Shanghai trip 1

July 20 ish to Aug 4 ish

Okay, pi of my hotel during the day...

My first taste of the World Championships was of the diving competition... it started before the swimming so I went to grab a peek.

Then, I really knew I had hit the big time when I decided to attend the British Press conference and sat in front of Rebecca Adlington and co. I don't really 'know' swimming, but I knew her, she'd done really well at the last Olympics.. winning a few medals which led to jokes that she was going to get knighted (or made a Dame) or whatever happens to women.

I don't know if she has been yet... with every sport personality who gets onto the podium being honoured, Britain is fast approaching the stage where there are more people knighted than not, so maybe they haven't done it yet.

 


 

From diving to Waterpolo... where SA was playing - our women's team first up - I got on quite well with quite a few of the players and staff.

 

And then the next day, the swimming. This photo show Phelps and Lochte side by side.

My hotel room and view from it...

 Then to the night session... and the lights come on and the vibe is AWESOME!

Cameron vd Burgh wins SA's first medal...

And SA's second medal.


The anthems...

The Americans are coming....!

Press conference room is packed for Phelps...

that's what happens when you become the best athlete in the history of the world. Moohahahaaa.

And there was another press conference for the 'other' Americans.
Multiple medal winners here. Natalie Coughlin, Ryan Lochte (who out-performed Phelps at these Games) and Rebecca Soni.

Shanghai trip 2

July 20 ish to Aug 4 ish 

So we'll start off with the hotel... this is where I and the SA team stayed... pretty swanky, pity about the surrounding area, but hey, we're not made of mega-bucks us Africans.

And these are our two volunteer girls... Nicky and Sunny... they were an awesome help.

Working as a journo I got to interview a few of the stars here...

after they walked down the steps from here...

Otherwise, the media area is where I spent my time watching... here.

Phelps press conference...

"Will the journalist from South Africa please stop pulling funny faces at Mr Phelps!"

The Bund, the major tourist attraction of Shanghai... got to catch up with an old friend who took me around... and paid for me for pretty much everything!

This is us, well, on the right. Greg and I. The other photo is the top of a skyscraper.

More Bund...

Wandering around near the Bund...

After the final day of competition, I set up my tripod and took some night photies...