After a hotel breakfast with delicious fresh fruit (despite
being winter, the fruit selection was expansive and full of flavor), we got
into our shuttle car to head over to Flamengo, our work location. The drive
takes about 10 minutes, max. It’s 2.7 miles, so there are a few people who have
done the walk, either in the morning or at night (although we are warned about
going when it’s dark). Despite the safety I felt in the beach area, walking to
work would be a little different: in one part, you would have to walk through a
tunnel where many homeless people call “home.” I guess bikes are available for
us to take as well, but biking on the streets here might be even more dangerous
than walking, but for a different reason. The people here are quite crazy in
their driving skills. We literally have to shut our eyes in some parts, hoping
that we won’t get in an accident. Signal turn lights are non-existent. Lines
are rarely followed. Space between the cars are extremely narrow. There is a
designated bike lane, but still. I would feel more safe walking.
I got into our USOC office which is located in the building
connected to all the training facilities and found a place in our staff room at
a table to set my stuff, hook up my computer, and call my new home. I look out
the window to the Rugby field, and the Christo looms tall in the nearby
mountain (although now, the view was to the back side of the statute). The
water polo team were practicing in the gym next to us, which I peeked into. I
started doing work, but I told everyone here to let me know when they needed
help as I would step in any time. Soon enough, help was requested and I was more
than eager to help, no matter what task it was.
And, the task of the day definitely wasn’t too bad. I helped with
checking in all the media who were granted access to interview and get footage
of the Men’s Basketball team during practice! I had to check people off, lead
them through “security” (which some guy just opening a gate for us… no metal
detectors, no bag check, no equipment check, of which there was a plethora of…
top notch… especially to get into the basketball area). We’d bring them down to
the gym where the Basketball players will practice daily. Although the
basketball players are training at my work, they really just arrive in two
secure vans that pull up to the gym, and the guys walk about ten steps into the
gym. They don’t venture over to our area (across the rugby field), won’t use
our weight room/gym, definitely won’t be eating our lunch which consists of a
sandwich bar, but it still feels cool to be near them. Just knowing that they
are right in our presence elevates the feeling of being surrounded by
greatness. We got to watch some of the practice as well. Not too long, but we
were right there, sideline to the court, watching Keven Durant and Klay
Thompson and Carmelo Anthony and Draymond Green and Paul George and Kyrie
Irving shooting the ball with Coach K. I felt star struck taking a few
pictures. (Note: Did you know that the average age of Team USA basketball team
is just over 26 years old? It dawned on me that I am looking up to these
legends who have all completed such success by such a young age. An age that I
exceed by 6 years! So incredibly accomplished already)
The gymnasts and rugby players were around and asked to stop
in to watch the basketball practice as well. I had already left, but I heard
the story about this. I guess as their practice was winding down, the
basketball players invited the other athletes down and starting playing around
with them. They all started throwing the rugby ball while the rugby guys gave them some tips. And then, the funniest
picture you will ever see is one of the gymnast girls standing next to DeAndre
Jordan (she literally looks like his 7 year-old daughter). I see that picture
and just think about how the Olympics brings so many people together, all on
the same stage: tall or short, young or old, and coming from all races and all
religions. The Olympics doesn’t see race or color or gender or status. It’s not
a place where you have to fit into one mold to be successful. A 13 year old
swimmer or a 61 year old Equestrian athlete get to take part in the next 16
days together when the intersection of the all the greatest athletes from all
the greatest sports meet at the Olympics. What made the story even greater that
afternoon: the rugby players signing a rugby ball for the basketball players!
We watched the rugby team practice later. This is the first
time that Rugby will be in the Games, so you can tell their excitement to take
part in the inarguative appearance. Their practice field is gorgeous (you can
see the picture of it which gives it much more justice than do words). A few of
them were getting interviewed, as we sat on the sidelines, right outside of our
office, trying to eavesdrop ever so slightly. I have never attended a Rugby
game, but it’s actually one of the top sports that I want to watch here! I have
heard that the atmosphere and vibe in one of those games pulls out more energy
in a crowd than any. A few of us talked about trying to get tickets for
Wednesday.
The buzz everywhere was about Opening Ceremony and where
people were going to watch it. We had a crew who went to the Flamengo Club (across
from where we work), but a good majority of us decided to go to USA House. USA
House is set up by the USOC as a place for athletes and their family (and
anyone with a pass) to go relax, watch TV, and get food and drink. It’s a
comfortable safe haven. Despite the casual dress that everyone is in, it’s
actually a quite up-scale type of event to be part of. Every USOC staff gets
only two tickets in during the entire games to see it. We have the ability to
purchase more tickets, but each additional ticket runs for $350! I didn’t
really want to use up one of my two passes on this first day (especially
considering how I promised one to my friend), but I also wanted to be with my
crew. Luckily, Bridget (who works with us) gave Gary and I an extra ticket each
so we wouldn’t feel guilty about using ours (since she is an exec level, she
gets extras). My decision was made.
We ubered to USA House. Yes, they have uber here and in fact,
it is highly encouraged for everyone to take. There is even a virtual-type “uber
stand” at the USA House (don’t ask me to explain). They are quick, easy, and
very cheap. They don’t need to know English when you type in your destination
address online.
After checking in and getting a badge (yes, they printed lanyard personalized badges
right there), we went and checked out the USA Store immediately to the right.
Ralph Lauren and Nike sets up shop and sells their Team USA Gear (which even
has store hours to the public, the first time that has ever been done). I
looked at the price tag of one of the Ralph Lauren dresses that the USOC had
given me (and that I didn’t even bring because I didn’t really like it). This
one dress was over $200! It makes me think about how much they hook us up with
gear.
For Rio, the USOC actually rented out a primary school on
Ipanema Beach to serve as USA House. Renovations to this school had to be extensive
(this was actually a very large school—4 stories), but the USOC saw it more as
giving back to the community with lasting upgrades. The entire school was
re-painted inside, new floors were put in, and the playground was actually
shipped out to renovate instead of paying for somewhere to store it.
The bottom floor had multiple hanging out rooms and seating
areas—tables in one area, beach chairs (Rio theme) in another, and a lounging
coach area. There was a big buffet and open bar as well. This room was
definitely the biggest and most populated. The second floor had the LA 2024
exhibit area (the U.S. is bidding for the 2024 Olympic Games in LA and
promotion/public support is in full swing right now before the IOC vote in
2017). Then, there was a floor of just storage space/offices and another floor
of offices (the exec team and marketing). Then, you make your way up to the
rooftop! There was a grill fired up for hamburgers, and another open bar. There
were a few different seating areas as well (with very comfy couches), and TVs
all around. But, nothing would compare to the view! It overlooked the beach and
ocean, and out in the distance, the lights from the distance sparkled against
the dark sky. It was perfect t-shirt weather, even when it got to 11pm. We
watched the Opening Ceremony right up there (through the NBC feed so we could
listen in English… I heard it’s quite expensive to set up that feed down in
Brazil). A good amount of people went to the Ceremony itself (from the USOC,
athletes of course, and the athletes’ families) so USA House wasn’t very
packed, which was extremely nice. We watched the show, and what a show it was!
After the U.S. athletes walked through, we headed back home to the hotel to
rest up for yet another day in paradise.
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