Rene Roch held a press conference today as he promoted the advances of the FIE over the past few years. At the same time Roch highlighted advances on the technology and fairness of fencing as well as the advances of non-European nations to show that fencing is a modern and worldwide sport.
In the round of 64 match, Poland storms out to a 4-0 lead vs. Byrne of Ireland. Byrne gets on the scoreboard with a slow attack and then followes it up with an attempt at another one, but is caught with her arm back.
I’m now checked into the apartment complex and have checked out the hotel’s media center as well as the Main Press Center (MPC) just outside the Olympic Green. This view looking outside of my room’s window shows the huge lanes and the gray skies that are a staple here in Beijing.
Left at 5am this morning for the airport. Once in the airport, I recognized “the Miz” of WWE (and earlier Real World) fame at the bookstore. (Which is worse, that I recognized him from the MTV show or from his WWE persona?)
I head out to Beijing tomorrow morning on Delta to Seattle and then via Hainan Air to Beijing. It’s been a nervewracking week getting all of the final preparations done and getting clothes laid out for packing.