Calm Before the Storm

Today was a day for getting acclimatized. We walked around Whistler Resort and the Whistler Media Centre, becoming familiar with our surroundings. I spent much of the day in the U.S. Media Services Office in the Whistler Media Centre. I will devote many more hours in the room. The Media Centre contains large rooms divided into smaller, temporary offices. We share a wall with some Canadian journalists and another group of guys speaking a language I don't understand. Work is sure to increase with the Opening Ceremonies looming.

Tomorrow is the Super Bowl, the biggest American sports event. Rather than watch it at a noisy bar, we will be watching the game from comfort of our Whistler condominium. Included among the amenities are a 42" flatscreen, small grill for cooking and a balcony looking out at Blackcomb and Whistler mountains (pictured above). I'm hoping for a good game but it would be nice to see the Saints win.

Canadian observation of the day: Hockey and curling are the two biggest sports and there's not a close third.

Whistler forecast (celcius): High 7, Low 0

On the Ground: Whistler

I'm here. Whistler is pretty amazing, although I've only seen it at night. My condo is really nice, apparently way fancier than most media housing at Olympic Games. Gotta get some sleep as work starts early tomorrow. I think we're going to check out some competition venues to get a lay of the land. That's my credential in the photo. It's supposed to be worth it's weight in gold. I'm hoping to get some USA pins so I can start trading with foreigners.

Canadian observation of the day: restrooms are labeled washrooms

Whistler weather forecast (celsius): high of 8, low of 1, partly cloudy

Next Stop: Vancouver

That guy in the photo is none other than Bob Harper, one of the two trainers on NBC's The Biggest Loser. Jillian was less willing to take photos with fans. The show came to the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs to film an episode back in November. That episode will air next Tuesday, Feb. 9 at 7pm CST.

I leave Friday for Vancouver, British Columbia, where I will be serving as a U.S. Olympic Committee Press Officer at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Actually, I will be stationed in Whistler, a ski resort 70 miles north of Vancouver. I will be in Canada for 26 days, from Feb. 5 to March 2. I'm very excited about it although I'm still not quite sure what my job duties will be. And I definitely have no idea what to expect when it comes to the craziness of an Olympic Winter Games.

The Opening Ceremonies are Friday, Feb. 12 and the closing ceremonies are Sunday, Feb. 28. Today's weather in Whistler: High 40, Low 33, scattered snow.

Click HERE for the 2010 U.S. Olympic Team announcement release I helped put out.

Click HERE for the 2009 USOC Awards release I wrote.

Follow me on Twitter @NickOlivier.

Back Home in Texas

Here's my belated post of the last few weeks in Colorado and the road trip home. Before leaving the Rockies, I made sure to see some ice hockey. First off was the biggest rivalry in the state: Colorado College versus Denver University. Denver came down to the Springs and defeated the home team in World Arena. Next up was a trip to DU's home ice, Magness Arena for another huge rivarly: U.S.A. versus Canada women's hockey. The Canadians dominated the U.S. in what could be a preview to the gold medal match at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

My buddy Anthony booked a one-way flight to Colorado so that he could accompany me on my drive south to Texas. While finishing out my last week at my internship, we spent a few nights in downtown Manitou Springs. What we didn't know was that the small mountain shuts down at 7pm. We toured the few bars still open and met some interesting people. Our drive home went by in a flash except for our highly-anticipated overnight stop in Amarillo. Turns out there isn't much more to do in the Texas panhandle than there is in Manitou Springs. We ended up going to the one tourist attraction in Amarillo, the Big Texan Steakhouse. The gaudy tourist trap left us wishing we had kept driving through the night.

I'm now home in San Antonio preparing for the Olympic Games and getting my life together. My plan for the blog during the Games is to make one short post a night, possibly with a single snapshot of the day, rather than an entire photo album.

Click HERE for photos of our road trip.

Click HERE for Teresa's article on the Southeast Texas swamp thing.

Days until the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games: 36

Texas Comes to Town

The past two weekends, I've been visited by my buddy Sean and my parents. Sean came up from Austin so that we could both go to the Denver Broncos-San Diego Chargers game at Invesco Field at Mile High. The home team lost but it was still had a lot of fun. We didn't know of anyone tailgating so we bought a six-pack and pre-gamed ourselves, Texas-style, using the unmelted snow as an ice chest.

While on his visit, I showed Sean downtown Colorado Springs, where he met half of the intern class. I took him on a tour of the Olympic Training Center. We stopped by the Air Force Academy to peak inside the Cadet Chapel. We watched the Texas Longhorns advance to 11-0 in a downtown Denver sports bar.

With Sean gone, it was a quick three-day workweek and then Thanksgiving weekend. My parents flew up and we spent the break with my Aunt, Uncle and cousins in Highlands Ranch. It was there that we ate an untraditional Thanksgiving dinner (no turkey) and watched the Horns finish the regular season undefeated at 12-0. I took my parents on a tour of Colorado Springs on Friday, complete with OTC tour, AFA drive-through and lunch in Manitou Springs. Saturday, we walked around Boulder, Colorado.

I have only three more weeks left in my internship. I hope to finish strong and see a few more sights along the way.

Click HERE for photos of Sean's visit.

Click HERE for the latest Olympic Sports Scene.

Days until the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games: 75

Texas, how I've missed you

Two weekends ago, I visited my old friend, Texas. While there, I took my first Longhorn football game, took in about 30 minutes worth of live music and ate some barbeque. My Horns dominated, the music was mediocre and the sausage poboy was delicious. Of course, it was great to see family and friends, like Sean, Roseanna, Zach and Anthony. It felt good to be back in the Lone Star State, although it went by too quickly.

Since returning, I had the opportunity to dust off the old pinstripe suit and dance. Just about all the interns took the chance to dress up and attend the way-too-early christmas charity function, the YOT (toy backwards) party. One toy and two books granted you admission and free drinks until they ran out, way-too-early. Anything for the kids.

This past weekend I spent working on the set of a hit television show. I can't reveal which one just yet but rest assured that I was able to get a picture with one of the celebrities on the show. Just another day at the Olympic Training Center.

Click HERE for photos of Texas and the YOT party.

Click HERE to see October's USOC Athletes and Team of the Month.

Days until Sean and I are watching the Broncos-Chargers game at Mile High Stadium: 4

Business Casual

Halloween was a two-day event this year. Friday I was in costume at work, my office was one of a few that actually dressed up. I've never spent a lot of money on a costume and this year was no different. I bought a dreadlocks wig from Walgreens and borrowed another intern's tie-dye shirt. That night I went to a party thrown by one of my co-workers. Outside of four other interns and one other co-workers, I didn't know anyone at the party. It ended up being really fun and I got to know two of my co-workers a little better.

Halloween day was spent watching college football all day at the house I was house-sitting. The house, owned by one of my bosses, is like a ski lodge without the slopes, complete with hot tub and a nature trail for a backyard. The worst part was climbing his snowed under front yard to get to the front door. Anyways, the Texas Longhorns defeated Oklahoma State to remain unbeaten and in the hunt for the national championship game. After the game, some interns and I headed downtown where we met up with the rest of the intern class. I realized on the way down that I had forgotten my costume. I picked up a "Math Tutor" sign off the side of the road and carried it around with me all night. Surprisingly, the costume was a hit.

Click HERE for photos of Halloween and my home for the week.

Click HERE for the latest Olympic Sports Scene.

Click HERE for Teresa's article on a triathlete racing for a cause.

Days until I am sipping Bill Miller's sweet tea in San Antonio: 3