Olympics Week 3

Please accept my apologies for not posting regular blogs on the drama, taking place in Vancouver during the 21st Olympic Winter Games. It has been very busy.

First I must explain what I do inside the PAC arena. I’m one of the hosts on Axel Radio, a new concept in figure skating broadcasting. We broadcast to the audience and media inside the PAC arena via a direct head set live during all the figure skating Events. Our broadcast basically simulates a technical panel and provides audio analysis of what is happening (mostly levels and GOEs). Axel Radio also includes discussions on athlete techniques and coaches strategies. US Figure Skating used a similar broadcast at the 2010 US Nationals in Spokane, WA.

Typically at an Olympics official practice sessions are closed to the public. However in Vancouver it was decided to sell tickets to practice sessions. Then someone decided why not broadcast Axel Radio during practice sessions open to the public. Since the practice sessions were very reasonable in price ($30.) compared with ticket prices (avg $400), there have been very large audiences at practice sessions.
We decided to ask the audience during practice sessions to drive the discussions during the ‘on air- time’. The audience could text us questions or comments via a simple local service. WELL, this is FUN!!! First, the audience send several messages and second it is entertaining.

However, broadcasting live sometimes for 14 hours a day is grueling, but I hate to complain sitting inside the Olympic arena within a comfortable broadcast booth (it’s like sitting in first class on a plane and complaining). What this proved to me was that a figure skating audience is intelligent and wants to know more about our sport.
Based on the audience response so far, they want more. There have been several funny opinions and comments too (i.e. during the Ice Dance Compulsory Dance Event, The Tango Romantica a few husbands dragged there sent messages such as, “OMG, when will it end” or one of my favorites after 2 couples, “Are they going to play that same music all night?”

Entertaining and educating a skating crowd is a blast. However if that was not enough The ISU asked me to help give presentations to TV Commentators and media representatives on IJS strategies. It was exciting at the first ISU presentation to see Scott Hamilton, Sandra Besic and Peter Carruthers sitting in the second row. I really hope the media reports more on the advantages of IJS. The TV audience needs to know how Evan’s strategies beat Plushenko’s strategies, because it is simply to understand if you can read a Results Protocol Sheet.

Anyway, as I said, it has been busy. I will do my best to keep this blog on a regular basis next week…Tomorrow we go on air at 7:00am and end with the Ice Dance OD late in the evening. The competition in dance is fierce and full of passion for gold.
Earlier today I asked Olympic coach Marina Z. (coach of USA dancers Charlie/Meryl and Canadian dancers Scott/Tess) of any questions I should ask the audience during the Original Dance live Axel Radio broadcast. Marina said, “Yes, ask them how they feeeeel when my skaters dance.” I will.