I awoke this morning at around 9:00am and could hardly move. The regimental style bed looked very welcoming after all the traveling of the previous days however one nights sleep was enough to tell me that this bed would provide some sleepless nights and create pains in places I didn’t think was possible.

I lazily got myself out of bed and went over to the wardrobe to decide what to wear today having completely forgotten that my clothes were lurking somewhere in Madrid airport, with what now would probably be another half a million suit cases! Oh well a shower and on with yesterdays clothes phew!.

I had breakfast with two great friends, Simon Reed and Joan Hannappall. Both had tales to tell of operations and illnesses that they had sustained since we met last, that’s the thing with getting older, the conversations change from holidays and children to illnesses and who’s died!

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That aside we had a laugh talking about our challenging journeys to Turin – they both had their luggage by the way! We are off now to the IBC and to check out the skating venue. Transportation seems to be the biggest challenge for most people so best leave in plenty of time………….

We took the bus to the media centre which is adjacent to the old Fiat factory in the centre of Turin. Its an impressive building with a helicopter landing pad on the roof and a race track for testing the cars.

Once we were acquainted with the IBC (International Broadcasting Centre we made our way to the rink. I know the venue well as the European Championships were held here last year.

Our commentary position is good although quite high, the arena looks amazing! The ladies practice was taking place when we walked in and as you can imagine with the ladies event almost two weeks away there were not many on practice. Just a lonely Korean girl at the time I was there.

 

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In the evening I went to the centre of town with Joan, the place is amazing. Turin has a wealth of beautiful buildings and they way they have mixed the old with the modern arenas required for the Olympics is breathtaking.

I watched the opening ceremony on TV in an Italian restaurant close to the media village, what a spectacle, I hope you enjoyed it too!

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