To the Games! (Erosaf)

[Jenny Night]

Alexa Collins
“Why was only one person chosen from Queensland do you guys think? I know none of you are from my home state. That makes no sense for me. I have no idea why so few were chosen there.”

“There are not all that many really good equestrian’s in Queensland. There was going to be another person but due to unexpected circumstances, mainly being thrown in jail for something, you’re the only one.”

I gasped. He had gotten an offer as well? Well damn. What an idiot I was to do that. Though he deserved it all the same. “Ah, I know of whom you speak. That matter I am well acquainted with as it involved me personally.”

The older woman’s eyes widened. “You were the reason?”

“Yeah I was. Though in a way I don’t really care that he’s in jail. He really hurt me a lot. Could have killed me, just like he did my mother.” I sighed. “There’s a lot of history between me and him, and none of it is nice at all.”

“Well we don’t need to know the details. What matters is that you are here, and that Queensland is represented during the next few weeks. I did not see you in the Olympic village though. Where are you staying?”

“With a friend, who wanted to return a favour I once did her.” A
friend who was a challenger against all of us.

For a while longer we all talked before, I found that I liked this woman, Julie Smith, all the officials came over quickly. “Quickly everyone, take your places. Countries in Alphabetical Order thank you,” one said.

I followed the other Australians into my place with the others.
There was nothing I knew about being in this sort of thing.
Though I was looking forwards to getting out into the stadium. As soon as I did, I knew that my husband’s eyes would be on me. I was the one he was here for amongst this great team. And that was the only person who really mattered at the moment.

Then one of the other officials came over to my and held out a long pole. I took it known what the blue thing attached to it was. Then man then undid the cord that furled the material at the top and out came our wonderful flag.

"Don't let the flag touch the ground," Sally said in my ear.

[Kanchana]

Kayson sat quietly, the kids unable to sit still for more then a moment. He fed them, and for the time being they were at least silent.
He waited, and the music began. pulling Sara and Lily onto his lap, they wanted to see Alexa.

[Jenny Night]

Alexa Collins

I nodded and she smoved with the other support staff out the back entrance up into the stands. I gulped. The countries started moving and I heard some of the things being said about different national Olympians. They all seemed to have someone who was a repeat competitor. How would I ever stand against them?

Some of the countries before us had over four hundred competitors. That was certainly un-nerving. Though I knew that this really was the best of the best athletes in every sport here to compete. Only made sense that the teams were as big or small as each country wanted them to be.

Then I heard the next country called out. "Australiasia."

One of the gilrs behind me then said, "Come on, its our turn, Alexa."

I gulped and started to walk out.

As I walked I listened to the commentary, my eyes searching for James, Sally, Sara and Lily. As I reached one of the bends I spotted him. There was a big smug smile on his face and both our kids were cheering.

"Australia is one of the biggest competitors this year with five hundred and fifty six team members. This Olympics, they have chosen their youngest team mamber, Alexandra Collins as the flag bearer," said the english speaking man.

"Yes, though she is only nineteen years of age, she is more than competant at her sport, which is equestrian. Apparently she's the only team member from one of the states of Australia," an english speak woman then said.

i heard someone speaking in Chinese then, translating for the thousands of Chinese people in the stands. Not all of them were fluent English speakers, it would seem.

Not that that seemed to surprise me. Who knew what these Chinese people were capable of. I smiled though as I walked around the ring to where were were to wait. There was nothing like being in this massive stadium. The very idea of being in this place was a little overwelming.

[Kanchana]

Kayson's jaw dropped slightly, staring down at Alexa in shock. Why hadn't she told him?
Lily pushed his mouth shut.
"Its rude to stare Daddy," she scolded and he looked down at her, smiling.
"Okay darling," he said, eyes flicking to Alexa. She walked strongly, but Kayson knew her well enough to notice the small changes that marked her as nervous.
All the Australian supportors stood, screaming at the top of there lungs in the true aussie way, cheering for the teams.

[Jenny Night]

Alexa Collins

A couple of countries later I heard:

"China."

My eyes flicked to the Chinese people a little taken aback by clash of colours that they all wore. Bright red jackets with as bright yellow shirts underneath with yellow pants for the men and yellow skirts for the women. The only thing likeable was their white hats. The rest though was a horrible mixture. I would not say anything though when I saw Aiemie later. I would not embarass her in such a way as that would be rude.

We did not have to stand around in the stadium grounds for all that long before the Olympic torch entered the stadium. not all that much was said anyway. Plus those of us standing around down here were talking amongst ourselves anyways.

When it was announced to be entering the stadium though, we all fell silent as the crowd started to cheer. I had not actually seen the torch before now, and being on the inside of everything helped. The torch did a whole lap around the stadium then reaching the place it first came into sight, it started up the alleyway that made the middle of the stadium.

It was then that I saw it up close. It was a broze thing, shaped like a furled piece of parchment. Very different to the ones of previous years. Across from me, I could see Aiemie watching the torch in anticipation. Where was the Olympic going to be installed this time for the two weeks.

The torch bearer kept running, it had switched between three people so far. Now near my countrymen in changed hands once more, to a younger Chinese man. He carried it up a bunch of stairs, then turned to face all of us. For a few seconds he held it above his head and then lowered it to the ground.

He was actually standing in the Chinese Olympic cauldron. Well if that was not an interesting thing to see it lifted from into the ground up above him, Walls flaming as he walked out of the way of the cauldron, completely untouched by the flames. That really was amazing for me to see.

Finally we heard the English speaking man translate, "The 28th Olympic Games in Beijing China have now officially opened!"

That amazed me beyound disbelief. This was all that happened? Then fireworks shot into the sky above the flaming cauldron and I watched in interest. The fireworks went for quite a while and it took a while before we started moving back into the buildings under the stands.

It was so hard to beleive that such a big stadium could actually be possible. Then again the one in Sydney was meant to be even bigger than this, and it was the last place the Olympics had been held. To even think that was possible seemed to be extremely difficult for me.

[Kanchana]

Kayson and the family clapped and cheered along with everyone else, if possible louder.
It was late, the girls were starting to tire so Kayson pulled them into his arms, carrying them to the gate Talila and James following behind.
"Time to go home," he murmered to the girls, looking for Alexa.

[Jenny Night]

Alexa Collins
I followed the others back out of the arena and headed towards the gates with Aiemie once more.
"Now the true competition begins."
"Yes, in the morning we both compete for those medals," Aiemie said, teasing me.
When we reached the car with the others Aiemie asked, ""So, what did you think?" Aiemie asked, as we all got into the car. I still could not beleive that she was competing against me most likely. That was a hard thing to come to terms with, that one of my best freinds was in one of the other countries teams.