Who wudda thunk it?????

Ok - this will be very short because our guests come in tomorrow and I have to get some sleep. It has been a long day. But the tale I am about to tell you, ladies and gentlemen, is the perfect example of why you should never leave home without a camera...or an extra pair of underwear.

As I stated in my previous blog, the torch bearers for the torch relay were stayin in my hotel last night. Can you say lockdown? Anywho, they were off this morning from Tiananmen Square at 8am. I left for work with my colleague Diane at 9:00am - we were hoping to miss all the traffic and hoopla. Well, the hoopla came to us!

Those that were in the opening legs of the relay were already back at my hotel celebrating and carrying on. The press was there and photos were being taken of all of them with their torches...

Members of the torch relay....

Well, seeing as I was to be a torch bearer understudy, I felt that I had to get in on the action. The mood was so celebratory that I just walked up and asked if Diane and I could take a photo with the torch bearers.... then one man asked if we wanted to hold the torch! Hell yeah! So I, John Di Tecco, can with a clear conscience, say that I have indeed held the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch in my little Canadian hand!

Diane and I think that we will show up in Chinese People because the guy on the right is supposed to be a famous actor.

I can't even begin to describe the feeling I had. It was awe, pride, joy, excitement, disbelief, and did I mention excitement. I thought I would have to change my shorts. All of my stress was washed away. This is what the Olympics is about. Togetherness, love, comraderie, humanity... ok, we can't forget money, marketing and steriods...It was awesome.

Work today was long as we were in final prep mode. We got prepared and then headed back to the Olympic Green for one last familiarization before Opening Ceremony. Here are some random pics that I liked. I felt artsy today, what can I say?

Love these Chinese toilet signs...but I miss the leggo wheelchair guy!

Flower in our hospitality suite on the Olympic Green

another one

More flowers... artsy, remember

Fish in a bowl at the suite... I don't think they are on the menu....

Don't eat me

Ok - one last thing... weird things are afoot here. People say the darndest things... EVERYDAY to me. I was stopped more than once today while in uniform by people asking if I was.... get this.... an athlete! I mean what is in the air over here???? My only question is, what sport are they thinking? I am now opening the floor to suggestions.