University of North Carolina Athletics
Beijing Blog: Tar Heels Play Role In Hoops
August 13, 2008 | Men's Basketball
Aug. 13, 2008
While the rest of the Tar Heel football program is sweating through training camp, the normally ever-present Kevin Best is absent. Don't worry, he's got a good--or is that gold?--reason. The Deputy Director of Athletic Communications is in Beijing this month, where he's serving as the Information Manager for all Olympic events at the National Stadium. That includes the opening and closing ceremonies, all track and field events, and the men's soccer final. Kevin will file periodic dispatches from Beijing for THB.com.
Despite a lackluster first quarter, the U.S. men's basketball team dominated Angola this evening 97-76 at the Wukesong Basketball Gymnasium. Although there are no Tar Heels on the Olympic team, several Carolina students are working at the basketball arena for the Olympic News Services (ONS) team. The ONS squad's main job is to listen to interviews in the broadcast mixed zone (interview area) and relay those quotes to all the other media at the venue and throughout the Olympics. It's impossible for all 27,000 credentialed media to attend an event - even though many of them showed up for the U.S. vs. China game last Sunday and had to be evicted. The ONS team provides a valuable service to those media stuck at the Media Press Center (MPC) or International Broadcast Center (IBC).
I had the good fortune to obtain a pass to the basketball game from Norm Reilly, the Information Manager at basketball (and current sports information director at UAB) and met UNC students Erin and Rachael. They are part of a 31-member contingent from North Carolina working the games. "I had to apply for the program and it's been a good experience," said Erin, who graduated in May.
As for the game, the scene was nothing like Sunday's matchup against the host country when nearly half of the 27,000 credentialed media tried to attend. On this day, several media and spectator seats were empty as the U.S. dominated with high-flying dunks. The game looked more like a pickup game at the local gym than an official Olympic contest. Maybe there would be more interest if the college guys still played. At a minimum, a few college players on the team would spic things up. I know a certain Tar Heel that would certainly enjoy the Olympic experience.
