Karen's Beijing Blog

Sunday 23rd August

I can’t believe how lucky I’ve been to see so many incredible sporting performances. Every moment I have spare in between working at the pool and open water I spend going to watch other events.

I’ve seen British gold medals in rowing, cycling and at the athletics. Chris Hoy’s feat of winning 3 golds in cycling here was remarkable and he was very emotional as he stood on top of the podium.

One of the big highlights for me was seeing Usain Bolt running the 100m and 200m in world records. I was in the stadium in Atlanta when Michael Johnson set the record in 1996 so I felt very privaledged to see it broken 12 years later. It was a stunning performance.

The BMX was a fun event to watch although it was a huge disapointment when Britain’s Shanaze Reade crashed out on the final bend. And I listened to commentary on the modern pentathlon while I was working on the diving and jumped around in the stands at the pool as I heard Heather Fell win a silver medal in an exciting finish in the last event of the day the 3k run.

Friday 15th

For the first time I have been commentating on the diving as well as the swimming and it’s a very different skill. The shortest swim race lasts 21 seconds but the dive from a 10m platform takes just 1.8 seconds. I have been doing a lot of research and Athens Olympic silver medallist Leon Taylor has helped me a lot but I am still learning. Obviously it is 14 year old Tom Daley who is creating all the increased media interest in the sport and leading up to 2012 I hope I get more opportunities to work on this sport.

I have also been doing some round up shows for TV which is fun. The studio is in the amazing pagoda structure with a wonderful view of the Birds Nest stadium and Watercube aquatic centre.

With the athletics starting today the whole Olympic Park area is suddenly heaving. After torrential rain yesterday we have a scorcher today and the atmosphere is perfect. I am going to watch the athletics tomorrow and can’t wait for the big 100m showdown.

Thursday 14th

We are one week into the Olympics and it has been full of dramas, tears, excitement ups and downs and of course that incredible gold medal in the 400m freestyle from Rebecca Adlington.

Jo Jackson took the bronze medal in the same race and I was particularly pleased for her since we swam together on many relay teams before I retired.

Star of the pool has with out a doubt been Michael Phelps. I think now that he can really win 8 gold medals and all in world record times. I can’t believe the amazing performances that I have witnessed by him and if I have children in years to come I’ll be able to tell them I was here and saw them all because surely this is a feat that will never be matched.

Sunday 10th August

Despite having competed at 4 Olympic Games I have never been to Opening Ceremony. My first race was always the next day and so I needed to rest and get an early night rather than being on my feet for hours.

When my boss at the BBC heard this she called around and managed at the last minute to get me a ticket and it was worth the wait.

There were around 1500 performers who took part in the displays, which were incredible. I love fireworks and the display at the end was without doubt the biggest and loudest I have ever seen.

I felt very proud watching my friend Mark Foster leading the GB team out carrying the flag and it was great to watch the athletes from different countries running to get their picture taken with the likes of Roger Federer, Kobe Bryant and Rafal Nadal.

The highlight is of course the lighting of the flame and how it will be done is always a big secret. The Chinese chose to have their former gymnastics Olympic champion lifted into the sky by ropes holding the flame. He then appeared to run around the top of the stadium before lighting the flame. It was very impressive but my favourite is still Barcelona 92 where a flaming arrow was fired into the cauldron.

Beijing has definitely set a new standard and London will have to come up with something very special in 4 years time to match the show they put on here.

Saturday 9th August

The city is getting busier and busier and hotter too.

We haven’t had clear skies yet and there seems to be a debate over whether that is caused by smog or just the humidity.

There was disappointment in the GB camp when boxer Frankie Gavin didn’t make his weight and had to go home. He was a medal favourite so it was a blow to the team.

Good news however when Mark Foster was chosen by his fellow athletes to carry the GB flag at the opening ceremony. Mark is swimming in his 5th Olympic Games, a remarkable feat. And whilst he has not always seen eye to eye with the people who run sport in Britain, this vote proved the athletes do respect him and admire his achievements.

Thursday 7th Aug

I have moved from Macau to Beijing and now really feel the buzz of the Olympics.

I travelled with some of Team GB including the boxing and archery teams and the arrival at the airport, customs and sorting out accreditations went very smoothly and quickly.

After arriving in Beijing I switched hats and my main role went from being part of the BOA to part of the BBC.

Our hotel is very nice and just walking distance from the Water Cube where the swimming will take place.

I spent most of the day getting my bearings. As is the norm at Olympics the security is tight so quite often you can see where you want to get to but it is fenced off! Finding the short cuts is very important.

I went to the GB and USA swim team press conferences and felt very nostalgic. Once upon a time it was me up there answering questions and feel excited and nervous about competing.

I bumped into Ipswich and GB hockey player Jo Ellis at a function at the British Ambassador’s residence.

HRH Princess Anne was there and a number of Team GB. I wished Jo luck from Team Ipswich and I’m hoping to get to a game if I can fit it in between work.

Tuesday 6th August

I arrived in Macau on Sunday and felt pretty good since a friend of mine who is a BA pilot managed to get me upgraded to club class. The over night flight was 13 hours but I slept for 9!

I’ve never been to macau before and it was an eye opener. Apparently there is more gambling per sq mile in macau than las vegas now!

The team GB holding camp is here and the team are in the only hotel with no casino.

It is very hot and humid so a perfect place for the athletes to acclimatise before moving to Beijing.

As always the British Olympic Aassociation have put a lot of work into getting this holding camp right.

Along with the chairman of the BOA I visited the training facilities and watched a number of the athletes from various sports train.