The End

The last few days have been a blur! World records, medals galore, Closing, a Village up all night, remote check-in’s, early morning departures…all on only a few hours of sleep! The London Olympics have officially come to an end and we are in our final stages of helping people get home, packing up our stuff and leaving things the way we found them. This experience has truly been incredible and I am very proud to be an American. Team USA topped the medal count in both overall medals and gold medals and as a person who works in the Sport Performance Division of the USOC, those words are music to our ears……………that my friends is why we get up every day.

Thank you to London, Team USA and the Olympic Movement for making the last few weeks so memorable! And for all of you who have been keeping up with my blog, thank you for your dedication and we’ll have to reconnect again in February 2014 for the Sochi Games!

My last and final shout-out goes to my husband, Justin Miller. He is the only person in this world who could get two shout-outs in the same blog! I can’t wait to see you again!

To close, I leave you with this:

'The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.'

Cheers!

Julie

The Olympic Stadium

Sunset in the Olympic Park

My roommate, Whitney, and I at Track and Field

Our view of the medal ceremony on TV

Our 4x100 athletes celebrating their silver medal

Hmmm...a marching band going through the Village...not every day you see something like that!

Remote Check-In's! Our team alone averages 5 bags per person so the remote check-in's allow delegation members to check-in their bags and get their boarding passes at the Village the day before their departure. They also have a special Games Terminal at the airport just for delegation members!

Yep - I got to go to Closing!!!!

The start of Closing!

The flags being carried in at Closing

Pin ball wizzard!!!

Definitely a highlight! THE SPICE GIRLS!!!!! So cool!!!!! Also the other highlight: the 'Imagine' segment sung by Lenon...they had the phrase 'Imagine Peace' in every language going across the stadium throughout the song. Brilliant!

Get ready for Rio!

The flame being taken apart and about to be extinguished...all good things must come to an end.  

Something Special...

Because I know that so many of you are glued to the TV right now and checking results online like you were just hired to be a statistician, I propose the following:

I care about the Olympics because                                                                                               .

Fill in the blank. I’m curious. Why do you stay up so late every night watching soccer games? Why do you get choked up when you hear your national anthem being played? Why have the Olympics become such a big part of your life these last few days? Why do all of you want me to get you an Olympic pin while I am here? (J)

For me, the reasons are endless. Every day I find something new to love about the Olympics. And it’s usually during the moments that make me emotional that I mentally chalk another reason up on my list.

Here’s one of my latest and most notable examples: I care about the Olympics because on a cold and rainy London night I can go to an amazing architectural stadium that was built specifically for a two week time period and under the literal heat of the Olympic torch watch a grown man sob on the medal stand as he hears his national anthem being played in front of 80,000 people from all over the world.

It sounds like something out of story book, right? Well that’s just it…the Olympics are so unique and so out-of-this-world that they can’t even be compared to anything else. They are just that special. And it’s hard to even describe them to other people if you haven’t ever experienced it in person. It is just something you have to see for yourself. So start planning your trips folks…there are seats in Sochi, Rio and Pyeongchang with your name on it!

Highlights from the last few days…

• Cheered for Team USA in a British pub with some of my Colorado friends
 
• Welcomed our women’s soccer team into the Village (they had been living and playing in other parts of the country and have recently moved into the London Village in preparation for the gold medal game)
 
• Restocked one of our famous tennis players with more Team USA pins
 
• Looked out the window next to my desk and saw a few members of our men’s basketball team walking by and mingling with a few of our hurdlers
 
• Traded ‘badges’ (aka pins) in the Village with people from Iran and Afghanistan
 
• Had some delicious waffles in the dining hall
 
• Came up with a good way to describe what it feels like to be in the Village: you know when you are in a dome stadium and there is an airtight door that you have to walk out of to exit the stadium and it sort of pops you out into the world? That is how it feels when you leave the Village…I know it sounds kind of funny because obviously the Village isn’t in a dome but that is sort of how it feels to me because the Village environment can be so artificial…suddenly you are back into a world where people have to pay for things and you have to stand in line for everything and you have no idea which country people are from because they are not wearing any kind of team gear…and then you realize again just how awesome the village is!

The shout out today goes to my ‘brilliant’ teammates…although they are always giving me a hard time about, well…just about everything, they are the best teammates in the world and I am honored to work alongside them each and every day!

Cheers!

Julie

P.S. Here’s a new and very cool video to check out: The 100 Meter Dash - One Race Every Medalist Ever http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/08/05/sports/olympics/the-100-meter-dash-one-race-every-medalist-ever.html?smid=fb-share

My Colorado friends and I cheering for Team USA at a real British pub!

The best picture I have next to an Olympic torch to date!

Amazing

THE Olympic Stadium

Yep I actually got this close to it

Not bad for a little camera, huh? :) I heard that each country will get to keep their little horn of this torch...super cool.

