Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
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WOW!! Here I go again...Ciao Utahns, It's my 6th Olympics but it never,ever gets old!! It's an honor and a privlege to be here, and I hope these Blogs from our team of 9 help you feel a bit closer to the fanfare, fun and flavor of the Torino Winter Olympics!
It always (when it's abroad) with the long day flying. 3 1/2 hour to Atlanta...then the long jump (just less than 9 hours) to Milan (try as I might, couldn't sleep much, we were all too juiced up to really get any 'shut-eye')then a 2 hour bus ride to the host city of Torino.
Then we experienced the same welcome as even the Olympians did. Getting accreditation and processed into our Village. Our Media Village crib at Mortara not quite as comfy and tricked out as the Athletes Village but hey, there's a bed,shower and place to eat...what else do we need, we're in Italy!!
First sight/sounds/smells off the plane?? All the printing, books, signs etc in Italian, street talk all in pleasant tones of Italian and anytime we'd turn a corner and pass a restaurant or bakery...mmmmmmmmmm "moma-mia" it's like walking into Tony Caputo's in downtown SLC!
First real work...attending the US Men's Ski Team press conference. Bode Miller trying hard to be non-controversial. He did ask me if I wanted to do a rare 1 on 1 sitdown interview with him but I said "No thanks, maybe next time" (just kidding)
I did get to chat with Park City's Ted Ligety one of more than 50 at least part-time Utahns we're following. It's amazing, just being around the 1st time Olympians you feel the extra excitement and it's very infectious!
I also had the chance to cover the USA Men's Bobsleigh (I love that word!) Team presser (tv talk). Reconnecting with Park City/Oakley's Steve Holcomb, up and coming Driver on the USA II Bobsleigh and Ogden's Billy Schuffenhauer, the Weber State Wildcat and 2002 Silver Medalist with Todd Hays USA I sled. Both really good guys and each with something different to prove here at the Torino Olys.
How about the food? Awesome and I haven't even had a chance to do any fine Italian dining. I'll tell you all about that when I actually go it (mangia)
What's going on in my head? All the above, plus the usual early 'overwhelmed' you feel getting here and trying to dig in to your workload...there's just stuff to do everywhere all the time. Plus missing my family, my wife's running the show flawlessly (at least that's how it sounds!) riding herd on our 3 children who say they miss me...which is nice (but I think they kinda like it with the "sheriff" half-a-world away!)
That's a wrap for now...thanks for reading this...if you have any questions,thoughts or comments you can always blog me back at tom.kirkland@ksl.com
I'll send pictures along next time, when I get a chance
Ciao!!
TK
