We got back around 10:00 pm. Everyone was soaked, but mostly in tired good spirits. No extra meetings this night, just straight to bed for the athletes. Sunday would have the 2.5 and 100 meter races....hopefully.
We just returned from Opening Ceremonies, usually an emotionally charged event. Rain all day had us really wondering how this outdoor event would actually go. Overall, It was different from others, and being televised, a bit shorter, which isn't bad. The highlight were the torch skiers coming down the mountain and Jason Marz, who I don't know if he made the televised broadcast. He came on and played last and was very good. A long fireworks followed and that was it. We made it back to the bus in the dark amazingly, so that was good. The president of Austria was there, so security was fairly visible. It is, however, unnerving to see ski masked machine gun toting solders (?) standing in dark corners.
Earlier in the day we had the 500 meter which involves a big chunk of the team. It was all hands on deck to shuttle athletes from the staging tent, to the start tent, then prep them inside, hand them off to volunteers and pick them up at the finish. It was fun for me, as it was constant action. I was just so proud of our athletes- I mean, it's pouring rain, they race in a thin race suit, come in soaking wet and cold and are extatic about their race. Not one complaint. I just Love that.
(Update, Sunday later)
So we are called off the rest of the day, still raining and the course is a swamp. Supposed to stop raining later, but all week is predicted in the 50s. I guess they are farming snow and will haul it in as they can tonight. It may be a totally different schedule now to get everything in. Off day now, so we're visiting an old 1800s church up the street for a tour. I'm kinda short of causal clothes, so I may have to buy a couple shirts (no laundry here). Hopefully, we will be back on snow tomorrow.....which I think is Monday. 😉
