China's Progression Toward Capitalism

When people think about China, people think communism. People think about the government limiting opportunities for people. And before I traveled to China for the first time, I thought the same. To my surprise, from what I experienced, it's far from that.

The Chinese people and government are quickly catching on to the ability to make money off of just about anything. Ninety percent of the historical places I visited charged an admission that was a decent amount for Chinese people. People are renting bikes for tourists to ride around the city. People are manning newspaper stands to sell noodles, Gatorade and cigarettes.

I think what I experienced was a country that is becoming more and more Western. The Western influence as it relates to business operations is very visible. For some people in the Western part of the world, that's scary. Some experts have talked about China becoming a superpower in the capitalism realm. With the progress I witnessed in a country many people thought would be far from Western for a long time, I wouldn't be surprised if it was a dominant player in the world of capitalism in the next 50 years.

Labor Surrounding the Olympics

The volunteer system the Beijing Organizing Committee set up for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games was A LOT different than anything I have experienced in America.

Many of the paid volunteers were working on-site at the venues at least a year before the Games ever began. And I am talking about basic-level management positions for simple operations at venues. For instance, the manager of the "pigeon holes" at the Laoshan Velodrome will have worked for about 14 months at the venue at the completion of the Paralympic Games. Pigeon holes are essentially boxes that hold any releases published by the Olympic News Service at that venue. The manager had about 10 people working for him and the coordination of this pigeon hole operation would take no more than two weeks of planning. Yet, he will have worked about 14 months on this task.

It was clear that the mindset as it relates to the paid volunteers was the same across the board. It didn't matter that the pigeon hole operation took less time than the coordination of the Opening Ceremony. The two would put in the same amount of time. I don't know if that is exactly the case hours wise, but the thought process was similar for the two. And the result was a lot of napping. Napping and small-group games were the solutions for many of those paid volunteers to pass the time.

Also, it was evident that the organizing committee demanded devotion from these volunteers when it wasn't necessary. The Laoshan Velodrome had showers built in - not for athletes - but for volunteers. In my time there, I never would have found it necessary to shower there. On top of that, there were instances that I was told of volunteers taking sleep bags to the venues and staying overnight. I think the intentions of the organizing committee were good. It wanted the Olympics to go as smoothly as possible but the use of paid volunteers was much different many Western cultures. And in fact, in one conversation I had with the pigeon hole manager I mentioned above, he emphatically told me he would be telling someone after the completion of the Games that what they demanded of him was unfair.

Saying Goodbye to Beijing

The Olympics are over. Last night, all of us went to a former Purdue student's house in the suburbs of Beijing for a cookout and to watch the Closing Ceremony. I am definitely sad that this experience is over. I have thoroughly enjoyed Beijing for seven weeks and if I had the chance to stay longer I would. My job of gathering quotes for the media was a lot of fun and I learned a different perspective when it comes to large events operating.

I have no more volunteer duties. Today is my last full-day in Beijing. I don't have any big plans for today but I am sure I will spend plenty of time trying to pack everything I bought into my suitcases that were already busting at the seams when I got here.

I hope all of you enjoyed my blog and I think I will add a couple more updates once I get back to the States with some other material that was a bit controversial to add while here in Beijing. My plane leaves Beijing at 3:45 p.m. and I will be heading to Newark, New Jersey, before heading home to Indianapolis.

Life Outside of Cycling

When it comes to covering other events at the Olympics for the Olympic News Service, it's just not a possibility for us because we were assigned cycling. There are other international volunteers working at other sports, such as basketball, gymnastics and athletics. Some of the other schools that I know of that are here volunteering are Emerson, Missouri and North Carolina. I am not sure how the Beijing Organizing Committee decided on where to put each university, either. Also, because of the high security, our credentials allow us access to our venues only.

That's why when I was recently given the opportunity to follow David Neville's competitions at the Olympics I was stoked. Neville is a member of the U.S. Track and Field team. He graduated from Merrillville, Ind., and the Northwest Indiana Times, a paper I have done correspondence work with in the past, wanted coverage of his events. He runs the 400-meter dash and is part of the 1,600-meter relay team. So, before and after his events I have been interviewing him and his parents about the event and his results. On Thursday, he dove head-first to barely win Bronze in the 400-meter dash and tonight he helped his relay team advance to the finals.

I have been elated to have the opportunity to cover an Olympic athlete even if it is from my dorm room at the Communication University of China.

Headlines from Olympic Cycling

CYCLING TRACK COMPETITION COMPLETE

My world of cycling track ended quickly two days ago exactly the way it started - with Great Britain winning medals. Chris Hoy (GBR) became one of the first British athletes to win three Gold medals at the Olympics in a century with his Individual Sprint win. I was little bummed everything on the track was over. In the last six weeks I had grown to enjoy it and wished there was a bit more competition.

FIRST DAY OF BMX IN THE OLYMPICS

As one would imagine, BMX Cycling was really busy during its first day of official competition in the Olympics. I got to see some time trials for the men and women, along with the quarterfinals for the men. During the quarterfinals, there were tons of crashes and the Americans did really well. Mike Day (USA) won all three of his heats, while Donny Robinson (USA) and Kyle Bennett (USA) also advanced. The second and final day of BMX didn't happen. Beijing was rain-soaked this morning and the competition was pushed back until Friday morning (Beijing time).

MOUNTAIN BIKE BEGINNING

With two days of cycling competition left, mountain bike starts up. Mountain bike seems cool but it's not spectator-friendly. The only portion of the track that is viewable is the final 30 seconds. I have not done any research on any teams so I don't know who is going to do well, but I do anticipate a lot of standing around with little competition to watch. Also, the first stages of competition are going to be on the heels of the delayed BMX so Friday (Beijing time) is going to be a really long day.

A Look at the Volunteer 'Lunch'

I blogged earlier about the "lunch" that we get as volunteers. It's a bit difficult to enjoy.

