The impact

It's been a tough week in the Olympic world, with the announcement that the 2020 Summer Games have been postponed, with the July start pushed ahead into the next calendar year.

With the social distancing still in place and working from home a thing, I've had a lot of time to think about all this stuff, which probably isn't good. I should probably be focusing on something else, something on the positive side.

As I sit here now in my apartment, NBC Sports Network is airing a special Olympic event with interviews with lots of different athletes who are impacted by the postponement and with an opening interview with Thomas Bach, the President of the International Olympic Committee discussing the situation. 

As I've spent hours being bummed out about not being able to go to Tokyo (never mind the three other trips I had planned between now and then), I've been seeing lots of social media posts from athletes who have been impacted by this and it got me thinking that this situation's impact on me is minor in comparison to the impact on the people who are so much more invested in the Olympics than I am.

The many, many athletes who are journeying to Japan from around the world should be the focus of any Olympic Games and as I'm watching this special on NBCSN, it's obvious that the majority of athletes seem to favor moving the Olympics and if that's what they want, then it is the right decision.

As media, we haven't received much in the form of updates from the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee or from the Tokyo Organizing Committee. We received an e-mail early in the week from the accommodations folks announcing that the deadline for room cancellation had been bumped back a month. The original deadline to cancel portions of the room without penalty was actually yesterday, March 25. It was postponed a month but I anticipate there will be more communication on this front coming in the near future.

So far, I've sent more than $800 in as a deposit on my accommodation and I will have to make a decision as to whether or not I want to go to Tokyo next year or get the money back to plan for a possible Beijing trip in 2022 for the Winter Olympics. The good news is that I purchased insurance on my flight to Tokyo, which cost more than $1,700, so if I need to cancel or move that flight, I will get my money back.

Yes, I am disappointed, but this is about a lot more than me. This is the decision that was needed for the many athletes, coaches and so many more people who have a stake in these Olympics. As I sit here today, my gut says I will give it a go to get to Tokyo next year, but that's still a decision that is in the future.

And I should take a moment to thank all the folks who've helped to make these Olympic trips a possibility. Two trips to the Olympics have been a dream come true and I am forever grateful.

It will be a bit of a wait until we can see more Olympic action.

A disappointing decision

The word is out that yes, the Summer Olympics are going to be postponed.
Scheduled to start on July 24, it became increasingly obvious over the last few weeks that the coronavirus pandemic was going to be an issue when it comes to the Olympics. The IOC held firm for a few weeks, stating they were hopeful that they wouldn't have to change things, but as more and more countries and/or athletes spoke up, it became obvious that a change was going to be needed.
First and foremost, bringing together thousands of people from around the world into one location certainly was not the ideal move.
Secondly, with the virus forcing the causing many places to close and events to be cancelled, the chance that athletes had to qualify for the Olympics were being called off, meaning they would have to be rescheduled before the Olympics and that was looking less and less likely to happen.
It just wasn't going to work out and that became pretty obvious to everyone on Sunday. While I was not completely sold on the IOC's optimism out of the gate, I admittedly held out hope that things would go on as planned and we'd be able to travel to Tokyo in July.
I was excited for my first Summer Olympic experience and now I have some things to consider. If the Summer Olympics are moved to the exact same time next year, do I suck it up, move my planned accommodations to next year and swap the flight as well or do I just cancel everything and focus on Beijing in 2022?
The issue for me is funding. For past Olympics, I've had four years between events to get the money together and with deciding to try for the Summer Olympics, I cut that in half for both Tokyo and a possible Beijing trip in 2022. If the Olympics get moved to next summer, we're looking at a scant six to eight months between Summer and Winter Games.
And the sheer amount of paperwork would certainly be impressive, since I'd be dealing with Summer Olympics ramp up while also going through the work for Beijing. I anticipate that the media process for Beijing will likely begin later this year, though I also know that there's no guarantee that I get approved for credentials.
There's a lot to think about over the next few weeks. Instead of gearing up for Tokyo by filling out paperwork and making final payments as the official Olympic credentials started arriving in the mail, I will be sitting at home like everyone else without much to do.
It's disappointing. It's the right decision, but nonetheless, it's disappointing.

The winds of PyeongChang will continue to be my most recent Olympic experience, for a while at least.

Nervousness, apprehension and excitement, all at the same time

As I write this on Thursday, Feb. 20, it’s been almost six years to the day since my first Olympic experience drew to a close.

That was in Sochi in February of 2014 and it was an experience that I will always remember. It was my first time covering such a huge event and in many ways, it was overwhelming.

However, I learned a lot in that first time out and when it came time to head to PyeongChang four years later, I had a much better idea of what to expect and it made the great experience I had the first time even better.

Now, as I prepare for my first Summer Olympics experience, I am concerned a bit about the sheer massiveness of the summer games compared to the winter games.

However, that’s a story for another day.

What has been on my mind lately has been the whole threat of the coronavirus and how it might impact my Olympic trip.

Going back to 2014 before I traveled to Russia, there was a lot of talk about security concerns and what Russia was doing to prepare. There were reports that some venues and some housing units weren’t complete. I can’t tell you the number of links people sent me about incomplete rooms and more.

However, I said to myself back then that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity and there was no way I was not going, despite the many issues that seemed to be popping up as they got closer.

This has been on my mind as the Tokyo Summer Olympics inch closer and the threat of the coronavirus continues to hang over eastern Asia. I keep reading stories that the Olympic officials have stated over and over that they are not cancelling or not delaying the Summer Games. Then I will read a story or two that quotes Japanese “medical professionals” saying that they think this could be more of an issue than Olympic officials are letting on.

Out of the gate, the first thing I thought of was the money that has gone into this. Thanks to many awesome people, I have sent the deposit for my housing (half of the overall $1,600 cost) and I have bought my airline tickets there and back ($1,700). I am sure that if the Olympics get changed, my rooming would likely be intact, just for different dates.

When I purchased my airline tickets, I did get the insurance, so if I had to change my flight, I could likely do so without much of a fee.

However, in addition to the money, there’s also the whole coronavirus thing. The quarantined cruise ship that’s been on the news is docked in Yokohama, which is near Tokyo and is hosting a number of Olympic events. So, this is legitimate.

However, like in Sochi with the security concerns, this is a great opportunity and letting something outside of my control ruin what could be quite an experience is the wrong thing to do.

I’m moving forward with the trip and I’m excited about it. My hope that is in the five months until I leave things get more cleared up on the coronavirus front.

Additionally, I should note a special thanks to my friends at the Village Players Theater who are organizing a fundraiser to help with the final expenses for the trip. It is set for Saturday, May 2, at 6 p.m. at the theater in Wolfeboro. I am sure more information will be released soon and I’ll get it out there for readers.

From my first Olympic experience, the Media Center in Sochi in 2014.