I wanna go for the London Olympics!

Dominique Moceanu

I’ve always wanted to go to the Olympics. My first experience with the Olympics was when I was 14 and watched every artistic gymnastics event to see if Dominique Moceanu was performing during the 1996 Atlanta Games. It was just on television but I had a *huge* crush on her.

I taped her feats and cheered when she won. I watched and re-watched her floor exercise – the one that she did with the background song The Devil Came Down to Georgia. I even joined her fan club. I was a card holding t-shirt wearing Dominique Moceanu fan!

I’m mildly embarrassed to admit this now, but I even wrote her letters.

Moceanu

Funny story, there was this feature going on at The Star at the same time asking teenagers to submit what they think of the Olympics and I did. The editor cut out most of my putting-her-on-a-pedestal stuff but some of it got in and I received RM 50 for my efforts.

I didn’t even know they had a prize if you get published. It was, in effect, my first paid writing assignment.

Anyway, as I grew up, I was more interested in track and field but I still watch gymnastics and the best part for me was always the opening ceremony.

archer

When I was 24, I was mesmerized by the archer shooting a flaming arrow to light up the Olympics flame in the opening ceremony when the Games returned to Athens, Greece. I swore I’ll be in Beijing for the 2008 Olympics. I went to Guilin two years later instead. I promised myself I’ll make it for the London 2012 Olympics and this time I did go to Londontwice!

I went in 2010 and 2011. 😑

london

Alas, it looks like I’ll have to wait another 4 years before I can attend the Olympics in person since it’s so late in the game (pun intended) that all the tickets and accommodations for the Olympics would be all sold out. T_T

…and then I received this tasty morsel of news.

Samsung is running a contest where you can win a trip to London during the Olympic Games. All you need to do is to submit a 30 second video in English of you telling them why you would be great at hunting out all the best stories London has to tell during the Olympics.

There’s a list of criteria that they’re looking for and the contest ends on 29th April but I’m here to proclaim that:

It is not too late!!!

Read about the Samsung Global Blogger contest for more details and go grab your digicams everyone! I’ll be doing one too. πŸ˜€

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29 thoughts on “I wanna go for the London Olympics!”

    • I thought it was kinda cool the first few times but it got annoying after a while. πŸ™‚

      I’ve fixed it so it doesn’t autoplay. Cheers Katie!

      Reply
  1. Why? Hmm… that’s a tough question. Perhaps, I’m very “eight” therefore, I always get the best stories. kekekeke. Not sure if that is a viable reason!

    Reply
  2. I also wanna go for the London Olympics but actually even mid last year, all the good tix sold out di. Right now, it’s definitely too late! No point going. Not to mention most accommodations are full. LOL

    Reply
    • Yeah, I know, gotta book really early for the Olympics. 😑

      Well, if you win this contest, that’ll be your ticket there. I hope to win it so I can go! πŸ˜€

      Reply
    • Haha! Me too, I have lots of good memories about the Olympics.

      It only happens once every four years and the opening ceremony is something I’ll always watch. πŸ™‚

      Reply
  3. If anyone deserves to go, you’re it!!! It’s not just what you say but how you say it – you always sound so sincere like it’s close to your heart and at the same time, interestingly enthusiastic…unlike many bloggers covering events, food tasting and the like – those run-off-the-mill stuff that comes across quite mechanical – like they’re doing it just for the sake of doing it.

    Good luck, Huai Bin. Buy me a souvenir from London, won;t you?

    Reply
    • Thanks Arthur! πŸ™‚

      It’s coz everything I said was true. I actually joined her fan club. It was then administered by her parents.

      I even followed news about her for a while – the fallout over the management of her (she is my age – which means she was just 14 when she was at the Olympics. Imagine that! πŸ™‚

      It’s fun writing when you get this flashes of inspiration and you start writing about an experience in your life that has stayed with you through the passage of time. It’s even more exciting when those memories trigger even more memories as you remember more pieces of your childhood.

      Thanks for the kind wishes Arthur. πŸ™‚

      It would be interesting to see what I can and will come out with if if I win. πŸ˜‰

      Reply
    • Oops! Sorry about that, there was this dude going around commenting using my name so “huai bin” actually automatically goes to spam.

      My apologies Arthur.

      Reply
  4. wow the giant lollies that hang on the ceiling look magnificent.

    Wonder how the mushroom sauce is like.

    BERANI KERANA BENAR.MAKAN SENDIRI CARIK.HIDUP SENTISE COOL.AWEK JE YANG TAKDE.

    Reply
  5. HB, all this time traveling I just found out the airline I been flying have lounges in many airports. Like for for free buffet, snacks and drinks, wireless, tvs, showers with restroom ect. It for first and business class and club card members. I try one out and had nice buffet before flight back home and took some snacks food with me and a drink.

    Reply
    • Nice! Yeah, it’s good to fly premium and experience all the luxury once in a while but in order to really get to know a place, it’s always better to backpack through it.

      …at least IMHO. πŸ™‚

      Reply
  6. i’ve just booked my tickets to london during the olympics but, guess i won’t be going to watch it. tickets are super difficult to get, i heard so, i’m looking forward to going to Wimbledon. =))

    Reply
    • Hey, maybe I’ll see you in London if I win. πŸ™‚

      Yeah, the tickets would be extremely hard to get at this point in time. I haven’t been to Wimbledon but went to Melbourne Open each year when I was studying there.

      Good luck with the tickets Lynthia! πŸ˜€

      Reply

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