When the Cheshire emerges...

I've only briefly mentioned on here that I will be at the World Cup next year, but with things moving quickly a lot has happened and my planned trip is really coming together.

With the help of my wonderful travel agent in Sydney, I first tried to figure out if the Fanatics option was cheapest/the best. After deciding yes and getting frantic about the Rio de Janiero start of the tour selling out, I still managed to get on the Sao Paulo start. I'm really happy about that now because there'll be less people to start with, and we're taking in the atmosphere of opening night in the host city.

So who else has been screwed over by the Aerolineas Argentinas pull-out? Was only told today my #Brazil2014 #WorldCup flight was cancelled.
— Katina V (@Katiinkaa) November 13, 2013

To get to Rio I had booked a G Adventures tour starting in Buenos Aires, and found some really cheap fares from Sydney there with Aerolineas Argentinas. Soon before moving from Dubbo I get a call telling me they were pulling out of all Australia flights effective April. So I had to rebook flights wtih another airline, stopping in Auckland and Santiago before Buenos Aires. On top of that, with the move to Darwin I now need a domestic connection and because of the bad flight time I cut a day of South America time to accommodate that. On the plus side, I'm now in Santiago for the last two days of my trip so I'm taking in four countries (Argentina, Brazil, Peru and Chile).

Aaaaaand so the waiting for tickets begins... #WorldCup #Brazil2014 #ihopeijustgetticketsalready pic.twitter.com/RCBVPcQkri
— Katina V (@Katiinkaa) November 11, 2013

Tickets to the games came to me much more successfully than I'd imagined, so for that I'm grateful. On visiting my agent in Sydney, I was told there was a first in, first served sale different to the major ballots. Finding myself in an internet cafe at 10.30pm, I'm surrounded by a ticket seller and his assistants who are struggling to get good tickets - for anything. After I realise the most effective way to refresh for any updates (a process in itself), a Category 1 3-game ticket comes up. Winning.

It's done. @Socceroos #WorldCup group stage tickets BOUGHT #Brazil2014 #excellent #bloodyexcited
— Katina V (@Katiinkaa) November 11, 2013

The next day I stupidly didn't buy a pair of hiking shoes that were probably worth forking out a bit for, and since then I've managed to book a two-week Peru tour and at least get cheap hiking pants. The real adventurer begins to come out...

After a rush to try and figure out whether internal flights to two of the Socceroos games were cheaper to DIY I just went with the Fanatics package (although their flights were crazy for being chartered, they weren't all that much dearer, and at least they're direct). It then comes to today and the reason I wanted to write on this.

I received notice that an updated itinerary for the Fanatics World Cup 2014 trip has been put on their website. I knew from the beginning I would be in Brazil as one of those crazies in the green and gold. But on reading the itinerary, I got goosebumps. And watery in the eyes.

Seriously. I didn't think I'd be so emotional about it. But it's only five months away...



Maybe I can be that girl in Brazil somewhere... Photo: smh.com.au

Turned the TV on and the NRL pops up. So the footy (as they know it in NSW) has started... but all that did was make me think of how I wish it was AFL. It's coming Katina. Soon...

Having said that, tonight marked Sonny Bill Williams' return to the NRL fold after his not-so-glorious exit in 2008 (wow, that's ages ago). I, as AFL-loving as I am, do know about this and remember how big it was at the time.

Seeing him on the field was intriguing, and to be honest a part of me is thinking about eventually learning to sit down and understand a bit of it. Maybe. Unfortunately for me now though, I have work to do so any Sonny Bil - oh I mean NRL - watching will have to wait.

***
The more you have a harmonious, loving, accepting approach, the more you'll see the rest of the pieces all fitting nicely together.

The shoe below takes it out though. I feel as if it's a shoe that's come straight out of Spiceworld: The Movie. Remember that scene where they're at a boot camp girls? I can't believe I remember that...

I'm yet to watch the Closing Ceremony, although I'm excited to see the Spice Girls perform in the replay tonight. Not really one for watching concerts on TV (obviously it's not the same as being there) will stick this one out.

So to the home stretch.

Days 12-16

The last few days went by in a total blur. I remember...

We won a few more golds.

Hell yeah we did!



Wow - with my other fave, this is also one of the best photos of the Games.

Two more sailing golds, making the most interesting of trifectas for our country - not least because Channel 9 didn't have enough faith to have their own commentators down there so relied on the BBC, whose coverage I wish I could've tried elsewhere.



The gold we didn't expect in the canoe sprint - which I missed seeing The Sapphires... it was exciting though, that I found out about it and hung out for a replay later on. I saw all the other golds either live or the first replay after.

Steve Hooker and Matthew Mitcham came out to play really late. And crashed early.

Can't say much about this. Mitcham's miss in his signature dive was devastating, and while Hooker made his final it didn't matter because he didn't clear a jump. All the talk and not the walk. Comments made today that Hooker particularly was "a disappointment" I sadly agree with.

***

The coverage still managed to stab me and Australia in the back until the last minute.

