Arrival in Beijing!

With only a few minor hiccups along the way, we have safely arrived here in Beijing. We arrived in Los Angeles for our 1:40 am flight to Beijing and discovered how lucky we are to live in California. We met up with referees from Panama, Jamaica, Trinidad, and Mexico who had been travelling for hours and hours just to get to Los Angeles. After 12 and a half hours en route and a small delay in customs to smuggle Marlene into the country, we arrived at our hotel just in time for breakfast.

Enjoying the luxurious surroundings of our hotel we settled in for the whirlwind of introductions awaiting rookie officials as referees for the men’s and women’s Olympics began trickling into our shared accommodations. Without the other US referees who were still en route to Beijing, we ventured out on our own a bit. After breakfast we embarked on a journey through Beijing to complete the accreditation process at the Beijing Hotel. With the help of a map, Veronica’s language CDs, and the gesturing and waving of volunteers at Olympic information booths we were successfully able to traverse the four blocks to the other hotel.

Back at the hotel, we enjoyed the amenities of the well appointed fitness center and grabbed some lunch. After lunch, we fought the urge to sleep and picked up the clothing issued by FIFA and the Olympic committee. Continuing to resist the call of jetlag, we proceeded to try on the mountain of clothing we lugged up to our rooms and began checking email and settling into our rooms. Tomorrow we begin classroom and fitness training in earnest.

Marlene and Veronica

Headed to China

We are headed to China! Flights are scheduled to touch down in Beijing on July 31st, 6 days before the first soccer match begins. Enough time to grow accustomed to the Olympic atmosphere and the local "air" before blowing the first whistle. I am so thrilled the first Olympic "test" is over, now time to be 100% focused on the matches.

Our first Olympic "Test"

As many of you know in order to officiate at any major tournament Referees and AR's must pass the fitness test at each event. In previous years the fitness test occurred upon arrival, however for the 2008 Olympic Games we'll be travelling to Trinidad and Tobago (in the Caribbean) on July 15th to take the test. We've all be training very hard and all expect to do well. This will be our first "test" for these Olympic Games. Wish us luck.