When you think of the Olympics, perhaps no event captures the imagination like the 100 meter final.
The event has produced numerous sporting legends such as Jesse Owens & Carl Lewis. When I finally booked my tickets to the Beijing Olympics in 2008, I knew I had to watch the world’s most exciting 10 seconds of sports.
Although Usain Bolt these days is a household name, back in 2008 the worldwide media was salivating over a potential showdown between the new world record holder and the US sprinting star Tyson Gay.
The day had finally come and to avoid the traffic I rode the newly built Beijing Olympic metro line to the Olympic Park.
Security at all stations was tight, with all hand held items put through an x-ray scanner. Those with Olympic tickets could ride the metro for free, although regular tickets cost a mere $0.50. Beijing’s metro system is notorious for being overcrowded, and my ride was no exception as hundreds of tourists & locals were packed like sardines.
Eventually we arrived at Olympic Park station and a few wrong detours later I was at the entrance of the Bird’s Nest. Despite the ban on ticket reselling, ticket scalpers were selling tickets in the open, playing a cat and mouse game with the police.
As with the metro, our bags were scanned and checked for contraband. My large tripod was confiscated and curiously my American flag hand measured to meet “size requirements”.
Once I finally made it through the security checkpoint, I was treated a beautiful view of the Bird’s Nest.
Heading into the stadium I settled into my seats located in the lower level. Having scoured the internet a couple months earlier, I knew the best non-VIP tickets would be found in section M, as it directly faced the starting line. Luckily I was able to snag a spare ticket for around $200.
The weather was perfect and the afternoon flew by with various events including the javelin throw, shot put, and of course racing.
This would be the last Olympics a traditional starter pistol was used.
In between events, Chinese cheerleaders & mascots would come out and perform in traditional Chinese garb set to western music, a bizarre combination to the least.
Cheerleaders performing to Cotton Eye Joe
While most tickets cost an arm and a leg, concessions were at bargain prices, with Budweiser beer being sold for 4 yuan ($0.60) per cup. Quite a few American fans were taking advantage of the cheap prices, with some buying out whole cases on the spot, resulting in quite a few inebriated fans.
I was quite surprised at how empty the stadium was in the daytime, but by the time sun set over the Beijing skyline, the stadium was at capacity.
Before long, the two 100 meter semifinal races were held with Bolt easily qualifying for the final round.
Shockingly, Gay failed to qualify and the dream matchup between the two stars never materialized.
However, the pro-bolt Chinese crowd didn’t seem to mind and roared when 90 minutes later the 100 meter final was announced.
Before the race each sprinter was introduced and Bolt whipped the crowd into a further frenzy with his trademark lightning stance.
As the sprinters set into their blocks, a muted murmured hush fell over the stadium.
At the sound of the gun, the crowd of over 91,000 burst to life as if Zeus came down from the heavens himself.
From my place near the starting blocks the race looked much closer than it really was on TV.
It was only after the scoreboard displayed a picture of Bolt dominating the field, that his true scope of victory could be seen.
Afterwards, Bolt gave his customary victory lap around the stadium, with fans straining to catch glimpse of the world’s fastest man.
As the fans started slowly streaming out the now brightly red lit stadium, cheers were still echoing within the Bird’s Nest.
