I’ve had a memorable experience being a Language Team Leader during the YOG games.
Some might call it messy and disorganised, those who understand the dynamics of big events like Olympic Games will agree with me that uncontrollable issues exist. As my Coordinator summarised after Day 1 of Triathlon competition “Expect the Unexpected”. Everyone has to be flexible.
Highlights of Triathlon Competition
Day 1 – Girls Competition
I’ve been waiting for this day since Javier told me “Triathlon Girls Competition is the First Medal event (of the Youth Olympic Games)!”
We were asked to standby for a few language interpreters at different locations, the request kept changing as the game went on.
From where we were standing, we couldn’t see the finishing line, nor could we hear the commentary clearly as the speakers were facing the opposite direction.
We were certainly caught by surprise when Japan’s Yuka Sato won the Gold Medal.
So I deployed one of our Japanese Interpreters to help with the media interview in the Mixed Zone.
Yuka Sato having her first interview after the win. She is blocked by the camera…=P
As the Japanese Interpreter puts it after her first job, it was her “one minute of fame” as this clip was played over and over again on Olympic Youth News Channel (YONC).
Shortly after it was the Journalists’ turn to interview Yuka Sato. Our Youth Interpreter gets surrounded by the journalists.
There was a crash during the cycling leg. A few journalists wanted to find out more about it, another Youth Interpreter helped in their interview with Ma Mingxiu (马明秀) from China.
The Korean athlete was hurt in the crash. She was subsequently sent to the hospital, it was our “suay” (unlucky) day as we did not have a Korean Interpreter that day. A Professional Interpreter was later deployed to help them in the hospital.
Here is a team photo of the Youth Interpreters and French Announcer on Day 1.
This was only Day 1, all of us looked happy and excited. What will happened on Day 7?
新加坡2010青年奥运会 新加坡青奥运 新加坡青奥 Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games YOG Singapore2010
Related posts: