Today we had another run through of an event, this time it was BMX. It's an outside event so it was humid and we were all sweating! They had to "delay the event do to rain" (it wasn't really raining though) so they could practice what would happen if it really did rain. They delayed it for an HOUR so they could practice covering up the track and everything with tarp. So we kind of just hung around in the heat until it stopped "raining" and then went on with the test event, which was getting quotes in the mixed zones.
Basically what happens is that Chinese volunteers pretend to be athletes and then we interview them with a translator. BMX is so far from the ONS office that we have to call the quotes in, so we practiced doing that as well. We also had two press conference practices. They translate everything from Chinese to English and in one there was a German translation as well. I actually asked a question in German which was pretty cool.
Some Chinese students study German as well as English, or just focus on one more than the other. I met a Chinese volunteer today who spoke German, it's so interesting that he is from China and I am from the States but the only way we can speak is in German! I think that's so funny.
Tomorrow marks the start of official training! So it is going to be VERY exciting and I can't wait to see all the athletes! I am a little nervous about talking to them though. I will keep you posted on how it goes!
2 comments:
It seems that the biggest problem for the Beijing Olympics is not the humidity, but the lack of a common language!
The official appointment of an Esperanto translator, by the Olympic Committee was a courageous decision, which I hope will be repeated in London!
Especially relevant as not even the England football manager speaks English.
You can see detail at http://www.lernu.net
That's why the Olympic News Service was hired, to provide news coverage in English. Plus, it's a world event so of course there is not going to be a common language!!!
BOCOG has done a nice job of getting professional translators so everything should really be fine when it comes to communication.
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