(ATR) From citizens to athletes to media, anticipation for the upcoming YOG is evident in Nanjing. Around the Rings Associate Editor Nick Devlin shares his initial experience with the Games.
The pride the city takes in hosting the second summer YOG is clear as soon as you arrive. Hundreds of banners festoon the ceilings and pillars at Nanjing Lukou International Airport. Young volunteers in green and white polos are eager to please, greeting travelers at baggage claim and making sure they reach a car or bus to their hotel.
The athletes seem enthused as well. Members of the Youth Olympic teams from Jamaica and Puerto Rico shared a late night flight on Tuesday from Shanghai to Nanjing. Even after a long day of travel, the teams were abuzz with activity. Jamaicans rocked in their seats, sang along to their iPods, and slyly snapped pictures of a teammate who had the temerity to catch some shuteye on the hour-long flight. The Puerto Ricans practically bounced off the plane, sharing laughs and grouping up for selfies while waiting at bagging claim.
On a dark, drizzly Wednesday, with the overwhelmingly Chinese press corps in no particular hurry to be anywhere, traffic in and out of the Main Press Center was unrushed. A source tells Around the Rings around 3,000 accredited media are expected, just 600 of which will be foreign. Most are from state-run Chinese outlets.
The early arrivers munched on snacks and grabbed Coke and water from large coolers in the main workroom. One of the treats, a sugar cookie with a touch of onion and sesame, was a pleasant surprise.
Those media members who spoke English were eager to interact with the few foreigners present. One Nanjing-based Xinhua reporter is researching a story about the effects of green transportation on the Games. She lightly chastised me after I mentioned I had taken a taxi from the hotel to the media center and pointed out that media members can ride city buses and trains for free by showing their credential.
Another, a young business writer from Beijing, chatted about his city’s bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympics. He says there is more opposition to this bid than the one that led to the city hosting the Summer Olympics in 2008, but "not too much." He also says the real impact could come in Zhangjiakou, the city which would be home to the mountain cluster and one in need of an economic boost.
The volunteers were out in full force in the workroom as well. Three or four of volunteers, all of whom appear to be middle school or high school aged, rushed to respond anytime a member of the press had a question about the spotty internet connection or location of a nearby venue.
The pace will begin to ramp up on Thursday. The YOG’s first competitions get underway with women’s football at Wutaishan Stadium. Papua New Guinea will face Venezuela first followed by a match between China and Mexico.
The Opening Ceremony is scheduled for Saturday.
Written by Nick Devlin in Nanjing
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