Tales from Torino, Part 2
by Laura Fawcett |
(2/9/06) - I've been in Torino for a full week now and I've eaten at McDonald's four times. Twice I've had McNuggets, once a Big Mac, and once a chocolate sundae.
I didn't mean for this to happen. Really … I'm in Italy for pete's sake, and I'm eating at McDonald's. The fact is, most of us just can't help it.
I work out of the Main Media Center (MMC) at the Lingotto, which used to be the old Fiat factory. It's a vast complex that includes the IBC (International Broadcast Center) and houses office space for all the working media. The U.S. Olympic Committee has a fairly large office here, and that's my center of activity when I'm not at the Palavela rink. It's decidedly not glamorous, but it's functional. All the press officers for the city events are based here (hockey, speedskating, curling). The press officers for the mountain venues were here for most of the last week, but they've all headed up to Sestriere for their venues.
The MMC is created so that media don't have to go anywhere else. There's McDonald's of course, and two other generic fast-food spots – one for pizza, the other for sandwiches. There's a laundry facility, ATMs, an Internet lounge, kiosks to access INFO2006 (the Olympics' internal news network), a general store if you run out of toothpaste, information desks, you name it.
It's so convenient, and so close, and so quick. During the day I just don't have the time for a two hour meal, or even one hour. So McDonald's, or generic pizza it is.
What I wouldn't give for a burrito right now.
Anyway, I suppose you want to hear about the skating.
Sunday marked the arrival of our first group of skaters – Johnny Weir, Evan Lysacek, Matt Savoie, Rena Inoue, John Baldwin, Marcy Hinzmann and Aaron Parchem. You've probably seen the pictures on the site about team processing.
Both groups made their first practices on Monday morning. The men practiced pretty early, and by the time they hit team processing at 9 a.m., they were ready to go right back to bed.
Figure skating processed with some of the snowboarders, including “The Flying Tomato” Shaun White. Parchem noted in his Tuesday press conference that that was one of the coolest things – mingling with another sport and just seeing how they relax and how they act. He did note that there were definitely some differences between the skaters and snowboarders!
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After about an hourlong briefing on things like conduct, security, medical services, athlete services, the village, tickets, etc., it was off to apparel for the figure skaters.
It must have taken an hour for the skaters to go through processing, and they gleefully hit every station to try on for the perfect fit (alterations were also available if needed).
Baldwin took a liking to the bomber-style winter hat and has been wearing it everywhere. Hinzmann seemed to get the biggest kick out of all the shopping. Her advice to future Olympians? “You don't need to bring any clothes … they give you everything!”
She was also excited about the coat provided for the Opening Ceremonies, something she said she could keep and proudly show her kids and grandkids. The Opening Ceremony outfit is a secret until the ceremony, so even though I took some pictures of it, I haven't been allowed to post them! I think the whole U.S. Team marching in Friday night should be very impressive, however.
All the apparel was also packed neatly into the athletes' three new pieces of luggage … a rolling duffel, a rolling carry-on, and a backpack/briefcase combination.
After apparel, it was on to head shots and commemorative rings. The rings have a sport logo, your name, and the Olympic rings on it - pretty nice all around. Athletes all had the choice of getting the standard ring for free or upgrading to white gold or something like that. A lot of the athletes chose one of the upgrades. I took the free one. Go figure.
Cell phones were also issued to the team (they must be returned), and Nike provided more clothing. There was also a chance to purchase a black leather jacket with the Olympic rings on it … something available at every Games, I believe. I don't know how many of our athletes bought the jacket, but I do know Johnny didn't.
“Not my style,” he said.