What you see above is the tray of food after I ate. This photo actually makes it a look at little more colorful. This plastic container is given to us at a ridiculous high temperature along with a piece of fruit (which I will talk about), three bottles of water and a Coke.

With this particular lunch, I ate the middle out of my rice and about half of the upper left-hand corner. I think it was beef. The middle dish is a seaweed and corn dish that has been obliterated.  On the far right is, I think, beef that has bones in it and pieces of fat. The bottom left is, I think, chicken with some green vegetable. For this lunch, I took the assumed-beef and put it on my rice that I cover with some spice sauce that is offered. On most days, it's about 10 spoonfuls of substance. It is just enough to make yourself think you're full. But don't forget about that piece of fruit. The bananas we have gotten have been good but when it is a staple just about every day they get old quickly. Some times we get what I call "greens." It supposed to be an orange but it is green. It's really difficult to eat but it does the trick some times.

I don't want anyone to think that I am starving because all of you know, I don't starve. Ultimately, lunch has given me another great appreciation for other meals.

More Headlines from the World of Cycling

MORE BRITISH DOMINATION

It's clear that Great Britain got where it needed to be to dominate this year's Olympics because no other team is even close to the Brits. They set a world record in the Men's Team Pursuit, added the Women's Individual Pursuit medals and advanced three people to the final eight in the Women's and Men's Sprint semi-finals. The final day of cycling track is today, August 19, and it could wrap up the most dominated cycling track year ever at any Olympic Games. What's scary is who can imagine what the Brits will do at home in London in 2012?

NO BRAKES?! THAT'S RIGHT, NO BRAKES

If you haven't heard or noticed, the bikes in cycling track don't have brakes. The result is less weight on the bike for a quicker ride and more danger. That's why when you see one rider go down, usually the whole pack goes with him. Sure, there is little time to react but they don't have the option of stopping. To slow down riders move up the track and to stop they use railings and coaches.

CRAZY CRASH

The Women's Points Race opened up Monday (Beijing time) with some intriguing storylines: Would Great Britain medal with Rebecca Romero? Would American Sarah Hammer battle for a medal after disappointing in the pursuit? Could the roadie Vos get the Netherlands a gold?

Well, within the first five minutes of the race Hammer got cleared out in a brutal crash. The points race has about 30 riders on the track and it gets a little crowded around the turns. One of the riders moved up the track into another rider and down they went. The two of them skidded down the track and enveloped Hammer, among others. Hammer did a flip off her bike and immediately grabbed her shoulder and started sobbing. Japan and Germany also lost a riders from the crash.

FINAL DAY OF CYCLING TRACK

Today (Tuesday Beijing time) marks the final day of Cycling Track. (I have two days of BMX and Mountain Bike after this.) The final day is going to be far from boring. Chris Hoy (GBR) is in line for his third Gold medal in the Individual Sprint and I get my first live look at the Madison. The Madison is an event where riders "fling" themselves to gain momentum during the race. The odds of a crash are immense, so the video I am posting of it should be fun.

FIRST TASTE OF BMX

I went in early Monday (Beijing time) because training for Cycling BMX has started. The competition begins Wednesday (Beijing time) morning. Wow, what a different world BMX is. The atmosphere is completely different from the Cycling Track. For instance, there are people walking around with mohawks, tattoos and piercing instead of bikes that cost close to US$100,000. I am sure the BMX bikes aren't cheap but life is a lot more easy-going. I am excited to experience my first BMX competition and I will have plenty of photos and video for you to enjoy.

My First Days Experiencing Olympic Competition

Whew!!! My first two days of competition at the Laoshan Velodrome are over and it's been crazy. For Friday and Saturday, I was scheduled from 15:00 to 21:00. If you factor in traveling to and from the venue, I am in uniform for about eight hours. In those hours between the two days I have tons to share. For that, I am going to break this blog into headlines that will cover everything.

GREAT BRITAIN IS GOOD AT CYCLING

All of us who learned the world of track cycling in a matter of weeks knew the British had some talent but they have dominated the track so far. Many media members and cyclists are shocked that it has been so one-sided. The Brits have won six medals, three of which are gold, in the four events that have concluded and Sunday features are gold-medal match with two Brits. (That means they have another silver and gold coming their way.) Their muscle-man Chris Hoy has two golds and will try for his third in the Men's Individual Sprint in the next couple days.

NO SIGN OF THE AMERICANS

Aside from the Men's Sprint Team that made the top eight, the U.S. hasn't done anything. Gold-medal favorite, Sarah Hammer, was extremely disappointed with her effort in the Women's Pursuit. Hammer didn't make either medal ride-off and wasn't real sure why she didn't perform better. "It just wasn't my day," Hammer said. Also, the feel-good story of Taylor Phinney, the 18-year-old product of two cyclists, ended with no medal chance. The last shot for a medal is on the shoes of sprinter Jennie Reed, who is a medal favorite.

BIG CROWDS TURN OUT

The Laoshan Velodrome has benefited from two really good crowds. The Europeans love their cycling and it's showing. The crowds have been dominated by the Netherlands, France and Great Britain. A fan aspect that is cool in track cycling is you are really close to the action. Quite a few athletes have interacted with fans when riding by in celebration and that is always a fun aspect for fans.

PLENTY OF CHAOS ON THE TRACK

It didn't take long to witness my first crash in track cycling. During the first heat of Team Sprint qualifying on Friday, a Polish cyclist went down. A track cycling crash is a lot worse than one might. The cyclist is wearing a skin-tight rubber suit and the track is silky-smooth. The result is a sliding cyclist that doesn't stop for some time. The rubber suit then burns off from the friction and the next to go is the cyclist's skin. Saturday yielded another crash but this time it enveloped Theo Bos (NED), who is one of the track stars. Bos didn't use the re-run opportunity in order to save his body to battle for the Individual Sprint crown.

