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.