On the Blueline: Village Scene, Plus the Swag, All Fabulous
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The following article, written by former Harvard standout Caitlin Cahow, appeared February 12 on the USA Today Web site.
By Caitlin Cahow
Special for USA TODAY
USA women's hockey national team member Caitlin Cahow, a 2006 Olympic bronze medalist, will document her experience for USA TODAY as she prepares to compete at the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver.
Entry No. 13 - Feb. 11, 2010
OLYMPIC VILLAGE! Today we arrived in Vancouver all jazzed up to be
heading to the Olympic Games! First off, we had to go through
athlete processing, which is actually more of a treat than a
burden. Basically, it is Christmas come in February. We each were
given a shopping cart and a checklist and told to go to town. The
amount of free swag could only be contained by the largest hotel
banquet hall Team USA could find. All in all, there were over a
hundred pieces of gear! I would like to say that I will wear every
item at least once at the Games, but I am fairly certain that will
be impossible. The best part was that there were volunteers
everywhere handing you things and telling you how fabulous you
looked. This is not to be undersold given that each of us tried on
a minimum of two outfits that just didn't fit right, and the
volunteers were very diplomatic in how they simply handed you a
larger size of those pants whereas our teammates lost no time in
taking a picture of you fat-guy-in-a-little-coat style to rush back
and post on Facebook. … Another great feature was the
alteration room where a specialist from Ralph Lauren was on hand to
dress us in our parade outfits and alter them right there before
our very eyes. This was key given my short stature in the face of
regular length pants. Thank you Ralph Lauren for making sure I
don't look like a Smurf when it counts!
Then it was off to the Village. There are no words to really
describe the excitement of seeing the Village for the first time.
The best I can do is to say that Lisa Chesson and I did the
arm-in-arm skip/run from The Wizard of Oz all the way from the
security tent to our house.
Complete article can be accessed via the USA Today Web site by clicking here.
