Awaiting the ceremonious beginning

MICHAEL VILLANI

Today was the first day at my venue for indoor volleyball, the Peace

and Friendship Stadium. It is a beautiful arena, where the Greek

national basketball team usually plays its games.

Just about halfway through our rehearsal, the enormousness of this

whole thing is finally sinking in. Now mind you, I’ve worked in

Hollywood for the last 34 years, so I’m a bit jaded, not easily

impressed ... but this is huge. At a cocktail reception this evening

at a beautiful seaside establishment, thrown by the Athens Olympic

Committee, my friend Ken Kemp, who was instrumental in getting me

here, said, “You know, Mike, there will be 4 billion people watching

the Games.�

I found out today that the announcers will be courtside, right

next to the net, and since I will be with the evening crew, calling

the more high-profile matches, the chances of the NBC coverage

picking us up will be very good. My venue producers said, “We don’t

have to tell you not to scratch or touch yourself in strange places,

do we?�

It all starts Saturday, so the rest of the week we rehearse for

both the individual games and the medal ceremonies ... oh yes, and

practice the names. With close to 200 countries attending, that

should be very interesting. Phonetics will play a big part here. More

later as I report “from the Games.�

A SPECTACULAR SIGHT

Wow! Have I used that word yet?

You’re going to see it a lot in the next two-and-a-half weeks,

especially if what I saw tonight sets the tone.

I’ve just returned from the final dress rehearsal for the opening

ceremonies.

Wow!

You won’t want to miss this show airing tonight on NBC.

Spectacular hardly does it justice, as the rich heritage of this

wonderful country is displayed in a dioramic parade of characters and

scenes. The creative opening is simply candy for the eyes.

I won’t say any more for fear of revealing too much. I will say

you that won’t be disappointed.

This magical evening makes the rest of the day, rehearsing in the

venue, pale by comparison.

One interesting note: The announcers from the whitewater event

came back to the hotel saying there were ICBM missiles staged in

plain view on the hills above their venue. Yes, security is very

tight, and I’m sure will get even more so as I report “from the

Games.