Posts from the ‘Tokyo’ Category

Sunset Over Tokyo

Another Eat@Joes comes to a close. By my count, this was the ninth Games for me and the eighth that included some sort of regular correspondence with friends and family. In Turin, it was a series of emails that got passed around like a basket at church. It morphed into something of a blog for Beijing, but that iteration, which also included Vancouver, was lost forever when Apple shuttered its software for such things.

As Promised, Larry Part II

Dear Joe’s Readers,

I’ve finally written up the story I alluded to in the last post. An experience that happened on day 6 that I thought would cut short my nascent Olympic career if I ever spoke a word of it (I didn’t even tell Erin). The blog has continued, I was not kicked out. And, in retrospect, it wasn’t a big deal. But it sure felt like one in the moment.

Finally, Some Culinary Escapades

Several days back, we were freed from our two-week quarantine, which had only allowed us to go to the office or the venues. They were kind enough to allow us to go out of the hotel for 15 minutes to pick up food, which normally meant 7-11. (Best egg salad sandwiches people have ever eaten, I’m told.) As you already know, quarantine does not make for good Olympic blogs.

I Slept Through an Earthquake

Chang Lee thought he was hung over — again. Several people woke up at 5:35 a.m. and didn’t really know why. Motoko Rich also woke up then but knew exactly why. She lives here. I, on the other hand, was asleep and stayed that way until my alarm went off at 6 a.m. I checked my phone and saw all the chatter in our Olympics WhatsApp chat: Did you feel it? No, first i’m hearing of it, must be the Ambien. Oh my god, I knew it! I thought it was the dryer in my room causing all the shaking! Motoko says we are now all honorary Japanese with nonchalant earthquake experience.

Guest Post: Larry’s First Rodeo

Jan. 2016 — I found myself on a plane headed to Spring,Texas, to fly a drone over the greatest gymnast of all time. I was scared and nervous. I forgot toothpaste. I carried the heavy box.

It was, as they (Joe and Bedel) say, my first Olympics rodeo. And they reminded me of it, constantly. 

Covering Gymnastics

I’m writing this in the press workroom at Ariake Gymnastics Center waiting for the women’s all-around final to start. Quite the drama two nights ago. I’m sure you knew Biles was out before we did. I was puzzled why she didn’t do the uneven bars and then she left the floor for a while. Finally word trickled into the arena that she had pulled out.

Things I’ve Seen

Everyone who came to Tokyo for the Olympics is required to quarantine for 14 days. I’m halfway through. We’re allowed to go out to do our jobs but we’re pretty limited the rest of the time. No one is going to feel sorry for us; we’re at the Olympics after all. But it does put a crimp in the fodder for E@J.

The Hole in the Blog

For so many reasons, this will be an Olympics and a blog like no other: no fans; no cheering; a year late. Gone are the crowds and the multitude of languages you hear walking the streets of the Olympic city.