DeRosa Daily Equestrian Olympic News
Horsesdaily Veteran Olympic Reporter Diana DeRosa Brings Us Into Her World

The Jog for The Olympic Three-Day-Event and Opening Ceremonies

While everything is closer together here (venues to hotel), you’d be amazed how long a 5 minute ride takes.  First they drop us off at security so that we can undress (at least remove all our backpacks and photo gear) and then everything goes through screening.  Then another bus picks us up to take us just around the corner (no I’m not kidding – I mean that literally) because we are not allowed to walk the direct route.  The Chinese are a rule abiding country of citizens (except I’ve heard that they don’t always follow the rules but expect us to) and so there’s no sense trying to change the rules.  The rules are the rules here!

All that is to say that even though we think we have plenty of time, we are often rushing to make the next event because of the switching of buses.  We barely made it to the 4:00 jog in time but we were there when the first horse trotted down the centerline.  For me the jog is all about the Americans and when they all passed (despite the fact that two of our horses were asked to jog twice), I let out a sigh of relief even though these pictures also had some of those darn raindrops on them.  Our American Eventing riders include Phillip Dutton and Connaught, Becky Holder riding Courageous Comet, Karen O’Connor aboard Mandiba, Gina Miles on McKinLaigh and Amy Tryon with Poggio.

The jog ended later than expected and so instead of going back to the hotel for a quick change, I went with fellow journalist Shawn Hamilton straight to the Jockey Club where a mini version of the Opening Ceremonies took place followed by the screening from Beijing.  Since I only needed to be there for the live events including the parade of riders, a medley of songs, a choreographed dance routine and a few speeches, as soon as those were done I hopped on the next bus back to the hotel.

And so here I am with visions of sunny skies (and medals) bouncing around in my head.  Better yet, that pillow looks awfully good right now.  It’s midnight and Eventing Dressage takes place over the next two days.  While that is one of the easier things to shoot because those pictures are generally not in high demand, the schedule has made it a real pain.  We start at 6:30 a.m., which means up at 4:00 or 4:30 to get ready, downstairs for a quick (but rather nice) breakfast, off to catch the buses and then a morning spent photographing. 

However, that’s not the worst of it.  Tomorrow night the Eventing Dressage continues at 7:00 p.m.  And that’s not even the culminating blow.  On Sunday we start again at 6:30 and Sunday night is the main Media Party.  Because Eventing Cross Country means an early start on Monday, those of us on deadline may have to miss that.

All in all, hey, it’s the Olympics, so why am I complaining?.  I think if we can make it through Eventing the schedule for Dressage is a bit more inviting.  However, at the moment that seems like a long ways off. 

I got a lovely email today from Victoria who happens to be from my state (New York).  She wanted to know what happened to Guenter Seidel.  You know I asked the same question.  I saw him at the Selection Trials rooting everyone on and looking quite happy not to be competing.  My instincts tell me he didn’t have a horse capable of qualifying for the Olympics but since I’m not absolutely sure that is the case, I will ask and get back with an answer.  Thank you, Victoria for your nice comments and taking the time to write.

DeRosa photo: Gina Miles, Courtney King, Anne Kursinksi Olympic Equestrian Games 2008 Opening ceremonies

It would be great to hear from more of you.  So, feel free to email me at dderosa1@optonline.net.  It’s time for me to close for the night but before I do, remember I told you that there’s power in numbers.  Well how about sending Mother Nature a message.  Just repeat after me: rain, rain, go away until after these Olympic Games are over!

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