A Day Away - Review of Advice

I depart tomorrow for what is sure to be an adventure of a lifetime.

There are so many questions running through my zealous mind, so many imaginative scenarios playing themselves out in my head. It's as if my toes are dangling over a deep, black ravine and I'm just waiting for someone to turn on the lights. I want to know if I should dive gracefully into cool, refreshing water below, or if it's better to skip across a nearby bridge built safe and sturdy across the gap, or if I should take the challenging yet rewarding path of climbing down one side and up the opposite. I'm anxious for someone to flip the switch and allow me to see and assess the situation, so that I can strategize my approach.

I have received numerous pieces of sound advice, all of which I will attempt to keep in the forefront of my brain.

A fortune cookie I opened the other day, for instance, read: "pursue your wishes aggressively". Anyone who knows me knows that those words are essentially preaching to the choir. I don't know how not to do that. And, for the record, I prefer the term "assertive" to "aggressive" - the latter has violent and rude connotations which I do not condone nor embody.

Words of wisdom that will be harder for me to internalize come from a professor who apparently knows me better than either of us would have expected. He said: "remember to be patient as the experiences unfold around you". I'll need to expend extra effort to live up to this one, but I recognize that it is advice which should be heeded. I take an oath here and now to do my best to practice patience despite the electric atmosphere that I'm sure will engulf me.

"Take every advantage of your time there" is another tidbit I have gleaned from the encouragement I have received. I intend to use this blog to reflect on each experience I find myself in, no matter how seemingly insignificant, because I believe the opportunity to learn and grow can be hidden within unlikely packages.

A former Olympic blogger that I contacted also had some valuable insights for me:

• "Take some chances". Athletics is all about pushing oneself to go the extra mile, about challenging all boundaries. The Olympics, as the pinnacle of athletic competitions, represent that spirit and I intend to adopt it as well. I look forward to finding fulfilling ways to step outside my comfort zone and into something extraordinary.

• "Talk to fans from other countries". This is perhaps one of the things I am most eager to do during my time at the Games. There is something intangible that I love about "fans"; they have an inherent passion that soaks into their words and actions, and it fascinates me. Add that to my own passion for diversity and cultural awareness, and I will be as giddy as a kid on Christmas while interacting with the international population of tourists. 

• "Stay out late". Basically, I am prepared to get minimal amounts of sleep during this internship. The original information we received from Cleanevent listed our hours as 7:00AM - 6:00PM. Add on top of that trying to gain viewing access to the medals ceremonies, attempting to mingle with the athletes, and socializing with Cleanevent's international workforce (and any other people we may meet), plus taking the time to reflect properly on each day's activities - I figure that leaves about four hours of rest per night. But the way I see it, it's only for three weeks and then I'll be on spring break. As long as I get enough energy to power my body out of bed, adrenaline and excitement should take care of the rest.

• "Go to events you might not usually have thought you'd enjoy". The only sport being held in the mountains that I am fairly familiar with is Snowboarding Halfpipe. I know hockey and figure skating both very well, and will embrace the opportunity to expand my winter sports palate to include more obscure events such as skeleton and biathlon. Reverting back to my fascination of fans, I must say I have a deep respect for diverse enthusiasms. Everyone has something that they get out of bed for - mine may not be skeleton, but it may bring someone else unspeakable joy. Witnessing a fan become overwhelmed by emotion due to the triumph of their idol will more than make up for my lack of knowledge of the sport. 

Lastly, everyone I speak to advises me to "Have fun!". It may sound like a no-brainer, and to me it essentially is, but I know from experience - especially with internships - that there are people who will always find one small thing to complain about, and it will impact their ability to move past it and simply have fun. Rest assured that I will not fall victim to that state of mind. This past October I volunteered at a marathon on the day of which there was a driving wind, pelting rain, and frigid temperatures. I still had fun. I helped an elderly runner get into his warm clothes, since his fingers were too cold to function properly --- that is the strongest, most meaningful memory I took from that day. No matter what hardships and obstacles I may face during this internship, the one thing I guarantee is that I will have fun.

Weird Winter Weather

Since mid-October when I found out I was going to the Olympics, I have been preparing for frigid temperatures. I have waterproof pants from my trip to Alaska in May '08 and a warm Columbia snow jacket from my trip to the Canadian Rockies in fall of '08; I received waterproof winterized hiking boots from EMS for my birthday in November; I acquired long underwear at Christmas; and I just purchased wool socks and the perfect gloves to protect my extremities. (Side note - I really love EMS. They hooked me up). Our uniform from Cleanevent also includes a long-sleeve shirt and fleece, outerwear jacket and pants, and a beanie.

