Another busy day with Cycling in the morning and a first visit to the hopefully finished Athletics stadium.
The security madness of the opening days is starting to subside, it's now just a little irrational. No flag poles, of any size, unless you're Coke Cola. In that case bring in thousands and hand them out in the venue. For many people that's the only souvenir they're likely to get. For reasons I'll try to explain there is absolutely no merchandising for sale. For an event that's likely to loss money in a country of billions it's just commercial suicide. The rumour doing the rounds is that the organising committee had a "domestic" with the merchandising company and told them to "do one" a few months back. They then found that nobody else wanted the contract so had to go cap in hand two weeks ago to the original company. I think I'll just buy mine at Tesco when I get back to England.
The cycling venue is now quite organise. Security check everything you take in but are being more pragmatic. Food and drink are available but event has started. Not in the venue and still using a payment process that former Soviet bloc would think archaic.
The gold and green continue to dominate on the track (and almost everywhere else). Victories for their world class pair, Anna Meares and Shane Perkins wasn't unexpected but the minor medals provided the entertainment.
In the women's the highly rated Welsh sprinter Becky James gave Meares run for her money and at only 19 looks a great prospect. I was Welsh for an hour.
In the men's my allegiance was to New Zealand. It's not strictly "anybody but Australia" although I am tiring of their anthem. We just happened to be sitting with the Kiwis and had met Sam Websters family. In the semis he was unlucky to come up against Perkins. Defeat set up a Kiwi head to head for bronze. Webster road brilliantly to defeat Eddie Dawkins and send his family into raptures. I also seem to strike a note with the Indians and spent 15 minutes signing autographs (funny how everybody had a pen) and having his picture taken with starry eyed children.
I'll point him out to Chris Hoy when I get home.
I'll have to finish this later the bus is waiting ...
I
The security madness of the opening days is starting to subside, it's now just a little irrational. No flag poles, of any size, unless you're Coke Cola. In that case bring in thousands and hand them out in the venue. For many people that's the only souvenir they're likely to get. For reasons I'll try to explain there is absolutely no merchandising for sale. For an event that's likely to loss money in a country of billions it's just commercial suicide. The rumour doing the rounds is that the organising committee had a "domestic" with the merchandising company and told them to "do one" a few months back. They then found that nobody else wanted the contract so had to go cap in hand two weeks ago to the original company. I think I'll just buy mine at Tesco when I get back to England.
The cycling venue is now quite organise. Security check everything you take in but are being more pragmatic. Food and drink are available but event has started. Not in the venue and still using a payment process that former Soviet bloc would think archaic.
The gold and green continue to dominate on the track (and almost everywhere else). Victories for their world class pair, Anna Meares and Shane Perkins wasn't unexpected but the minor medals provided the entertainment.
In the women's the highly rated Welsh sprinter Becky James gave Meares run for her money and at only 19 looks a great prospect. I was Welsh for an hour.
In the men's my allegiance was to New Zealand. It's not strictly "anybody but Australia" although I am tiring of their anthem. We just happened to be sitting with the Kiwis and had met Sam Websters family. In the semis he was unlucky to come up against Perkins. Defeat set up a Kiwi head to head for bronze. Webster road brilliantly to defeat Eddie Dawkins and send his family into raptures. I also seem to strike a note with the Indians and spent 15 minutes signing autographs (funny how everybody had a pen) and having his picture taken with starry eyed children.
I'll point him out to Chris Hoy when I get home.
I'll have to finish this later the bus is waiting ...
I
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