Last night:

Channel 9‏@Channel9

How could I NOT talk about the events of this morning? To top off the laser sailing win from the awesome Tom Slingsby late on Monday, the two races I, and the nation, wanted desperately to fall in our favour did.

Meares v Pendleton



I feel like I've missed so much of this epic rivalry in between Olympic and even Commonwealth Games because of the lack of overall coverage for sprint cycling. But while I was disappointed about Meares' keirin loss to the Brit a few nights before, we all knew that it was the sprint that mattered.

For me, and many glued to the Games, this was just about THE race of the tournament. Yes, for some even rivalling Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake in the 100m. The intensity that bounced off these two ended up being as explosive as it deserved to be.

I actually lost my TV signal completely - yes, at 1am for the semis and then again at 2.20am just before the first of the races for gold - and missed the first race that saw Victoria Pendleton relegated. Thank goodness for Twitter. Anyway, I screamed and then started blubbering when Meares won because it was the fierce, tactical final she wanted to play and that Australia had hoped for. And she spoiled the British party.

I'm still in awe, Meares spoke so well in later interviews, great sportsmanship from Pendleton humbled her as well as all of us and she showed her raw emotion. Such an inspiration, to work up through the medals across eight years, to stick it out.

Pearson vs Pearson

Sally wasn't competing against her American rivals as much as she was against herself. For her form, a slightly rocky lead-up to the Olympics had left her more reason to knuckle down and focus. But didn't she give us all a mighty fright? I thought she had it in the bag but as soon as there was a moment of hesitation I definitely doubted.

When she screamed though I'm pretty sure I rivalled her in the decibels.


For me, Dawn Harper, Beijing 2008 gold medallist to Sally's shock silver, was phenomenal here. So ecstatic, as Sally was in reverse four years ago, she gladly embraced Sally, as did bronze medallist Wells. It was just beautiful to watch. And yes, from there to Sally's post-race interview I cried even more.

I'm just so proud of what these two have achieved, not just in these Olympics and standing their ground as the best in their field, but how they got there.



***

Days 10-11

To the rest of the recent events, and Karl Stefanovic is clearly not impressed with Steve Hooker and other pole vaulters as I write this for protesting about the continuation of their qualifying. Maybe because it stuffs up his shift?

Disappointing that our women's water polo team's gone. Same with the Hockeyroos. But having already heard we've got a second sailing medal already in the bag, I was lifted even ahead of the ultimate races.

Most impressed with award: Chris Hoy.


So we love to hate the Brits. But you can't hate this guy. He's a champion in every respect and I felt privileged to see him win his last gold and take the stand.

Least impressed with award: The Daily Telegraph

I'm talking about the middle section of the Olympics tonight, the guts of it, where the swimming petered out in favour of the track and field in between continuation of basketball and hockey. And we found God residing in a Jamaican.

Through all of it, I've still had the Swisse song in my head almost all the time from the ads. It's so catchy, yet slightly annoying at the same time.

Days 4-6

Hearing about the four badminton teams throwing games made my blood boil. Did they not remember the mutual, unspoken agreement they had taken less than a week ago? It's called the athlete's oath, bitches.

And then one quits the sport in a huff and a puff saying it's destroyed her happiness. Brought it. Upon. Yourself. No sympathy from me. Just a shame the Aussie girls couldn't capitalise on their second chance.

***

It seems in the pool we became the epitomy of that dreaded term. Bridesmaid. The amount of silvers is testament that our talent remains a threat in world sport, but whether the hunger's there as much as it was a decade ago could easily be questioned. Susie O'Neill certainly raised the debate.

James Magnussen was again a a talking point. The Missile misfired big time once again as we all know by now. That 100m freestyle final was absolutely heartbreaking. 1/100th of a second. It's the cruellest of margins and suggestions he touched with a curled hand as opposed to a flat palm didn't help. I think everyone watching would have had to have been at least slightly shattered no matter how they felt about the 21-year-old. I certainly was. Even in post-swim interviews it's clear he's gained a new perspective - on everything, and he'll definitely grow from it. Whether we see him in Rio will be an interesting development.
This photo of him by Brendan Esposito would have to be my favourite photo from the tournament so far and I'll be surprised if another one better comes along. It says so much about defeat, vulnerability and the disappointment of not just one, but a nation.

The best article so far also reflected on the swim meet, blaming poor media judgment for how we viewed their reactions. A great read.

***


On a better note, my happy silver award goes to Jessica Fox with the kayak slalom. Must be a pretty good feeling to beat both your parents at their own game. And what a darling: "This is the most beautiful piece of metal I've ever seen." Wow, I'll be so shattered if she's not a gold medal winner in Rio. So much good to come for the 18-year-old.

Day 7

Channel Nine called it the lucky day, and with the track and field beginning it was going to be for me. It's the first night I could stay up and then sleep in being Friday night/Saturday morning. The Opals were still in the mix so that was good. But the rest of it was NOT lucky. You jinxed it 9, you frickin' jinxed it. The men's team sprint lost. Anna Meares lost (I still can't talk about it). More silvers in the rowing. Magnussen not even in the 50m final. I stayed up until 4.50am for goodness sake and that's what I got. Damn you Brits.