FLASH QUOTE REPORTING HAS ITS BATTLES

My job is to be a flash quote reporter, which means I gather quotes from athletes immediately following events. Like many things in life, it's not that simple. There are two areas where I can be to collect these quotes, the radio/television broadcast zone or the print reporters zone. For most of the medal rounds, there are more than 100 people in the zones. All of those people have a specific objective and tight deadlines, including the flash quote reporters, so things can get a bit crazy at times. Also, as everyone knows, most athletes operate in their own way. Just because one athlete wants to go talk to reporters doesn't mean the next will. A lot of these battles give myself some excitement and thrill in doing the job.

Bamboozled???

Absolutely.

I thought about writing this blog and not writing this blog and decided I would openly criticize digitally altering part of the opening ceremony fireworks and lip-syncing one of the performances with a different singer.

If you haven't heard, The Beijing Times broke news several days ago that the giant footsteps that opened the broadcast on 8.8.08 were digital. Why? Because the "haze" would have prevented viewers from seeing the fireworks on that night. Apparently the fireworks were actually launched but what billions of people across the world saw were fireworks

 created on a computer. In today's world, everything is about perception. So, if you are going to replace actual fireworks with digital fireworks without telling anyone, it will create doubt for many, many other aspects of life. I feel dumb because I thought the giant footsteps were one of the most special parts of the opening ceremony. I know why it was so impressive now. Apparently, NBC broadcasters referred to the a

lteration but I am not sure if their mention of it made it clear to viewers. I know the English-speaking broadcast I watched did not say anything about the footsteps being altered.

Secondly, to have a different little girl lip-sync a song during the ceremony is absurd. I can understand having a little girl lip-sync during the actual performance because she could get scared or something but have it be the same girl. Again, if you give people reasons to doubt things you are doing then it can lead to more doubts in undeserved areas.

I hope these were the only aspects that weren't "real" and I wish it wasn't that way. The opening ceremony was amazing and would have been with "hazed" out fireworks and the other little girl.

Olympic City

Here in China, CCTV rules the airways for broadcast television. And as you would expect, CCTV has five to six channels devoted to Olympic coverage. Combine that with two days off from work and you get loads and loads of Olympic Games viewing.

Thankfully, the USA vs. China men's basketball game is dragging me to a Western-style restaurant this evening because I have been useless the past 36 hours. In that time I haven't showered and I have only left our building to go get a newspaper and some noodles from the local mart. (Don't judge me, please.) I think the five weeks of basically no sports viewing made me thirsty for competition.

Of course most of the coverage is centered on Chinese athletes but when there are so many channels showing events, I have been able to watch events I have never seen. Here's a list of what I have watched.

– Archery

– Artistic Gymnastics

– Badminton

– Basketball, men's and women's

– Beach Volleyball

– Cycling Road

– Diving

– Equestrian

– Fencing

– Handball

– Judo

– Rowing

– Sailing

– Shooting

– Soccer

– Swimming (I saw Michael Phelps cry during his first gold medal ceremony.)

– Table Tennis

– Volleyball

– Weightlifting

That's 19 events. It would be awesome if NBC or any of the cable networks teamed together to give you the ability to see so much Olympic coverage at once. Of course, that is a bit unrealistic in the States.

Breathtaking Opening Ceremony

If I were part of the opening ceremony crew in London, which hosts the 2012 Games, I would be hating life today. After seeing what Beijing did last night for it's opening ceremony it's hard to think it can be topped.

I was fortunate enough to see a rehearsal of the event last week but there were numerous parts of the event that were not included in the rehearsal I went to.

– The beginning of the ceremony was insane. Giant footprint fireworks? Are you kidding me? Who does that? Apparently, the Chinese. That was awesome. On my way to "Steak and Eggs," an American diner here in Beijing, to watch the ceremony the streets were empty. Now I know why. The opening ceremony featured fireworks from across the city, including 29 giant footprints. I knew fireworks were going to be part of the show but a show across a city is unbelievable.

– Everyone was aching to know about the final torch lighting. Despite the act taking a massive amount of time, it was incredible. The giant torch that is attached to the Bird's Nest was not there a week ago. In fact, it wasn't there days ago. And to have someone dangling from the sky run across the top of a stadium is incredible, too.

I have never been a person to watch all of the opening ceremony for every Olympics but when I was watching this one I felt special. I don't know if it was because I saw a rehearsal or that I was in the same city as it or that I am a volunteer working for these games. Watching the ceremony finally unfold in front of me as a volunteer who saw a rehearsal in Beijing will be with me forever.

I hope everyone who watched the opening ceremony got a little taste of how crazy this country and city have become about the Olympics. It is clear that the Chinese are going to do everything possible to make these Games special and they deserve a lot of credit. Buckle up for what is going to be some great competition and memorable moments.

10 Things I Miss from Home ...

... Correction, six.

I have been in Beijing for more than four weeks and there are definitely specific aspects of life that I am craving. I tried to think of 10 but I couldn't. I think part of the reason why I couldn't is because I enjoy being in China.

6. Cell Phone

When we arrived in Beijing, the Olympic committee gave us a Chinese simcard for our phones but my Sprint phone doesn't operate on a simcard. The simcard allows for communication in China. I have the option of using my normal plan on my phone but that is ridiculously expensive and not worth it. I don't think I need one right now but there is something about having a cell phone and being connected to everyone you know. Having the ability to send text messages at all hours of the night is also fun.

5. Deli-style sandwiches

Don't laugh. This is for real. There are many factors why this makes the list. Bread is not something that is common in Beijing. The closest thing you can find without going out of your way is a roll that tastes like nothing and has the feel of a packing peanut. Secondly, most people don't own refrigerators. So, having lunch meat, cheese, mayo, mustard and lettuce on hand is rare. I hope you're happy because now my mouth is watering.

