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Olympics have begun!

8/ 8/2008

THE Olympics have finally begun.

Taking the bus to the Olympic Park this morning there was a real buzz of excitement around the place, culminating in this evenings impressive and lavish opening ceremony.

I unfortunately didn't manage to get a ticket for the ceremony, with over 7,000 journalists now in the capital it proved a difficult task.

However watching the ceremony in the MPC (Main Press Centre) does not detract from the brilliance of it all.

A huge crowd of volunteers and camera crews were gathered around a TV in the press centre.

The volunteers clapped every drum beat, firework and dance, they were clearly moved by the whole spectacle and it was clear how much this meant to them - I have never seen anything like it.

You would be pushed to find a cynical Chinese person around here.

The sound of the fireworks was deafening and reverberated around the whole of the MPC which is only a few hundred yards from the Birdsnest.

Security is perhaps at its tightest tonight, with all the nations taking part in the flag parade and numerous presidents, prime ministers and dignitaries taking in the opening of the games.

Beijing must be on lock down. Today the english language newspapers had not arrived as the traffic restrictions are in full force.

There are hundreds of police, security guards lining the streets and every nook and cranny.

Helicopters buzz overhead - they are taking no risks.

I journeyed back from Tianjin late last night. The journey seemed to take forever. I believe we had an escort to ensure our safety as we seemed to have a coach and two cars following us as we meandered back to Beijing at a snails place.

We went through numerous police check points filled with armed guards - perhaps in a response to the killings of 16 policemen in the North West region at the begining of the week by Islamic terroists..

The toll gates were huge, and completely impassable as the drivers handed over papers and the vehicles were photographed again and again.

I have a feeling that the authorities must know exactly who is in the capital and this must be one of the biggest security operations ever at an Olympics.

Tommorow the events begin properly with boxing, rowing, badminton, cycling plus Stockport's Charlotte Burgess in action in archery.

I will be at the Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park tommorow - I can't wait to see the games in full flow and from a British perspective I hope there will be plenty to cheer about.

From the numerous press conferences I have attended it seems that Team GB are in good spirits and on track to have a very successful Olympics - other nations such as the USA are predicting a fourth place finish in the medal table for the British.

I would say my tips for medals would be in the sailing, cycling, rowing and perhaps Andy Murray in the tennis - though he will have to take on world number one Rafael Nadal in the quarter-finals.

Being in China, I have to admit I haven't tried too many of the local delicacies.

This is mainly due to living and eating in the MPC and its international food court.

On arrival at our hotel we were told there was a Chinese breakfast on offer, but were quickly warned off it by an angry Romanian journalist who told us in no uncertain terms not to try it - disaster narrowly avoided there.

The food court at the MPC is vast and offers a range of continental foods served by hundreds of staff who try to give you the hard sell on their offerings - even the McDonald's staff shout at you to eat there - that is just ridiculous.

Speaking of McDonald's I thought I would share with you what one of their flyers claims:

"McDonald's. Feeding the World's Best Athletes."

You have to wonder what athlete would prepare for the biggest sporting event of their life with a Big Mac and fries.

I have come to believe the food at the MPC is organised with the westerners in mind and I have spotted the American head chef.

The only Chinese food I have tried is Beijing Duck, which is delicious and served in little pancakes.

Also twice a day there is free tea and cakes. The cakes provided a minefield as far as the taste buds go.

A perfectly normal looking cake filled with what you think is chocolate turns out to be grounded black beans.

But the beer on the other hand is top draw. There is no Chinese bitter or Guinness-esque beers.

But refreshing lagers perfect to sup on a warm and humid evening.

My favourite is Tsingtao Beer or Beijing's local tipple which comes in a draught form which oddly comes in a bottle and bears no resemblence to draught beer in the slightest.

And tonight I may have a beer and take in the fireworks in the terrace bar because the world's greatest sporting occassion has begun.