That's a wrap for Ron

Friday, Aug. 22

by Ron Pietroniro

    A few observations as we wind down our first ever Olympic Games.

    There doesn't seem to be any driving rules in Beijing. Cars, buses, pedestrians, bikes all flow through the intersections at exactly the same time. It seems chaotic, yet traffic flows pretty smoothly. Mind you there have been some near misses, but we've yet to see anyone run down by a media shuttle.

    In one of our many freebie bags of goodies we were given lovely little compact Beijing Olympic umbrella's with a small official Beijing Olympic Games mascot on them. Mine is pink. Yet every time you pass through security and the x-ray machines , the kind security people ask you if you have an umbrella which they proceed to take out of you're bag examine and than put it back. Not certain what security risk a small pink umbrella has except maybe emabarasment if I ever have to use it.

    There only seems to be one chocolate bar in the Olympics and that's the official Olympic Snickers Bar. What  happened? Did the Caramilk and Twix bars fail some sort of warped and unfair candy drug test.

    I'm writing this while photographing rhythmic gymnastics -- yes I've learned to multi task. It takes over 40 judges and officials just to score this event and there's only one person on the floor at a time. I mean 40 people, who's paying for this? They all look miserable, like they'd rather be somewhere else. Not one of them looks like they even like the sport, perhaps an official Olympics Snickers Bar would cheer them up but its doubtful.

    Also in our freebie goodie bags we were given soap, shampoo, body wash and not the cheap perfume stuff, I mean we are talking Johnson's Baby Shampoo and Baby Body Wash, the good stuff. Remember the commercials: It's gentle enough for babies yet strong enough for old photographers. Yet I believe that a portion of the photographic community has yet to find these products if you get my drift, and the drift does not smell very fresh. Perhaps some are saving them  for the perfect day like the closing ceremonies. For the sake of all us, please use these products. I know it's hot and we work long hours, but please please please just try them once. You'll smell like a freshly washed baby and we'll all be happy.

    I hear journalists complaining all the time about how awful this is, the work load, the hours. Just to put this into perspective, two weeks ago I was photographing the Canada vs. China women's soccer game in front of 50,000 cheering stomping crazed fans on the hottest night in our time at the Olympics. Next week I'll be taking pictures of mom and tots story time at the Ajax Public Library. I mean, no offense to the Library Board, but the Olympics is from a photographic stand point hard to top.

    Last but certainly not least, despite the constant 15 hour days, no sleep, skipped meals or no meals, rushing to deadline, the heat, getting wet and than freezing in the air conditioning because you're wet, bad hygiene (not ours), I think I speak for both Brad and myself when I say we cannot wait to do this all over again. We were proud to bring you the best athletes the Durham Region and the GTA had to offer as they made their bid for Olympic glory. Perhaps we can start this all over again say in Vancouver next time. Just a hint.

Comments

[walter passarella]

Youse guys done real good. (obviously written by a photog without benefit of editors) Safe journey home and see you next week.

[Christy]

Ron,you and Brad have done excellent jobs these past two weeks. I imagine it will be hard for you to settle back into the not-quite-so-exciting routine in Durham. Enjoy your last couple of days. Have a safe trip home. We can hardly wait to hear the stories.

[Joanne Burghardt]

Ron, Brad...a fantastic job. We're thrilled with the coverage. Our readers might like to know what was happening back here in Durham while you two were frolicking about Beijing. Three editors took turns getting up at 5 a.m. to update the website with the photos and stories that had come in overnight. Next they checked the incoming content from the Torstar news service, added that to the site, constantly checking with the official Beijing Olympic Committee website with up-to-the-minute results, and then it was off to the office where we continued to download the rest of your submissions until you packed it in shortly after noon our time (midnight in Beijing). All that content was edited and sent back out to the other Metroland papers in southern Ontario. Then it was time to put out the next day's newspaper. By 8 p.m. 'tomorrow's' competition had already started in Beijing and an editor spent the evening updating the website as early results came in. To bed at midnight, up at 5 a.m. start all over again. Of course, we didn't get any goody bags...but no one smelled bad. The most fun I've had covering the news since the big blackout five years ago!

[Joani]

Ron and Brad great work for two guys that went out not knowing what to expect. I understand that many people there have done this a dozen times before but .. both of you did a great job ... yeah I had to call circulation .. 3 times I did not get my Beijing portion of the paper and despite the nuberous calls finally I had to tell them how I was related to you. and an extremely nice person( yes , here at home) helped me out and brought over the section on her way home from work. yes friday night...I wished I had asked her name ...I guess fame ,on Ron and Brad's part helped.
if you have never worked abroad..one can never understand how difficult it is to complete a task as such.and with great excitement and expertize. I've been around the world and I've been to the Olympis before(not as a journalist of any type,thank god)but God bless you for not having the familiarities and comforts of home base and doing what you guys did..kuddos!! a great job!come home safe and sound...

[Ian Caldwell]

Congratulations Brad and Ron on outstanding coverage. You've put in some incredibly long days and provided stories and photos that we could look forward to each day.
Ian C.

[Sandi]

Hey Ron........

I have never watched or kept up with the Olympics before.... This year I have. It is kind of neat knowing someone that is there. Great pictures.... and loved the blog..... have a safe trip home.
See you when you get back.
Sandi,Ryan,Hailey and Dryden

[Hailey]

hey there! it's me again! let me just say i have loved commenting on this blog! it's so much fun! reading about your adventure and to think your messaging me back from half way around the world!(wow!) i really appreciated the fact that you always message me back i see in my e-mail that i got a message from beijing! that is seriously awsome! your pictures and stories on the front page are amazing!(i could never do something like that!) i hope you have a great trip home! bye from canada...eh! LOL! couldn't help it! byes!

[The Russells]

Great Job Gentleman, we all gathered each day to read the blog and look at the updated photos. It made the olympics far more exciting knowing the actual people sending us the great stories and amazing photos. You both should be very proud of your work. No one could possibly know this was your first Olympic experience from the work you posted. We are all proud to brag about knowing you both to all who will listen. Safe journey home Gentleman, and Ron we will have a Twix bar waiting for you!