4. Taco Bell

I miss something that I was knee-deep in for four years of my life while in high school. Imagine that. For me, T-Bell is easily my favorite fast-food restaurant and it encompasses a style of cuisine, albeit fake Mexican, that isn't common in Beijing. Pizza Huts and KFCs are every where. Taco Bell? Nope. There are only three in all of China. Yes, I googled it one night to see if I could satiate the group's craving for Cheesy Gordita Crunches. Unfortunately, the nearest one to Beijing is about an hour plane ride away.

3. Drier/Iron

On most days we are lucky that the washer finishes all cycles. I am not kidding. Usually, I spend about five minutes after each load (a load equals no more than eight articles clothing) ringing out the water. When I'm lucky, the machine doesn't even attempt the spin cycle and I find my clothes bathing in a washer full of water. Either way, they have to drip dry. Combine the drip drying with rock solid water and you get laundry that's been starched for free. This has to be the most unexpected item to make the list. Never in my life did I think I would miss a drier and an iron.

2.The Piano Bar at the Neon Cactus

I promise I'm not an alcoholic. This place is just that fun. Thursday nights just aren't the same without being able to enjoy my favorite 32-ounce cup of rum-and-Coke in one of the most fun atmospheres I have ever encountered. Bruce Barker and the Doctor provide laughs that last for days and I have missed those. Fortunately, my birthday is the day after I get back in the States and it happens to be on a Thursday.

1. The Chicago Cubs

I could be missing the summer of history. I know, I know, there's always next year but this could be the year. And with the 12-hour difference catching games on the Internet isn't easy. Instead, I end up glancing at the score and checking the standings. All I want is a little Bob Brenly and Len Kasper in my life right now. I think this may be good training for if-and-when I move out of the Midwest and lose Comcast, which shows loads of games. For now, keep the Cubbies rolling, Joey, Scotty and Timmy. And hopefully when I get back we can sing a little "Go Cubs Go!"

English News in China

The news for English-speaking and reading people in Beijing are limited as one would expect. There are two avenues I have discovered to utilize for domestic and international news. The first is the China Daily. The China Daily is the National English Language Newspaper. The second is the international channel produced by CCTV (China Central Television).

Of the two, I have used the China Daily more often. So, I thought I would run through some of the headlines and talk about the type of coverage the readers get.

In Wednesday's edition, the lead story was Olympic related with the headline "IOC: Air is safe for one and all." The story is accompanied by a photo from the opening ceremony dress rehearsal that took place on Tuesday night. The story, as many have in the recent weeks, utilizes positive comments made by the International Olympic Committee and the Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee. For the most part the story is balanced but the issue of pollution still remains a popular topic in Beijing.

The other stories on the front are a follow-up on the terror attack in the western part of China, an update on Iran's nuke situation and President Bush's visit to South Korea. For the most part, these stories read unbiased and present multiple sides to stories. Many of the questionable aspects of the stories relates to quoting government sources. Most criticism toward China is focused on the government controlling news and entertainment. So, when a story about pollution in Beijing quotes government officials, it draws skepticism.

Ultimately, I have realized that having the ability to openly criticize the United States' government is a blessing.

A Day In the Life of a Foreign Olympic Volunteer

I have talked a lot about cycling and the Olympics but I don't think I have given great details on what my days are like here in Beijing.

5 - The sun begins to creep through the curtains that aren't really good at their job. Depending on the night before, the sun may or may not disturb my sleep in the morning.

7 - My roommate Chad hits the snooze button for the first time.

7:30 - Snooze No. 2.

8 - A morning shower is a must because starting the day without being 100 percent clean will result in an odor, for sure. Unlike in the States when you get a nice cool breeze on a 80 degree day, Beijing is an oven where you are constantly surrounded by stifling heat.

8:30 - Even though we don't have to be at the Laoshan Velodrome for another two hours, we have to allocate plenty of time to commute in a city this size. During morning rush hour, there is a line to enter the subway station. Then you have to go through a security check that has appeared recently and get a ticket. And then the real fun begins. Boarding a subway car in Beijing when it is busy is something all humans should do. Essentially you push the person in front of you until you are on and then hope the door doesn't close on you. Thankfully, the subway is free for Olympic volunteers.

10:20 - After the hour-plus subway commute and some walking, we arrive at the venue.

10:30 - Most days at the venue begin with an easy transition into the day. The real work doesn't begin until after "lunch."

11:30 - The description of our "lunch" that I think fits best for this was told to me on my first day at the venue. "The food is incredibly bad because they tried to make Chinese food Westerners would like, so the Chinese volunteers don't like it and it's not anything like what Westerners like." I will say that we can rely on three bottles of water, a Coke and a piece of fruit every day.

12 - Staking out at the track watching athletes practice is a primary practice. The goal here is learning how athletes ride the track and interviewing athletes after they get done training. So far, I have spoken with riders from Columbia, China and Uruguay.

15:30 - We are free to leave if we want. If not, there are athletes still on the track and plenty of cycling studying to be done.

18 - Shower No. 2. This is a must after spending an entire day in Beijing.

18:30 - Dinner has to take place earlier than normal because of the "lunch" at the venue. Depending on the mood, dinner may be Chinese or some Western-type food.

23 - I find myself going to sleep earlier than at home too. I think between the heat and long days I get exhausted easier.

I used the 24-hour time because that is life in China. Also, my evenings may also include blogging, basketball and drinking.

Some Leftovers

In the four weeks I have been in Beijing blogging I have accumulated some thoughts that don't need a whole blog post. So, here I am throwing together all of those things.

Chinese Money

The bills in China are vibrant. Many of them feature more than four colors and the designs are significantly different. Every bill does feature former chairman Mao's face. Many people on the trip enjoy the Chinese money more because of the color. I am indifferent about the appearance of America's money.

The Black Pearl

As a teammate of Yao Ming's it may not come as a surprise that the Chinese know who Carl Landry is. What surprised me was that the Chinese have dubbed Carl Landry the "Black Pearl." I have talked about the NBA to quite a few locals on the subway and the "Black Pearl" is well-known. As a whole, Kobe Bryant is the most popular player for the locals.

