Village Voice http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/villagevoice Just another irishtimes.com weblog Fri, 22 Aug 2008 08:52:54 +0000 en Time to exit stage left http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/villagevoice/2008/08/22/time-to-exit-stage-left/ http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/villagevoice/2008/08/22/time-to-exit-stage-left/#comments Fri, 22 Aug 2008 08:52:54 +0000 Gearóid http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/villagevoice/2008/08/22/time-to-exit-stage-left/ At dawn on Wednesday, I quietly exited the Olympic Village, bound for life on “the other side”. I felt like a Big Brother contestant leaving the house, except Davina McCall and the cheering fans were not there. On the upside, at least I was not being booed!! (more…)

Share This ]]> http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/villagevoice/2008/08/22/time-to-exit-stage-left/feed/ Final proves a bridge too far http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/villagevoice/2008/08/17/final-proves-a-bridge-too-far/ http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/villagevoice/2008/08/17/final-proves-a-bridge-too-far/#comments Sun, 17 Aug 2008 12:11:11 +0000 Gearóid http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/villagevoice/2008/08/17/final-proves-a-bridge-too-far/ After our repechage, we were upbeat and felt like we were on the cusp of making the semi-final one of our best races at the Games. We needed to, because the group draw pitted us against the top teams in the world with only three teams to emerge from the battle as finalists. (more…)

Share This ]]> http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/villagevoice/2008/08/17/final-proves-a-bridge-too-far/feed/ Primed and ready for battle http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/villagevoice/2008/08/13/primed-and-ready-for-battle/ http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/villagevoice/2008/08/13/primed-and-ready-for-battle/#comments Wed, 13 Aug 2008 11:45:33 +0000 Gearóid http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/villagevoice/2008/08/13/primed-and-ready-for-battle/ The Beijing ‘Olympic Machine’ is well oiled and moving along at a steady pace. So far, everything is glitch free and the volunteers are still smiling - I’m beginning to wonder if they have some sort of “happy chip” implanted for the duration of the Games or whether they are genuinely happy to be slaving away here! (more…)

Share This ]]> http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/villagevoice/2008/08/13/primed-and-ready-for-battle/feed/ Rain and result fail to dampen spirits http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/villagevoice/2008/08/11/rain-and-result-fail-to-dampen-spirits/ http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/villagevoice/2008/08/11/rain-and-result-fail-to-dampen-spirits/#comments Mon, 11 Aug 2008 08:26:46 +0000 Gearóid http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/villagevoice/2008/08/11/rain-and-result-fail-to-dampen-spirits/ With the Olympics well and truly under way, the hosts are still playing a blinder. Torrential rain for the last two days here has failed to dampen the spirits of both athletes and volunteers alike.

In fact, the presence of heavy rain has pushed the scorching temperatures into the background and yesterday felt like a warm Irish summer day, ideal for those of us who must compete in the outdoors. (more…)

Share This ]]> http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/villagevoice/2008/08/11/rain-and-result-fail-to-dampen-spirits/feed/ Scene set for fantastic Games http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/villagevoice/2008/08/08/scene-set-for-fantastic-games/ http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/villagevoice/2008/08/08/scene-set-for-fantastic-games/#comments Fri, 08 Aug 2008 07:33:12 +0000 Gearóid http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/villagevoice/2008/08/08/scene-set-for-fantastic-games/ I am writing this on Friday, August 8th, the day heralded as the new beginning for China, the opening day of the Olympic Games 2008.
 
We arrived 10 days ago and on entering the Olympic village it was plain to see that the Chinese had gone all out to secure the tag of “The Greatest Olympic Games Ever”. (more…)

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