Days 8-9



OK, so with day seven I was trying to channel my anger at the time. Now AOC's John Coates has conceded we won't make top-five. Well, hate to spoil the party but we figured that out at least five days ago. I'd predicted we wouldn't win another, but without much thought. APPARENTLY (I say this with trepidation) we're a shoo-in with a sailing gold medal tonight. Well done to Tom Slingsby, who I understand is chasing redemption for a poor showing in Beijing. As for those to come, like Sally Pearson, I hope they are also better at withstanding the pressure. God I hope she does it.

***

A turning point for me on day eight. I actually shared my brain with the end of the night's AFL game and then an episode of Once Upon A Time. Unheard of. But a part of me is becoming disillusioned... I think it's a mix of Australia not performing all that great and the continued shit coverage.

Yay, someone out there's sticking it to the man! I love Facebook.

Yes, I still want to punch Leila McKinnon a bit. And no, montages DO NOT COUNT in showing us a sport. I have seen no: weightlifting, handball, football, fencing. Hardly saw any tennis - and the men's side had some cracker games (although the Federer-Del Potro game was apparently a no-show on Foxtel's eight channels either).

And with the news updates: DON'T TELL US ALL THE RESULTS AND THEN PROCEED TO SHOW US EXTENDED HIGHLIGHTS. It becomes lost to me and is a waste of people's time. And don't you dare say you have more live footage from 7am onwards because you DON'T. Ever.

Usain Bolt = God.

I'm ending on awesomeness because I'm not all that bitter. The 100m men's final was something to behold. There had been lots of talk but the defending champ stepped up and took it to everyone. Bolt looked set from halfway, it was just phenomenal. And the friendship with others, especially Yohan Blake, was so great to see. Usain Bolt is one of the great personalities sport has possibly ever seen - confident and able to deliver.

If anyone has learned anything about me recently it's that I love sport. More as a spectator than a player (although the world game's what I play), and particularly a slave to the biggest events.
The Olympics is the ultimate. It's always captured me as something special, with the sports showcasing true patriotism and sportsmanship. London 2012's been an improvement on Beijing because of the time difference - I was working or at uni throughout the 2008 games which didn't help much. But while there have already been some great moments and I'm loving it, hasn't London served up its drama so far?...
The Opening Ceremony

Didn't watch it all in the end, although I saw highlights on TV. Woke up to have just missed Greece and then Australia walk into the stadium. While disappointed about that, I'm not really a stickler for watching it anyway. I never saw Nikki Webster's gig in full back in 2000.

I was really underwhelmed by the choice to have the kids light the cauldron. Initial reaction was along the lines of: "Really? That's it?" To be fair, no-one saw it coming. It was simple, and preluding to a new generation. But after first thinking it was a nice gesture I got really angry because they hadn't earned that right when there were so many athletes that could've done it. I think it's a copout that organisers pretty much said "OK, we can't pick from you seven so you each pick a kid and it'll be this awesome symbolic thing."

Not a fan.

Days 1-3

Day 4's started now, but so far Australia has, for our standards anyway, failed to deliver. Feels a bit like Beijing where we didn't find our ground for some time. Tomic and Stosur out in the tennis, ironically leaving only Hewitt in for the hunt. What a fighter he's ended up being. Cadel Evans out of the individual time trial from fatigue, two falls in our equestrian team...
Then the pool.


The men's 4x100 freestyle relay. They came fourth. OK, so that wasn't good when they were expected to win. But that's the luck of the draw. Then poor Matt Targett had to front up in the 9 studio TWICE to break it down. It was all the coverage could latch onto and it was way too much. They asked so much of him and yet he handled it so well. Meanwhile, glad Nick D'Arcy's on a plane home, Christian Sprenger's reaction to his silver win was so amazing (and unfortunately overshadowed by the relay bombout), while I felt for Emily Seebohm in the other extreme to coming second - because I would've blubbered exactly the same.

The coverage

This is really bad sportsmanship because I appreciate the challenges live TV would create, but really, I want to punch Leila McKinnon in the face. Her adlibbing is not up to scratch and watching in the mornings is awkward. The whole production's not up to scratch. Among numerous glitches we've already seen Alicia Coutts' semi-final race played instead of the final where she won bronze in the morning highlights (with McKinnon's "Oh it's the wrong race!" heard as it finished), her not being told what camera to look at... and then rehashing so much of the same thing when we could be seeing more live coverage, perhaps of a different sport. Like HANDBALL. Not everyone wants Australia to be in every single event shown.
I am glad James Brayshaw's got a gig with the rowing though. He and Giaan Rooney by the pool save this from 9 being completely boring. Oh, hang on, this is 9 we're talking about. Don't know if they can save themselves from that.

Damn, all I can think about is how much I'm missing Bruce McAvaney's calls right now.