Touchdown in Beijing

Submitted by patho on Sun, 03/08/2008 - 23:46

Writing my second entry on the Olympic Games feels far more natural. That's because the party has started, and we're now all physically part of IT. Saturday 2nd July 2008 I went off at a good start, joined my collegues Rik Van Hespen, Frederic Coppens, Shijun Zhang and her daughter Zang Li (Lili) Pollet at Brussels International Airport, after Shanshan dropped me at the Kiss & Ride and (accidently) queuing at the VRT check-in near Lieven van Gils from Sporza. On board we were accompanied during our intercontinental crossing by the Heineken Team and the Belgian ladies Beach Volley.

We arrived at 5 o'clock in the morning in a very supernaturally green and relatively quiet Beijing. At Yong An hotel we were welcomed by Catherine - the shepherd of the Atos Origin Volunteer - but first I had a lot of explaining to do to a whole crew of police, hotel and security staff when screened at the entrance of the hotel. Obviously they didn't really appreciate Shanshan + my set of quality German cooking knives as a gift, but after quite some negotiation - helped by an young but bit nervous Chinese volunteer - I was able to hand over all the presents to Emily in the evening - handed over outside the compound - while we laughed detailing the chaos I caused, drinking some very nice Hangzhou tea in a tea house nearby the hotel. Actually our entire Sunday was jampacked with activity, but I currently am very short in time, so later I will certainly elaborate on yesterday's events.

To summarize we went to face the impressive olympic venue for the first time, activate our accreditation - while everyone got lost - and said hello to Tiananmen, which blew Fred & Frederique - who saw this for the first time in their lives - from their socks.

Chinese Lessons for today:

  • Dong yi ge shijie, Dong ye ge meng xian = One World One Dream
  • Atos Origin is known here as Yuan Xun Gong Si

Frederique, Shijun and Lili at the airport Cosmic surgery nearby the hotel ... we are saved !!! 10 volunteers for 1 Shijun in need The birdnest as we always imagined Saying hello to the Forbidden City Happy Emily showing her rescued cooking knives