Nice touch Omega!

Our American flag hanging from the rafters

My traditional photo with a volunteer who is doing the job that Kate and I had in Athens! :)

Go Team USA!

One of our 100m sprinters receiving his medal at the awards ceremony



I couldn't get very close to the 100m award ceremony so I had to capture it on the big screen...still super neat to be there!

A start block

The Olympic and British flags flying in the stadium

The crazy sculpture during the day!

Our Athletes Need You!

Hello Everyone!

The Games are well underway and Team USA is already proving that they are some of the best athletes in the world! Team USA truly consists of tremendous athletes and quality people and each and every day they make sacrifices to become our country’s best. They put in countless hours of hard work, they sacrifice time with their families and put their careers on hold…all to inspire us to do better and strive for more.

That being said, I wanted to take a moment to share with you some important information that most people aren’t aware of………..the United States Olympic Team is one of the only countries in the world that does not receive any government funding to support Team USA’s efforts. Not one cent goes to swimsuits or ice time, meals or trainers. To explain, the U.S. Olympic Committee and all of our National Governing Bodies (NGB’s as we call them) are non-profit organizations and secure their funds through sponsorships, membership fees and private donations. In comparison, other powerhouses across the world receive millions of dollars from their governments to fund their programs.

That being said, Team USA’s situation poses the ultimate American challenge: do more (and often much, much more) with much, much less….be strategic and creative with how you deploy your resources….build valuable partnerships with those who believe in your mission….and rely on the American people and their pride for the red, white and blue to support your efforts.

Well friends, with this in mind, there are many ways that YOU can help make Olympic dreams come true. And to name just a few of these ways……..become a member of your favorite sport’s NGB, participate in sports and be active, purchase products from our sponsors, go to events or watch events on NBC, spread this important and interesting message and donate to an NGB or the USOC. Donating is super easy and it is something that Justin and I do every year by going to www.teamusa.org.  I sincerely hope that you will take this message to heart and keep it in mind when you watch our athletes tonight! J

So in terms of what I have been up to the last few days, here is a 'snap shot':



My growing pin collection...and the best credential I've ever had!

 

The swimming venue!

 

I have never even been able to access the swimming venue...let alone sit this close!

Yep I was there when he broke the record! So amazing and I feel so fortunate to have witnessed Olympic history!

 

Jordan's medal tracker at home in Hibbing! (Jordan is one of my Goddaughters) So cute!

 

The rings outside the swimming venue

 

The outside of the swimming venue

The Olympic Stadium and Olympic sculpture at night

 

The Olympic Stadium - so neat!

The McDonald's at the Olympic Park...I've heard this is the biggest McDonald's ever!

An awesome sculpture at the Olympic Park

 

And another one...

Outside of the Aussie building in the Village...Justin would fit right in - lol

 

Outside the Canada building in the Village

 

Street food in the Village...kind of like a healthy state fair atmosphere! Vendors from across the UK were asked to bring their tastiest treats to the Village and this has been a very popular attraction here! Fun idea for sure!

Also, I’d like to give a shout out to one of my best friends, Stacey Sogard! Thank you for making me laugh even when I’m in London! J

Cheers!

Julie

P.S. My Cousin-in-Law, Lindsey, is an engineer who sent me a really cool link to information about what the Olympic Village used to be and how they turned it into what it is now. You have to check it out! http://www.stormh2o.com/SW/Blogs/1419.aspx

Fun Facts and The USA House

Hi Everyone!

Things have finally slowed down a bit here in the Village and events are in full swing! I was able to sneak away to visit Jodi at the USA House last night! See photos below.

In addition, here are some fun London Olympic facts:

·         This is the 3^rd time London has hosted the Olympic Games

·         For the first time ever in Olympic history, a woman will be competing from every  country currently represented here

·         The Olympic Village can house up to 16,000 athletes and team officials

·         22,000 pillows are currently in the Village

·         Food to be consumed in the Village includes 25,000 loaves of bread and 75,000 liters of milk

·         Over 750 pieces of strength and conditioning equipment can be found in the Village fitness center

·         Team USA has 529 athletes…and, for the first time in history, has more women on the team then men

·         9 million tickets have been sold for the London Olympics

·         There are 80,000 seats in the Olympic Stadium

·         2,300 medals will be awarded at the London Olympics

Shout out to my Village roommate, 2004 Olympian in the sport of table tennis, Whitney Ping! She has a blog too! Check it out: whitneyping.tumblr.com

Cheers,

Julie

P.S. Something else to check out! J http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/238417/

Jodi at the USA House's Coke Lounge

A cute little tube stop

A tube stop named 'Notting Hill Gate' - reminded me of the movie

The Team USA store at the USA House

The USA House



Jodi and I at the USA House

The Team USA store at the USA House