Training Starts Up at the Velodrome

Tuesday marks the first day of official training at the Laoshan Velodrome in Beijing. I am scheduled to be at work at 10:30 a.m. and the day should offer many interesting details with the presence of athletes. Throughout the last week there have been very few athletes around the venue.

Beijing Zoo

My trip the city's zoo offered many different experiences. I got to see several panda bears, a couple inside and a couple outside. All four of them were pretty lazy but it was interesting seeing one of the world's most famous animals. On the other hand, there were quite a few animals in spaces that most Americans wouldn't be comfortable with. Lions, tigers and elephants were confined to much smaller homes than any seen at zoos in America.

Beijing's Pollution

If you haven't heard by now, Beijing has pollution. But I am not sure why so many people are getting caught up with this. Beijing has more than 17 million people and with any large city there is pollution. I think China is getting more flack than most host countries because it's China. If the Olympics were in Los Angeles, there would not be as much negative media attention as it relates to pollution.

United States' Presence in the World of Cycling

When Americans think about cycling there is one person who comes to mind, Lance Armstrong. And given that the road race in the Olympics is only two days of competition and awards only three medals, there is much more than cycling on pavement in the Olympics.

Most of that action with cycling in the Olympics takes place on the track. This year that track happens to be inside the Laoshan Velodrome, which is south of the center of Beijing. Despite the lack of coverage and interest of the sport in the States, cycling is popular across the world and several Americans have a shot at winning a medal.

The first big story for the Americans is on the men's side in the individual sprint. If you follow the Olympics even just a little bit, you will hear the name Taylor Phinney guaranteed. Phinney's story is golden for media. He is the son of two former Olympians, the youngest rider to ever compete in an Olympics for the States and he has the talent to snag a medal this year. Also, his father is battling with early-onset Parkinson's, which he was diagnosed with in 2000.

On the women's side, there is Sarah Hammer and Jennie Reed. Hammer retired and watched the 2004 Games on TV but came out of retirement and was the World Champion in the pursuit in 2006 and 2007. She is expected to battle Rebecca Romero, of Great Britain who recently became a track cyclist after being an Olympic rower, for gold this year. Reed is the States' shot at a medal in the women's individual sprint. She is expected to medal and could bring home the gold.

This photo is of American Taylor Phinney, who is the youngest American cyclist to ever compete in the Olympics.

Favorites in the World of Track Cycling

I am adding favorites for each event in track cycling in batches. The list is on the right-hand side of the page. I will also be updating it with results as the Games progress.

Also, there is a new section that is answering blog comments on the right side. Keep checking it for updates.

Enjoy.

Cycling, Cycling and More Cycling

For the last week I have been soaking up as much cycling knowledge as possible. It is my duty during the Olympics to talk to athletes of track cycling, BMX and mountain bike. For now, the task has been grasping the world of track cycling.

There are 10 events in track cycling, seven for men and three for women. The men's events are Individual Sprint, Team Sprint, Individual Pursuit, Team Pursuit, Keirin, Madison and Points Race. The women's events are Individual Sprint, Individual Pursuit and Points Race. Hang in there with me. I promise the more you learn about it, the more fun it will be.

Individual Sprint

In a sprint, the riders race against one another to be the first one to finish three laps.

In sprints, sometimes you'll get to see racers doing track stands, a strategic move where they come to a complete stop, balancing in place in order to force their opponent to take the lead spot. The tactic here is that the second rider then tucks in neatly behind his or her opponent, allowing them to set the pace and do the hard work pedaling in front. Then when it comes to the final, explosive sprint, the second place rider uses fresher legs to power past and take the victory. The team event uses three riders rather than one.

Individual Pursuit

In the individual pursuit, two riders compete head-to-head over a set distance. For men, it's 4,000 meters (2.5 miles), and women race 3000 meters (1.8 miles). The riders start from opposite points of the track, and the winner is the one who either catches his rival or records the best time overall. If one rider catches the other, the race ends at once, though the winner may still need to finish to record his overall time. The team event uses four riders rather than one and the time is taken from when the third rider crosses the finish line.

Keirin

Originating in Japan, Keirin is an eight-lap, 2,000 meter race in which a small motorbike paces the riders around the track for five and a half laps. The riders follow at faster and faster speeds with only inches between them until the final lap when the motorbike peels away and the racers give it all they've got for the last two and a half laps.

Points Race

In this event, endurance and sprinting strength will determine who comes out on to in this 160-lap race. All competitors, one from each country, start at the same time. Riders score points during the event, and the top scorers at the end are the winners. The winner is the rider who primarily gains the most laps on the field and second, scores the most points by placing in one of the 20 sprints held in the course of the race, where the top four placers cash in. In the sprints – which are every eighth lap – the top finisher earns five points, and it goes to three points for second, two points for third and one point for fourth.

Madison

This event offers the combination of teamwork, sprinting and endurance. Run by teams of two, only one rider of the pair is active in the race at any given point. All riders start at the same time, and the winner is the team covering the most laps in the time allotted. As the active rider races, the other rests as he continues to circle at a slower speed. Riders can take over from each other with a handslap or by actually grabbing their partner by the hand or shorts to literally sling the other back into the race. That gives the new rider a burst of speed and motion from the other as he exits the active role.

I will be updating the world of cycling as the Games get closer and results roll in.

I Won the Chinese Lottery

Weeks ago all of the volunteers found out that the opening and closing ceremonies were going to be off limits because of the high-demand for the tickets. So, when I found out that eight of 85 volunteers at the Velodrome had the opportunity to attend a rehearsal for the opening ceremony I got excited but didn't think I had a chance. I never win random drawings – until now. I picked one of the eight "Congratulations" papers out of a box and it landed me a seat at Thursday's rehearsal.

