My Days in Dalian
Our team processing in San Jose last week was an all day event, but everything was easy and breezy. And all in all, it was a good start to what will hopefully turn out to be a great Olympic experience.
Team processing was designed for all members of Team USA to get their necessities before heading to China. After we arrived at San Francisco Airport, we were escorted to a bus and driven to San Jose State University. Once we were there, we were given our keys and meal tickets for our stay on campus as well as a gift bag from Kleenex and Hilton hotels. Dorm rooms were set up as a suite with two bedrooms. Chefs were flown in from the Olympic training center in Colorado Springs to get an idea of what we wanted to eat. There was a variety of food for those of us with nutritional limitations.
Processing began 2 p.m. Each of us received a checklist to help us make sure we went to every station and completed everything. In one room, for example, we were fitted for our leather Olympic jackets and received our per diem expenses on a Visa card. In another room, we were able to pick out our Olympic rings. (Everyone gets a standard ring for free, but you have the option of making your ring even more bedazzling for an extra charge.) Then, we went to another room to confirm with a doctor that our medical information was correct and up-to-date or tell him if any new issues had occurred since we filled out our medical forms.
There was an area where we signed posters for corporate sponsors and others. We also received an information pamphlet on the Bank of America’s Hometown Hopefuls program. (To elaborate on that for just a little, Bank of America has set up a hospitality center in Beijing that is open to all members of Team USA and up to four of their family members. At the center, we can relax, enjoy food, get on the Internet and watch meets during the Games. The BofA will also give tickets to events. All we have to do as a member of Team USA is sign up! I think it is such a great way to show their support for us.)
OK, back to processing. Our last stop was an enormous room full of clothes we can wear while at the Games. Each of us got Ralph Lauren outfits for the opening and closing ceremonies as well as lots of extra Ralph Lauren stuff as gifts. The cool thing about our outfits for the opening ceremonies is that each one was individually tailored to fit perfectly. With something like 500 athletes, this was no easy task. But I appreciated that the company thought enough of us to tailor each outfit. Nike is the official sponsor of the USOC this Olympiad, so the company provided us with uniforms if we win medals at the Games and tons of other apparel to wear while we’re in China. In addition, each team member gets a bag with the proper uniform for his or her event.
I also received two new big rolling bags and a duffle in addition to the big rolling bag, small rolling bag and backpack I brought with me. You can imagine my dismay at the thought of lugging around all this stuff. Luckily, we were allowed to mail one bag home and I managed to fit one bag inside of another. This means I ended up with two large rolling bags and a backpack. I was very worried about toting around all this luggage, because the airlines have so many new rules and charges, but since we were traveling as a group that was all taken care of.
After we finished processing at about 5:30 p.m., we went to a meeting at 6 p.m. After dinner, we packed our bags, so the ones we were taking to Beijing could be loaded on our buses and taken to the airport, and our extra ones could be shipped home. By then, most of us were pooped, especially those of us who had flown in from the East Coast. The next morning, we had a 7:15 a.m. departure. It was our responsibility to make sure we got up, ate breakfast and turned in our keys on time. Our travel group included male and female judo fighters, female gymnasts and various track people. Upon our arrival at SFO airport, we were escorted to a private entrance and taken to a gate area, where snacks and drinks were set out for us. Now that is what I call the life! Finally, at 11:06 a.m. Thursday, we departed.
Twelve hours later, we arrived in Beijing at 2 p.m. Friday!!!! China is 12 hours ahead for East Coast time. On our arrival, we were met at the gate and were directed to a passport control lane reserved for Olympic travelers, which I thought was neat. After we got our bags, we headed for the buses. From the moment we got off the plane to the moment we got on our bus, people were taking photos of us. It was as though we were really famous. We even had to form a human barricade around the gymnast Shawn Johnson. The crowd and photographers were going crazy for her. I had the opportunity to have a few short conversations with her. She is really a genuinely nice girl, who is taking it all in. I think she’s going to LOVE her Olympic experience. I wish her the best.
Once we reached the Olympic Village at about 5 p.m., everyone went his or her separate ways. After the track team members got settled in our rooms, we had a 7 p.m. orientation meeting for our stay in the village. (I have to say that the village is beautiful; our hosts put a great deal of effort into the landscaping and the ambiance. It almost makes me want to be on vacation here with a significant other.) The next morning at 8:15, we were going to travel to our training camp in Dalian. With some many adventures still ahead of me, I finally went to bed.
After a quick departure in the morning, we headed to the airport again. The officials suggested that we get there three hours before our scheduled departure. To kill some time, we were escorted to a VIP lounge with free wireless!!! I was so shocked to have even more VIP treatment. They have already succeeded in spoiling us. When it was time for our departure, we were escorted to the plane and boarded before the other passengers! The star treatment was amazing.
When we arrived in Dalian, our bags were first out at the baggage claim area. Then, we were shown to our bus. During our trip, we had a police escort that seemed to be the equivalent to what they might provide for a head of state! All other traffic was cleared from the roads we were traveling on. In a short time, we arrived at our temporary digs. We will return to the Olympic Village a few days before we set out to win medals in our events. Well, you’re now up to speed on the four days from 7:45 a.m. Wednesday in Miami ending at 3 p.m. Saturday in Dalian, China.
It is now six days later, and I have three more days to go in Dalian. It has been a good stay with first class treatment from all the people here. USATF has a whole hotel for just us in a secluded area with police escorts to and from practice. It has been a good place for focus and reflection as we get ready to head into the commotion of the village, competition, media and friends and family over in Beijing. I have adjusted to the time difference, had 5 solid workouts, and some solid relay practices as well. I am glad to have had the time to unwind from the travel and the building anxiety leading into the games although it is inevitable that it will start to build again soon. Hopefully it will be just enough instead of becoming overwhelming. Life is mostly training and hanging around the hotel but we did venture out once for a day on the town to shop and enjoy our surroundings.
However, Travis Padgett and Abdi Abdirahman, along with a few others weren’t too concerned with the shopping but more with the relaxing as we found some top of the line massage chairs that we spent about 45mins in. Travis and I tried on an eye massager that was pretty neat. I was nervous at first but it only massages the area of your face right around your eyes and was actually quite refreshing.
Not much else to report we eat, train, eat, shower, get treatment, then hang out in the athlete lounge playing cards, ping pong or board games and occasionally venture to the bowling alley or movie theatre which are both here in the hotel. I am a reader and am making my way leisurely thru a book called Delirium right now. As my nervousness mounts I get lost in books and start to plow through them in 2 or 3 days. I am anxious to get this show on the road and just know how things have turned out. I am sure the night before I begin the rounds I will be begging for time to stop. It is just one of those things that come with the territory. Well, that is all for now.