The Beijing Subway

I took a taxi to the hotel where the Norwegian DCOs were staying, because one of them was to work at the Aquatics Center, but she had not been there. So, I picked her up and I showed her the security gate to enter, and how to check in and get our lunch passes. The morning began with another meeting in Chinese, with my DCO partner interpreting for me. Then we did some more training, and were waiting to hear if we were to do some pre-Games testing. Today is the first day the athletes can move into the Olympic Village, so I was not surprised when we finally got word that no actual testing was to take place today. We had another DCO meeting (in English) at the NAC and discussed how to deal with different scenarios of the doping control process (e.g., if an athlete declares medication use after (s)he has already told us “none” and we completed the form as “none”. The forms are “forensic” and we cannot just simply cross out and correct information.

While I was meandering around the facility, I happened to come across a military installation with soldiers guarding. They were camouflaged, but very visible – radar stations and missiles. I had been told that the air space around the National Stadium (Birds Nest) and the NAC (the Water Cube) was protected, and I saw this for myself. Not surprised at all, but it stuns a bit to actually see it.

I was also given my schedule, and found out that I have a few days off between now and the beginning of the Games (Aug 9), as we do pre-Games testing of athletes at the NAC, and then I will work every day during the Games while I am here. Also, during the Games, I will alternate days of working 0800-1700 and 0800-2400!! That is quite a work schedule during the Games, but I came here to work and participate, and I don’t mind. Plus, we watch the events, and have the best seats in the house – poolside, in my case. My experience from prior Olympic Games is that we will also not get out at 2400 because some athletes cannot produce a urine sample right away and must sit and drink. When I did Athletics in Sydney, it was not uncommon for me to get out at 0200 from Athletics, and once (in Atlanta in 1996) I had to accompany a German athlete back to his room in the Olympic Village until he could produce a sample. He didn’t mind then, and I enjoyed spending the time with him because he had just won a gold medal in Kayaking and was obviously happy and received a lot of attention back at the village. The schedule is exhausting though.

I told my Chinese DCO partner that I wanted to learn to take the subway from my apartment to the NAC because it takes longer with a taxi in traffic, and the subway and buses are free if we show our Olympic credentials. So she offered to show me. She took me to the bus line outside the NAC and showed me what bus to take, and she went with me. As we exited the NAC, a family stopped and asked (motioned) if they could take a photo of me with their young daughter. They must have mistaken me for Michael Phelps, I think!! Feng took me to the subway and she got on the train with me and showed me where to get off, etc. After several stops, she was to transfer to the train to take her home, but she asked if I wanted her to take me all the way. How nice!!! But, I was comfortable in finding my way at that point. I feel a lot more comfortable as I have learned my way around and don’t feel lost any more. I realize, though, that Beijing is an enormous city, with over 20 million people and a large territory. Since I have tomorrow off, I plan to catch up on sleep and work, and do some laundry. I will likely venture out to get more groceries.