That being said, the weather forecasted for the upcoming week in Whistler is mid- to low-40's during the day, occasionally dipping below freezing overnight. That's right - it's expected to rain, not snow . In fact, weather.com's 10 day forecast shows the weather getting warmer (by a degree or two) as the week goes on.

A recent article tells of trucks importing snow to Cypress Mountain, host of the snowboarding and freestyle skiing events. One of Cleanevent's original duties as the cleaning company was snow removal, but it is beginning to look like they are more likely to re-move the snow --- that is, move it from the trucks it has been shipped in and onto the slopes.

This is not the first Winter Olympics to experience considerably warm weather. I attended the 2006 Torino Winter Olympic Games (I saw a women's hockey game in which USA def. Switzerland 6-0, first round) and spent the day walking around the city without my coat.

In front of the Olympic Torch four years ago

I was told by friends who witnessed a day of skiing competitions at the '06 Games that it was plenty cold in the mountains and there was no shortage of snow.

While I have no intention of wishing hardship on anyone, it will be an interesting learning experience to see how organizers handle this dilemma in the days leading up to the commencement of the Games.

Mountain Venues Overview

It's a bit hard to imagine a city hosting an event of such epic proportions as the Olympic Games, wouldn't you agree? Where do they put everything? Sure there are ice rinks in the city for those sports able to be contained indoors, but what about all the skiing, snowboarding, and other downhill events? Not to mention cross-country skiing --- these events need space. That is why these competitions are held outside the official host city of Vancouver - in Whistler and West Vancouver.

Whistler has its own Athlete's Village, separate from that in Vancouver, nestled into the Cheakamus Valley between the river and the forest. The planned occupancy of the Village for the Olympic Games is 2,850 athletes, spread amongst a mixture of apartments, town homes, and hostel accommodations. The Paralympics, which begin March 12th, will utilize the same living spaces with approximately 1,200 athletes.

Whistler Olympic Village, aerial view

The Whistler Olympic Park is home to three separate stadiums within one-square kilometer, each with a capacity of 12,000. Cross-country skiing and biathlon trails take up about 15 kilometers of the space, in addition to the biathlon's 30-lane shooting range and the two ski jumps (normal hill and large hill). Nordic combined is the other event being held here, using both the cross-country trails and the ski jumps.

Whistler Olympic Park, ski jump

Another complex, the Whistler Sliding Center, will feature the bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton competitions. Located on Blackcomb Mountain, the venue has a capacity of 12,000 spectators. This site, a little more so than others, is destined to leave a "legacy" for the local community; the facility will be accessible to athletes in training, youth recreation programs, and tourist and public admissions.

Whistler Sliding Center

Alpine skiing has its own 7,700-person capacity venue, called Whistler Creekside. There are two runs: Dave Murray Downhill for the men's Olympic alpine skiing, and Franz's Run for the women and Paralympic competitions. Fun fact: the fastest documented speed for an alpine skier is 148kph, or 92mph.

Whistler Creekside

Last but not least, Cypress Mountain in West Vancouver rounds out the mountain venues for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. This site is the host of two of the most popular outdoor events at the Games - freestyle skiing and all of the snowboarding competitions. I have to say that for the past week I have received numerous requests for Shawn White's autograph. For the record, if I do meet Shawn White, the first person I am getting an autograph for is myself! I'm sorry folks, but I'm a big fan too. There's a pecking order after that, so get your requests in early!

Freestyle skiing and downhill snowboarding events are each open to 12,000 spectators, but the halfpipe (my favorite!) only has a viewing capacity of 8,000. In addition to the 51 downhill runs serviced by 9 lifts, there are 10 kilometers of snowshoeing trails and 19 kilometers of cross-country skiing trails criss-crossing the mountain.

Cypress Mountain, aerial view, Vancouver Harbor behind


Where I want to be, aka the Halfpipe at Cypress Mountain

Hopefully next week I'll have my own pictures of the venues to share with all of you.

Learn more about the Olympic venues and see maps here.

It's The Things You Don't See...

...that make all the difference.

That is the motto of Cleanevent, the company I am working for at the Olympics and, quite frankly, I am excited to be a part a company that excels in its field the way that Cleanevent does.

This family-owned business was founded in 1987 by an Aussie named Craig Lovett, and it has since grown to operate not only in Australia but also in the U.S., the U.K., Canada, and the Middle East. In addition to creating a presence across the globe, the company has also developed a corporate group, CE Property Service Group, which has an assortment of specialized service arms reaching different sectors of the business world.

Cleanevent's impressive resume boasts four previous Olympic Games: Atlanta in summer 1996, Sydney in summer 2000, Salt Lake City in winter 2002, and Athens in summer 2004. Other organizations that Cleanevent has serviced include the NFL, the NBA, Formula 1, and FIFA.