It may not sound like it is that cool but this meant I was going to have access to the Bird's Nest. From a distance, the stadium looks unbelievable so I was trilled to have the opportunity to walk inside it.

I arrived at the Bird's Nest around 6:30 p.m. for the 8 p.m. start. Security, as you would imagine, was heavy. My ticket was checked four times before I got to my seat.

The Chinese officials are extremely worried about details of the ceremony leaking to the public so I won't divulge large details but I was amazed by the performance. There had to have been more than 10,000 performers used, including high-flying fairies, thousands of drummers and many aspects of ancient Chinese history. Thankfully, I sat with two local college students, Flower and Twiggy, who helped me understand certain aspects of the performance.

I am certain spending two and a half hours watching the ceremony is worth your time.

Bicycling in Beijing

Beijing is known as the "Bicycle Kingdom." After three weeks here, I understand why.

Thousands, perhaps millions, of bikes roam the streets of Beijing daily and make traveling interesting. Every taxi ride features dozens of honks, which is more of a warning and less of a threat here in China. Every time you cross the street you have to beware because a red light means the cars stop but bikes can keep on going at their own risk. And just about every subway station has a slew of them organized in a way I cannot determine.

With the bikes present in everyday life, I thought about taking to the streets with some of my fellow students for a life lesson in bike riding. Think about riding a bike in Chicago and then add thousands of more bikes and more traffic. Thankfully, there are bike lanes on most streets in Beijing but that doesn't mean it's just that easy. The bike lanes are also where busses drop off and pick up passengers. So, instead of cruising in the bike lane you must enter the street and weave your way through taxis while constantly looking over your shoulder for cars creeping up on you. It was a blast. I haven't been sky diving or bungee jumping but I think this may rank up there with adrenaline rushes because there is no safety net. It's you, the bike and the city of 17 million people.

The image above was taken by me while riding near the Forbidden City.

Olympic tickets? What was I thinking???

When I heard there was a final round of Olympic tickets going on sale Friday, I was stoked to have the opportunity to see competitions in the famed Bird's Nest and Water Cube. Wow, I was being a naive American.

I decided that getting in line for tickets at 7:30 a.m. for the 9 a.m. selling time would be plenty of time. There were 250,000 tickets going on sale after all. And surely many of the Beijingers already purchased their tickets. Again, wow, I was being a naive American.

I am not sure why the above sounded logical because I spent more than 12 hours in the freezing cold to get a quality spot for College Gameday during my freshman year at Purdue. So, in a city of 17 million people for China's biggest event in the country's history, I was going to be able to buy tickets. Not only the two allowed for a first purchase but I talked about getting back in line afterward.

When Andrea, Megan and I arrived at the site, it was chaos and the tickets were an hour away from being on sale. I saw people in line but couldn't figure out how to get where they were. In my way were dozens of police officers. Andrea found an English-speaking local and soon found out that more than 300,000 people were already in line and the masses of people had stretched to more than three blocks away. Wow, I was being a naive American.

Several news stories I have found didn't note that many people but once the tickets went on sale people ran over others in search for the shortest line. Some people were injured and others who waited in line for more than a day for basketball tickets had to settle for synchronized swimming.

I think I forgot I was in a city and country as grand as Beijing and China when preparing for purchasing tickets.

Beijing Nightlife

One of the first questions I am being asked from many of my peers is "How is the Chinese beer?" And much to their surprise, my answer is "Quite good."

Fortunately, we arrived in Beijing with plenty of time to explore Beijing and experience its nightlife.

There is no drinking age in China and, from what I can tell, there is no alcohol commission either. Anyone can buy a Tsingtao (a brand of beer pronounced "Chingdow") from just about anywhere. I have yet to see a child drinking a beer but it is possible, I guess. Chinese people often drink beer or spirits with meals so many of the college students fit right in with their frequent beer and dinner routine.

As with many large cities in the States, Beijing offers loads of entertainment for those interested in spending a late night out socializing. We have already experienced the common Chinese activity of KTV, or kareokee. Imagine 15 of us in one room with two microphones, a TV scrolling lyrics and dozens of US$1.50 beers on the table. It was a night that will never be forgotten.

Beijing also has a famous bar district, Sunlitun, that offers a staggering amount of places to go. One of the places we found featured sand-covered floors and a rooftop covered in couches.

While the Chinese are not known for their drinking traditions, it is evident that many of them know how to relax and enjoy their free time.

Olympic Fever Heating Up In Beijing

The 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing don't start until 8 p.m. Aug. 8 but it doesn't look or feel that way.

I noted the traffic ordinance before but those not traveling in vehicles are experiencing changes too. Olympic volunteers, most of which are Beijing natives, are manning the subways and streets with local knowledge and maps. Even traffic wardens have appeared at crosswalks to manage the busy streets.

At venues, volunteers and security personnel have been added. During my first trip to the Laoshan Bicycle Complex, where most of the cycling events takes place, I was greeted by more than a dozen eager volunteers amped for the Games to begin.

Later that night, a conversation with a local yielded information about another ordinance Chinese officials have recently put in place. He said restaurants and bars weren't as full in the late evenings because of the ordinance. The language barrier prevented the communication of additional information but the results were evident. He was the only non-Westerner present.

All of this comes after seven years of preparation for what many are calling China's chance to shine. The anticipation to do so is clear by the extensive effort already showing up in Beijing with 15 days before China gets its chance to impress the world.

Cutting Down Traffic, Noise and Pollution for the Games

Sunday, July 20, was a big day for Beijingers who own a car. It was the first day driving restrictions went into place to reduce traffic for the Olympic Games.

The Beijing traffic has been tolerable at most times but during others it is unbearable. To cut the headaches, the Chinese government has mandated that cars registered in Beijing with license plates ending in an odd number can only drive on odd number days, for instance July 21. On that day, even numbered plates are prohibited. Most public vehicles – taxis, busses, ambulances – are exempt.

