Click HERE to see photos of the Opening Ceremony and more.

From Austria, With Love

I've been here four days now and I've just now found time to talk. In 30 minutes, I will board the media shuttle to the Opening Ceremonies. It's located at Innsbruck's iconic ski jumping venue, so stay tuned for those photos. My first couple days have been filled with training, interviewing and writing. I've filed three stories so far. Click HERE to read the first published article.

It's not too cold in the city. Even in the mountains, it's only freezing when the sun isn't shining. My hotel is very nice and the area surrounding it is filled with restaurants. I've already had pretzels, schnitzel, gulash and my share of beers - all Austrian/German delicacies. It's been great to meet the other "young reporters" and "mentors" again.

My first two assignments have been to report on training for ski halfpipe and luge, both outside and in the mountains. I think most of my days will be spent in the great outdoors, rather than inside watching hockey or curling. I've never seen halfpipe in person and it looks totally different than what I've seen on TV. Since training hasn't started, my job is talk to athletes and come up with a story. So far I've written about the different halfpipe tricks and interviewed a US bobsledder and US luge athlete.

Click HERE to see photos of my first few days.

German Translation of the Day: thanks = danke

Austria Bound

On Monday, I leave for Innsbruck, Austria, site of the inaugural Winter Youth Olympic Games. I attended the first Summer Youth Olympics in Singapore in August 2010 as part of the International Olympic Committee's Young Reporters program. Well, I've been invited back and I couldn't be more excited. I'll try to post and Tweet as often as possible.

Here's what I think I know about Innsbruck, Austria and the 2012 Youth Olympics:

• The main language of Austria is German.
• Arnold Schwarzenegger lived in Austria until he was 21.
• Austrian beer and schnitzel is supposed to be as good as any in Germany.
• Innsbruck is a world-class ski town of 150,000.
• Innsbruck is much closer to Munich, Germany than Vienna, Austria.
• The forecast calls for light snow and highs in the mid-30s.
• Innsbruck has hosted two Winter Olympics in 1964 and 1976.
• Three sports will make their Olympic debut - snowboard slopestyle, ski halfpipe, women's ski jumping.
• Team USA features a pair of twin curling athletes, a brother-sister ice dancing duo and two athletes with Olympian fathers.