Monday, August 13, 2012
On to Rio 2016...?
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.
Monday, August 6, 2012
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.
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
An Olympic Reunion
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Let the Games Begin
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
This is a Picadilly service to...
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.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Jumping in Headfirst
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.
Friday, July 13, 2012
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.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Seven Olympic Tickets
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
So Long, Farewell
Saturday, January 21, 2012
A Winter Sports Wonderland
Thursday, January 19, 2012
The Final Stretch
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Patscherkofel, Khutai and Seefeld
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Opening Ceremony
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.
Friday, January 13, 2012
From Austria, With Love
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Austria Bound
- 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.