Anne's blog travel 06-07

Sunday December 17th 2006

I'm a work today only for a few hours. Some journalists still have laptops stored in their lockers and I've been trying to reach them to urge them to come and pick them up before logistics takes the lockers away. Yesterday saw a number of journalists (possibly 50-60) hang around until far too late. "It's over" I want to say :"Go Home".

Navdeep from India sent four articles by fax and Jatimder at least three and the Games are over. They have been here for a long while now those two and have been constant customers of the faxing service. I've always looked after them. They urge me to come and visit in India. Who knows. So many journalists come and shake my hand thanking me for the service we gave them. They all want to stay in contact. It's easy to say but in reality rare are the journalists who do. I'm still in contact with some from Manchester though.

It rained yesterday and again today it was raining when I ran this morning. Traffic alongside the Corniche was heavy but then again I haven't run in daylight for so long and today being Sunday is the first day of the working week.

Ala, a lovely Jordanian man who worked with the AV team, tells me how the games were long but suddenly when he was watching the closing ceremony, it hit him that it was over. "You know Anne, I was happy we made it and it was over and suddenly ..." he pauses for a few moments and I continue for him because I think I know what he's going to say: "...there is this void in your stomach like something has been ripped out." He looks at me like I just put it in words better than he could express it himself. "Yes, exactly! and going back to normal life doesn't seem at all appealing or even remotely possible." he says. I've been there before so I've been through it many times. Why do you think we keep doing these crazy events? Probably because nothing else offers this kind of experience.

Paul Matthew, the photo chef, tells me last night at the hotel coffee shop: "You know, Anne, this whole thing, it's like a woman giving birth. There is so much pain you have to go through but when you get to the Closing Ceremony, it's all forgotten and only the good times remain." I tell him how many people have said so many times during any given event: "I'll never do another one" and then by the end of the games they say: "Well, I'd only do one if..." and then you know you'll see them again down the road at another event. Never say never.

Shaza comes and see me. She has worked as a volunteer with me a few shifts here or there. "You know Anne, I feel like I've known you for a very long time and it feels incredibly sad to think you are leaving." I know too well what she is talking about. The intensity of this type of event brings people together in a way few other things can.

The Asian Games in Doha have really touched me in a surprising way. I feel that many Qataris and locals have also been changed in a deep way by the experience of the games. Doha will never quite be the same I'm certain of it.

I must finish up. My computer will be shut down here and I'm not sure where I'll write my next post from but stay tuned.

Bye for now