The Sydney Summer Olympics 2000

10/1/00--Now. For the real reason I am at the Sydney Olympics. Today is the day for the Marathon. Along with my passion for long distance running in general and the benefit of the privilage to be to have run in the Olympic Games Marathon in 1988, I continue my association with the only event originated especially for the Olympics.

Over the years I have researched the marathon in effort to improve my limited capability to run it, and to share the experience with others, runners and non runners. Most of the documented information on Olympic Marathon runners focuses on the winners or record setters. I thought it interesting and important to detemine a way to bring attention to those other Olympic Marathon runners who have also sacrificed and also have a story to tell. Out of this notion I founded The Society of Olympic Marathon Runners. Research will continue for duration of the next Olympic cycle which takes us into the games at Athens 2004. The race today will be the first test race where I will document the efforts of the runners while moving to slected spots on the course. I will attempt to take pictures and support the runners. Incidently, there are two runners from the Caribbean who have special mention. They are Pamenos Ballantyne from St.Vincent and The Grenadines and Ronald Hollassie from Trinidad. These two are currently the two top marathon runners in the Caribbean. I had the honor as race director of The Virgin Islands Half-Marathon recently where they performed very well under hot and humid conditions on a tough course. My hope is that the experience in St.Croix served to prepared them for the battle they will face later on today.

This, in my opinion, is the most well organized of all the Olympic Games I have attended, Los Angeles, Seoul and Barcelona included, the organizers have set up yet another tough marathon course. Its hard to find in the annals of Olympic history, a day where all the conditions for the marathon were ideal for the runners. Its usually hot, humid, hilly, along with a variety of other conditions which contribute to the extreme difficulty of this race. The women showed earlier this week much courage when the games record set by Joan Benoit in the first ever women's Olympic Marathon in Los Angles 1984 was broken by of Japanese runner. Can the men do the same? The race starts in less than an hour from now. Soon we will know.

I would like to take this opportunity to express appreciation to Dr.Marlon Williams, Vice-President of the Virgin Islands Olympic Committee for his long-time friendship and support in making the Sydney phase of this project possible. Marlon and I ran together in the Seoul Olympics Marathon. He has founded an organization called "Boys to Men Girls to Women Foundation" for the development of young people in the Virgin Islands.

9/27/00--Of course the real Olympics begin when track and field starts. What a track and field meet its been. Again, Haile Gebrselassie and the Men's 10,000 meters was off the chart. If you want to read about it go to this page: http://www.iaaf.org/oly00/ news/index.asp?Filename=/news/EventReports/getnews. asp?Code=2616 And. The Women's Marathon was probably the best ever. Tough course. Tough women.

If you want to visit the Olympics web site, go to: http://www.olympics.com/eng/

I have been doing a lot. Developed a passion for women's basketball enjoying the sites in Sydney and doing duty at receptions and social sets.

Just left the stadium and watched the women's 10,000 meters prelims. Tegla Larupe came back after a tough marathon and made it to the finals. Kenyans, Ethiopians rule.

More later.

9/18/00--Sydney--Jet lag may be a little over rated. So far I'm doing ok. I've been getting in some pretty good runs in the morning with Marlon. Sydney is absolutely beautiful. The planning for the Olympics is evident. Everything is ready. Saw the Triathlon for women yesterday and for men today. The course layout could not have been planned better. A start and finish at the Opera House with cycle and run circuts in the downtown area. Giant diamond vision screens everywhere so one can see the competition. Weather is warming up so the marathon may be hot. Went to the zoo today. What a wonderful experience. To museums, tours, etc. before track and field starts next week.

9/10/00--The time has come for the 2000 summer Olympic Games to take center stage. Anticipation is high. What excitement they will bring! Hopes of seeing Timmy Duncan perform will not be fulfilled, I'm sad to say. The marathon perhaps will have better weather conditions than ever as Australia is coming out of winter. Let's hope its cool. This will be my fourth Olympics, the first I plan to experience as a vacation. We'll see...