So it wasn’t men basketball, or phelpsing. But it was absolutely fantastic. We just came back from four full hours at the National Stadium, AKA Bird’s Nest. Four hours of running, jumping, walking, throwing. It was four hours filled with young hope, to win, to become, to stand up there and be presented with a title: “The Best”. Because that’s what it is. The winners of gold medals are truly, completely, if only for a short time, the best in their disciplines. What better recognition is there? The Best. Imagine that.
Yes indeed, genetics does a lot, but hard work, discipline and endurance, and in some cases teamwork, compares, and sometimes surpasses genetics.
The weather was the best by far. Clear blue sky, not a shred of a cloud. Hot but not scorching, humid, but not wet. Probably the absolutely best Beijing can offer in mid-August.
Organization was outstanding. From the time we left the car, to the time we got to our seat, was about twenty minutes. But we were never lost. Signs and ushers were all over the place, courteous, welcoming, and speaking English. The competitions were extremely well organized as well. Stands were brought in and out, hurdles placed and taken away. All events started precisely on time. It was an outstanding display of organization, order, planning and execution. To all my friends, colleagues, direct and indirect reports - watching the Olympic Games can be considered as an Advanced Project Management class. Watch for details, plans for contingencies, pay attention to progress and schedules, and execute diligently. Do that and you will succeed. Do that and you will delight your customers.
Drinks and snacks were extremely reasonably priced, and readily available. The lines were long, but manageable.
It was an exceptional experience. To attend an Olympic event was an experience we’ll never forget.
One exception. It was very apparent that the smart people were sitting on one side of the stadium, while the others were seated on the other side. How so? The sun rises on the east. Smart people know that. So if you sit on the western side of the stadium, what do you have? You got it: the sun in your eyes, and on every other exposed part of your body. Soon enough I started to turn around, to get evenly cooked on all sides. When we left at 13:00 PM, I was ready to be served. I was burned.
You guessed it, I was sitting on the other side. Burnt or not, I had the time of my life. So did Dorit and Guy. We’re looking forward to the two other events we have tickets for. This time, however, the moon will be up. What a relief.
One last thing. In the picture I took, there’s an error. Can anyone figure it out? Feel free to email or post a comment. No prizes. Recognition only - name or email…
