Holland House

Friday night finally came, and the knowledge that the real work is now to begin. Since training is over, the rotation we've enjoyed the past week is done, and from here on in we are all working every day.

Friday, the first day of competition, also meant the first medal awarded in track cycling. The team sprint made for a lot of fun, as it's one of the fastest forms of track cycling. Also, since it's cycling's version of a relay, the extra riders on the track lends itself to more excitement.

Speaking of excitement, the very first race of the Olympics was opening qualifying for the team sprint event, with Poland riding by itself due to odd numbered teams. On their first or second lap, their anchor rider out of the three slammed into the track after falling around the corner. I've seen it happen on recordings, but seeing these guys fall at full speed onto a wooden track is not pretty. It's so loud that everything else stops, and everyone looks to see the guy still sliding down the track due to his feet still being hooked into his bike.

Amy told us to expect some pretty gruesome injuries after falls as the riders slide on the wooden track, and she wasn't kidding. Amy said he probably had crazy splinters on his side from the track, and his suit was burnt by the heat. He didn't look like he could ride anymore, so they brought in an alternate and let them ride again, this time finishing without incident. The British ended up winning the team sprint, with the favored French earning silver and the Germans getting bronze.

After that first true day of work, the entire group felt pretty wore out due to several complications with the venue staff, other ONS staff and journalists. In all, it was a tiring day. So we heard that there was a place called Holland House that we needed to go to. Ernst told us that it started in 1992 and has followed the Olympics every four years since. They rented out a giant Chinese structure that I'm pretty sure must have been a museum and then set up a giant party inside. Everything s decked out in orange, the Dutch royal family's colors, and everyone wears orange inside. On days that a Dutch athlete wins a medal, they usually bring them to the stage so everyone can drink to him. On top of the overpriced Heineken's, this place had ping-pong tables set up, a Wii Fitness area, and several other festivities that the drunken public could take part in.

Ernst, our own Dutchman and the most excited about going to this place, actually bailed on us, or as Amy said, piked on us. So it was just us and Amy, which turned out to be a very good time. Due to work, we didn't get there till late, so it could have been even better, but hopefully we'll get a chance to go back. Google Holland House though, because I didn't get a chance to take any pictures, and it's worth taking a look at.