This restriction will last until September 20. Government officials have estimated that it will reduce traffic in Beijing by 70 percent. Auto owners affected by the mandate will be exempt from three months of auto tax, which will cost the government an estimated RMB$1.3 billion. That is equivalent to about US$9.1 billion.

Also, an Olympic traffic lane, which is marked with the Olympic rings about every half mile, went into effect on the 20th. This lane will be saving all of us who are volunteering tons of time commuting back-and-forth to our venue, which is about 90 minutes away.

The traffic was significantly better on the 20th and I saw only one vehicle that had an odd plate number. Think about this taking place in the States. Are you kidding me? I have not been able to find any information about the fines but Americans would kick and scream about how their rights are being limited. And based on my interaction with the Chinese in the last two weeks, they would do anything, including riding the bus or subway, if there was a positive outcome related to the Olympics. A HUGE difference between cultures.

First Battle with an Illness

Before coming to Beijing I was warned of a lot of things and most of them related to sickness and disease.

Here's a sampling.

"You should get this shot and that shot. Don't drink the water. Don't eat fresh vegetables. Don't eat random things from vendors."

Whether it was intelligent or not, I didn't get any shots. I use the water to brush my teeth, which is something not many people are doing. I have eaten lettuce more than five times and the popsicle I bought from a vendor was tasty. I was rolling along with no sickness or anything.

That is until today. I have had salmonella poisoning twice before and this seems to be much more mild than that but stomach discomfort and tiredness isn't any fun. But don't worry, I have beaten it. Leroy is back. And for the record, Bobby and Johanna, it took two WEEKS before I got ill. ;)

Amazing Beijing Architecture

Before arriving in Beijing I heard a lot about Beijing being old school and that Shanghai was more like a bustling, state-of-the-art city. While Shanghai and Beijing are different, Beijing boasts some amazing architecture that can't be found in the States.

Sure, the city just added the Water Cube (the swimming facility) and Bird's Nest (the arena for track) for the Olympics but there are plenty of other skyscrapers and designs that stand out.

China Central Television is completing its new facility that 

defies gravity. 

The building reminds many people of a pair of pants that is distorted. There are two "legs" and the middle section of the building has nothing beneath it. Then there is the building the Chinese built that resembles the Olympic torch. The upper half waves back-and-forth as if it were a flame. On top of that the building has an enormous flat-screen television built into the side.

Even with the normal-shaped skyscrapers, the Chinese have used massive amounts of colors and designs on the facades that you never see in America.

The Great Wall

Climbing The Great Wall was my No. 1 priority on the tourist side of things when I came to China. Now, it's complete.

The Wall was everything I imagined it would be. It is nestled in the mountains of China and every way you look when you are at the Wall is amazing. Fortunately, the day we went was the first day there was a blue sky and it gave us a great backdrop for photos.

Everyone knows about the Wall but to see how massive it is and the slopes that it is built on is extraordinary. Think about walking up Chauncey Hill at Purdue. Multiply that by 10 and try building an enormous wall on it, THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO! It is absurd to think about what it took to build the Wall. No machines, no modern tools, none of those things. Man-power was the only tool the Chinese had.

A great aspect of the Wall is that it is original. This isn't some manufactured tourist attraction made by someone. It is authentic. It is the most impressive man-made object in the world.

Chinese Cuisine

One of the biggest changes I anticipated when traveling to China was the food that I would be consuming. I was right, especially when it comes to eating with chopsticks and not a fork.

The quality, variety and enjoyment of the food 

varies from meal to meal. 

Most of the dishes are stir-fry-types that have a vegetable and meat tossed with a sauce. The type of vegetable is usually recognizable but the meat is more of a guessing game. All meals are served with

 white rice, as well. The authentic Chinese food in Beijing doesn't feature many American favorites such as egg rolls, crab rangoon, General Tso's chicken.

Also, many American favorites aren't present at many meals. No cheese, milk, large pieces of meat while breads, noodles and potatoes are some times present.

The change has been drastic but I have been doing well. I have indulged in some Western food (Pizza Hut, McDonalds) but every day I enjoy some type of Chinese cuisine. I have found my favorite dish to be beef and onions. It's a simple combination that is packed with flavor.

Another interesting difference in culture I noticed when I ate at McDonalds was the locals don't touch their sandwiches. Instead of unwrapping the item and diving in, they use the wrapper to eat it. I know some people do this in the States but 90 percent of the people in the restaurant were doing it.

Peking Duck

One of the famous traditions in Beijing is eating Peking Duck. Every book and Web site I read demanded that one should indulge in Peking Duck while in Beijing.

Fortunately, we were taken to a Peking Duck dinner on the first night of our 

3-day tour in Beijing. For many Americans eating duck isn't an everyday thing. You can't find duck on most menus in restaurants and in 22 years in America I had never eaten duck. Everyone in the group was pretty excited until our tour guide, Henry, gave us some background on the duck. We all knew it was a younger duck but some of the details were unknown. He informed us that the duck is fed constantly for 60 days and then killed. Yes, constantly. That means when it doesn't want to eat, it is force fed. Of course, these details turned many of us off at the time but we had some time to clear our mind before diving into the bird. And even with those unnecessary details I was looking forward to it because of all the hype it was getting. Even many of the former vegetarians on the trip were going to try out the famed dish.

It turned out that the duck was amazing and the Beijing tradition was well-worth it. What I found interesting about the whole experience was the ease at which Henry told us all of the details about the duck. I think it shows a big culture gap between America and China. Americans would rather ignore how the food gets to the plate whereas Henry was trying to educate us in the process.

An Interesting Start to a 3-day Tour

Since arriving in China, the Beijing Organizing Committee has done numerous things to show its appreciation for the international volunteers. Last weekend, we were fortunate to take a three-day tour of Beijing. The first two stops on the tour were much different than I ever expected.

