Russia is Beautiful (in parts)

Star struck

Many of my colleagues working at the Games try to grab a pic of their favorite athlete while they are here.   Not me - the other day I found myself giddy over the sight of an international journalist. 

David Remnick is currently editor of the New Yorker magazine and whose work I was introduced to when I was in grad school. He is a contributor for NBC during the Olympics -- I think sits and chats with Costas (when Costas is hosting that is -- poor Bob!).  Remnick spoke at our production seminar early in the Games and I hunted him down afterward to say hello.  I felt a bit like I was in one of those Chris Farley skits as I stammered "Remember when you wrote that book? You know that book Lenin's Tomb? Yeah....that was awesome!"  David seemed only slightly weirded out when I asked to get my picture taken with him. 

USA's Digs

Just a couple of other notes on this Thursday. The other day I was assigned to film inside one of the Athletes Villages. It was the one where all the endurance athletes are staying (cross country skiing and biathlon). For security reasons the media is given extremely limited access to the athletes' residence. Any crew who wishes to film has to get additional clearance on top of the other security layers already in place.  In fact, I was told I couldn't even use my iPhone to snap personal pictures. I did manage to sneak a shot of the house where some of the biathletes are living.

It looked like a Swiss chalet, a condo you'd see at a  ski resort (about the closest thing resembling anything ski resort-like in these mountains!). An interesting note, the athletes aren't allowed to display any American flags. Too much of a target I guess. 

It was here at the Athletes' Village where you can easily see some of the beauty found at the higher elevations here in the mountains. We've had a number of bluebird days where I've had to layer up both in clothing and in sunscreen. Russia may be a bit rough in parts, but it sure is beautiful others. 

Tie For Gold

Lastly, you may have seen that there was a tie -- a tie!! -- for the gold medal in the women's downhill event yesterday.  It is a fairly timely result given the short piece of mine about timing that is airing tonight on the Olympic Zone.  I'm not sure what Bob's status is for prime time coverage but let's hope he's back at command post!