Nathan Taylor, the George E. Heekin '29 Head Coach of Men's Track & Field and Cross Country, is in London for the 2012 Olympic Games as a track and field coach for the Virgin Islands team. Taylor will be providing periodic first-person updates from London for CornellBigRed.com as well as videos from his time at the Olympics. Taylor will be coaching Muhammad Halim '08 in the triple jump as well as three other track athletes from the Virgin Islands. He arrived in London on Friday, July 20.
Video: Walking in the Parade of Nations
Video: Lighting the Olympic Cauldron
LONDON -- At 9 a.m. Friday we were on our way to the warm-up track just outside the stadium. Over the course of the next two hours, in addition to Muhammad Halim '08 and the other Virgin Islands athletes' working out, we rubbed shoulders with some of the greatest names in track and field.
For many, Usain Bolt and the soon-to-be-famous Johan Blake or the oft-forgotten Asafa Powell was the highlight. For others it was the Kenyans and the Ethiopians gliding around the oval effortlessly over and over. They take care of everything at the track from nutrition centers and weightlifting facilities to massage therapists and official starters along with a hundred of volunteers to do anything you needed.
We held a quick team/country meeting at noon, and then it was off to the mall. Yes, the mall at Stratford, which is rumored to be the largest in Europe. It is 200 meters outside the village and was packed with shoppers and fans. We had to get our uniforms straight for the opening ceremonies. But at the mall, there were thousands of people and thousands of fans. Muhammad was mobbed for autographs and pictures and lots of questions like, “Can you beat Phillips Odouwu?” We made it back to the village for a quick nap in preparation for the long evening ahead.
We started to line up at 9:45 p.m., more than an hour after the UK Air Force flyby at 8:12 or 2012 in 24-hour time. Namibia's traditional ceremonial dress was stunning as was Saudi Arabia in its best flowing robes.
At 10:08 exactly, we moved toward the marshalling point, filing in right after Vietnam and before Yemen. Uruguay was running a few minutes late and everyone wanted to check out the Americans and the basketball team. I felt like I'd been invited to a reception at the UN. One of our delegates, Brother B, at 84, was walking in his 10th opening ceremonies. He walked up to Lebron James and told him he was okay, but Michael Jordan was still No. 1. I will say the Virgin Islands looked much cooler and laid back, appropriately, than the U.S.
The parade outside was a two-mile walk past thousands of screaming fans who couldn't afford the $3,000+ price of a ticket to be inside the stadium. What a sight. By the time we got to the stadium our brains were ringing with the best to come. When they announced the Virgin Islands -- which was led by our captain and flag bearer Tabari Henry and our Olympic Committee president Hans Lawaetz '64 -- the emotions welled up. The greatest sporting event in the world. To think that I was walking into the opening ceremony, and not as a spectator. The athletes don't get to see the show that the public gets to see on TV but we do get to march and to see the arrival of the torch and the lighting of the flame. Add in the queen, Pink Floyd, Paul McCartney and you've got a pretty good evening.
Don't be too critical of the videos. Hope you enjoy them.
We've got the day off Saturday, and we're going to check out the London sights and maybe catch up with Ray Taylor who's in London for work.
