Journey to Beijing
Posted: Thursday, August 07, 2008 10:53 AM by Daily Nightly Editor
Filed Under:
Beijing Olympics
By Mara Schiavocampo, Nightly News digital correspondent
Wednesday morning I boarded a flight to Beijing for the Olympic Games. The plane was full of others heading to China for the same reason; passengers included athletes, family members and journalists. People were excited, as though the flight was headed to a big party (which in a lot of ways, it was). The flight attendants waved American flags and led the plane in a round of applause for the athletes. My seat mate, a first time Track & Field Olympian told me about how going to the Olympics was always a dream, but one she never thought would come true. The Olympic spirit was alive and well on that flight.
While on board I thought about all of the other planes, coming from other countries, full of people from other nations just as excited about the possibilities in front of them. The opening ceremonies will be held Friday, and then the competitions start, with dreams fulfilled and crushed. But right now, this city - and the world - are living high on anticipation, just like my fellow passengers on the flight to Beijing.