This company will be taking good care of its student interns. In addition to our complimentary room, board, and transportation (that is, transportation once we arrive in Vancouver - our airfare was our own responsibility) and the chance to work at an event of this scale, there will be an educational component to our program. In a letter we received from Craig Lovett himself back in October, we were told that we "will be lectured by some of the best that the International Events marketplace has to offer". At the time we received the letter they were coordinating our exposure to:

• The International Olympic Committee (IOC)
• Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Winter Games (VANOC)
• Cleanevent executives
• Athletes' Village planning teams
• National Olympic Committees (NOC's)
• International-class event planning and management companies

We have not heard anything of late updating us on these opportunities and it stands to reason that some of these connections may not play out as Cleanevent had hoped, but even if we get to experience a fraction of the program they had been planning it will be an unparalleled opportunity.

We also received an email recently from a man who introduced himself as our intern adviser/mentor. We will meet regularly with him to discuss what we're learning and how to apply this experience to our careers. We also may be able to tour some of the venues with him, which will further increase our exposure to the Games.

I'm chomping at the bit now, anxious to get started and discover all that is in store for me. I'll have to contain my excitement for a few more days now...

What's An Inukshuk?

Have you been puzzling over the stack of colors resembling a person that is Vancouver's Olympic emblem?

That, my friends, is an inukshuk (in-ook-shook). Traditionally a stack of stones, it is a symbol used by the Inuits to mark trails, good hunting or fishing spots, caches of food, nearby settlements, you get the picture. It means "likeness of person" and it was a comforting sign for travelers - a reassurance that they were not alone in the barren tundra. According to the official Vancouver 2010 website, "Over time, the inukshuk has become a symbol of hope and friendship, an eternal expression of the hospitality of a nation that warmly welcomes the people of the world with open arms every day".

But the inukshuk is so much more than just a pile of stones. For one, it is a sophisticated communication device. When serving as a trail marker, for instance, the longer arm of the inukshuk points in the recommended direction of travel. When marking a good fishing hole, the inukshuk is positioned so that the distance between the statue and the shoreline equals the distance between the shoreline and the best place to find the fish. An inukshuk at a food cache would have no arms and legs, but instead may have caribou antlers. Within these small subtleties lies the unspoken language of a people.

The structure of the inukshuk is also intrinsically symbolic. The strength of the inukshuk depends on the ability of the stones to compliment each other and achieve balance. Each stone provides support to the stone above and below it, without which it would not stand. It is representative of the cooperative nature of the Inuit communities that inhabit the Arctic of Canada.

You can learn more about the inukshuk from my source.

Welcome Readers!

Hello, and welcome to my Olympic blog!

"What?!" you say? "You're going to the Olympics???"

For those of you who just started wondering if I am secretly an expert at the sport of curling, let me explain. Through a string of contacts within Johnson & Wales University I have secured an internship with a company called Cleanevent at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games. For three weeks I will be living and working in Whistler, a town located a couple hours outside of Vancouver, where the Olympic competitions for mountain sports such as skiing, snowboarding, luge, etc will be taking place. Cleanevent is providing me with food, housing, and transportation throughout my time there, which makes up for the fact that this rewarding opportunity is unpaid.

So far as I know, my duties will be organizational tasks for both event management (dealing with aspects pertaining to the venues of the Games) and for camp administration (i.e. the the logistics of everything relating to the workforce, which I believe will number around 200 people). Right now our intern schedules are still being finalized and therefore I will not know my exact duties until I arrive in Whistler - a little scary, I know, but what can I do?

My flight departs Sunday, February 7th from Boston and gets in to Vancouver around 6:00PM. Upon my arrival I have two and a half hours to kill before the Cleanevent shuttle comes to take me (as well as some of my friends who are coming on another flight) to the camp in Whistler. Luckily for me, the shuttle will be picking us up in front of the Fairmont Hotel located right next to the airport. Fairmont is the company I intend to work for upon graduation, so I plan to take advantage of the opportunity and give myself a tour of the property, and perhaps partake in a meal before the shuttle arrives. We will be getting to the camp late on Sunday night, and therefore requested to not begin work until Tuesday, giving us all of Monday to get ourselves acquainted with everyone and everything. Other student interns will be arriving that Monday, including a group from JWU Denver.

My goal is to post daily updates on my activities, both for your sakes as well as to ensure that I don't forget any of the valuable experiences I encounter. I will do my best to keep these posts interesting, exciting and - hopefully - humorous. Feel free to use the comment box to ask questions that I may neglect to cover in my ramblings. I will also do my best to post corresponding photos (but not so many that they get overwhelming, if I can help myself).

That covers everything for now. Over.