LONDON 2012 Transport nightmare on first night of volleyball | |
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| Photo by Elisa Chiapparini, AIPS |
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By Esat Yilmaer, AIPS First Vice-President |
LONDON, July 29, 2012 - The first day of competition was truly a nightmare for journalists covering women’s volleyball.
The last match of the night, Turkey vs. Brazil, was scheduled for 22:00. However, the first game between the USA and South Korea went to four sets, ending at 22:03. As a result, the last match did not begin until 22:45.
It was a tough game, and the match went to five sets. Brazil won in the end, 2-3. The match ended just before 1:00.
Journalists, as is common after a match, stayed in the press center to attend post-game press conferences, conduct interviews, and file their stories.
When the journalists were finished, it was already 1:30. However, when they left the media center to return to their hotels, they found that shuttle services had already stopped. The nearby tube stations were closed. There were no taxis to be found.
Over 15 journalists walked two and half kilometers until they finally found a late-running night bus. They took the bus to Trafalgar Square, and then continued on in taxis.
By the time most returned to their hotels, it was already 4:00; one person did not make it back until 5:00. As a result, some journalists only had time for a couple hours’ rest before heading back out to cover the morning’s swimming events.
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| Read all 5 comments |
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| As a sports journalist who has been stuck a number of times in remote venues at multi-sport events in foreign countries after filing my stories, only to find there was no way home, I sympathize completely. Journalists are sometimes an afterthought. There should always be someone from the organizing committee checking to make sure EVERYONE is accounted for at EVERY competition. I wonder if it's a union (bus driver) problem and/or cost-cutting issue. |
| Tina Fisher Forde, Tehachapi USA |
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| Having lived in Earls Court (where volleyball is played) - there are plenty of taxis on a normal evening even at 3am. Nightbuses also quite regular travel on Cromwell road.. sometimes as journalist we take our transport for granted, always have Plan B in case things don't work out. Yes, there are few things to iron out with the transport, but for London.. I think things are running VERY smoothly! |
| Ville, Worcester GREAT BRITAIN |
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| Your headline makes it sound as if this is a transportation problem. The story makes it clear that it is not. Skewed reporting from a press association. A little cringeworthy, if truth be told. |
| John, Amsterdam NETHERLANDS |
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Terrible indeed, my colleague from Nigeria, George Aluo had the same experince.
Hoping that things will normalise as the Games progress.
Take care! |
| Frank Ilaboya, Lagos NIGERIA |
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| Esat baby, all I can say that I really do feels sorry for you and the colleagues - but why don't you stick to basket-ball instead of watching ladies volley... all the best, dear friend, ope to see you soon |
| Noah, Tel-Aviv ISRAEL |
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