As many people know, the quality of water in China is a topic of many discussions, positively and negatively. So, we were taken to a sewage treatment plant for a tour of how they clean the waste into the water that is being supplied to the Olympic Village area. I will have to say it was the nicest sewage treatment plant I have been too. The workers at the plant showed an excitement for tourists that you don't see in America. I don't think many workers in the States would LOVE to have foreigners walk around their business but these people seemed to enjoy every bit of it.

After leaving the plant and eating lunch (sounds interesting, huh?) we travelled to a "rural village." To get to the village, we got a police escort through Beijing's traffic. Can you imagine this happening in the States? Because I can't. The level of importance for this eve

nt was made very clear by the Chinese.

I am not sure if the expectations of our group was off but the village wasn't too rural. It was definitely an interesting experience because the village was nestled in the mountains in China.

The photos of these two places tell great stories even if the two destinations were a little different.

Forbidden City

I made my first trek to the center of Beijing and it lived up to the hype. Beijing is a massive city that is built around the Forbidden City, which is a landscape of royalty. The area nearby the Forbidden City is called Tian'anmen Sqaure and is a hub for Chinese history. With all of the museums and landmarks in this location it reminded me a lot of the Washington Mall in D.C. But instead of celebrating 200-plus years of history, this area is celebrating more than 2,000 years of existence.

I got my first glimpse of the Square and Forbidden City as I came out of the subway tunnel and it was unfathomable. I am finding out quickly that similarly to Texas, everything is bigger in China. To my right was a gigantic red hall with intriquite detail and amazing presence. Hanging on the entry gate to the City was emperor Mao, who was an influential Chinese leader years ago. The City featured several other halls and breathtaking buildings that were built 600 years ago.

Despite the mamouth buildings and notable history of the City, the group I was with also became noteworthy sights too. While touring, many Asian tourists requested to take pictures with the group of Westerners. It was the first time I experienced this and it was fun. I got a great sense of enjoyment from many of the people, which may surprise some people. I wasn't sure how we would be welcomed but it has been a great experience thus far.

Massage City

Yes, I have been in Beijing for only four days now and I have had a 30-minute foot massage and a 50-minute full-body massage. I know what you're thinking. "Are you kidding me? People act like studying abroad is rough. He's got it easy." Well, that's kind of true.

I stumbled upon my foot massage during my first adventure into what is known as the "Silk Market." No lies, this place is crazy. Think about this - six floors packed with hundreds of booths featuring thousands of fake Nikes, Coach purses and Rolexes with little Asian women yelling "Handsome man, I've got your size." while latching onto your arm and pulling you into a booth. It's shopping at Tippecanoe Mall in Lafayette on crack, no joke. The foot massage came in after Chad, Chris, Patrick and I fought through all six floors and found this tiny gem featuring massages. There is no doubt in my mind us four made the best purchases of the day at the market - a foot massage for US$10 and a Tsingtao (beer) that we drank during the massage for US$2.

The full-body massage was a purchase that we (eight people) sought out after three long days in a foreign country. We taxied out to a massage parlor featuring blind masseurs. The place had one room for four people so the women took that one. Then there was two rooms for three people. What happened next was unfortunate. We played a quality round of ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS that put myself on the losing end. That meant I was in my own room with a blind masseur who essentially beat me up.

All-in-all both were interesting experiences. They were experiences that I haven't had in the United States and don't have the opportunity to have. The reason for that is the cost of services in Beijing. Labor is extremely cheap in this city and drastically affects the culture and way of life for everyone. There are 16 million people in Beijing and many of them will drive a taxi, sell products or clean rooms for US$40 a month. And the benefits of having that abundance of cheap labor is benefitted by many.

Getting to Know the Locals

I am staying at the Communication University of China, which is a gated-campus. Within the grounds are small stores, cafeterias and a recreational complex.

I arrived on campus around 2:30 p.m. and within five hours, I was playing basketball with the locals. Chad, Chris, Patrick and I all decided to head to the courts and see what competition was around. At this point in the day, the recreational complex was packed with people with jogging, playing soccer and playing basketball.

As soon as we entered the complex we started turning heads. Chad, Chris and I are not small guys and, of course, white. But we still felt welcome so we continued on to the courts. We spotted a group of guys playing 4-on-4 and with Patrick's Mandarin expertise we got in line for the next game. The game was a little different than were familiar with. It was first to five points and there was no checking the ball with the other team before putting it in-play. It meant for some small adjustments by us but our product was just as good. We finished the evening 6-1 and at one point caused a group of locals to gather around and watch us compete against their best players.

Despite not having rested since arriving in Beijing and being a foreigner, our decision to go play basketball was a great one. It presented us with a common ground for the locals and helped us integrate into the community.

Finally, in Beijing

I was closing in on Irkutsk at some 34,000 feet and 5,603 miles from Newark, New Jersey, with three hours left before arriving in Beijing when I realized flying first-class would have been a great investment. I guess an excessively-reclined-woman in front of me, my 40-year-old knees and a little girl's vomit would spark such a thought. But I was closing in on Beijing after two-days of travel.

During the flight, there was something I had never experienced before – a personal on-demand entertainment console. With the television lodged in the headrest in front of me and a remote control/video game controller I could ward off many of the trip's negative aspects. It gave me the chance to take some advice from a good friend Drew and watch "Stand By Me" for the first time. It was boss. I also threw in some "Toy Story", "Scrubs" and "Enemy of the State."

All-in-all, the flights weren't horrendous but they pushed my limits of personal space.

BY THE NUMBERS

7,000 – Miles flown from Newark, New Jersey, to Beijing, China

-50 – Degrees of the temperature outside of the aircraft for the majority of the flight

12 – Hours in time difference from Eastern Standard Time

1 – Person puked on the flight

Uniforms

So, it's 24 days before I board a plane headed for Beijing, China to live for two months. In anticipation for that, here is what I'll be wearing while working at the Olympics. Take note of the sweet fanny-pack that I will undoubtedly be rocking with style.

Here are some models sporting the uniforms.