The Salt Lake Tribune
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Counting Down to Beijing Games
Welcome to the Olympics blog!

Here is where we’ll share all our experiences over the next few weeks at the Beijing Olympics in China, presuming we’re allowed to use the computer and don’t get deported for accidentally saying “Tibet” on the plaza at Tiananmen Square.

We’re just a week from the Opening Ceremony, which will include most of the 19 athletes from Utah -- or somehow closely connected -- who will represent seven nations, three of the state’s universities and six of its high schools.

Various other Utahns will play roles at the Games, too, including Brigham Young coaches Ed Eyestone and Keith Russell -- Eyestone is an analyst for NBC-TV, while Russell will work as a diving judge -- local radio veterans Tim Hughes and Carl Arky doing voice work, and St. George native Bruce Hurst, the former major league pitcher who’s helping coach the Chinese baseball team.

In all, we’re expecting a wild time in the Middle Kingdom, and hoping to actually see some of it through the smog. For the two of us writers, it will be our fourth Olympics. Our photographer is working his first.

Guess who’s carrying the bags.

-- Michael C. Lewis
About Us
    Michael C. Lewis, a veteran of the Olympics, is covering his second Summer Games. Kurt Kragthorpe, the dean of Tribune Olympics coverage, hits the road one more time. Chris Detrick is photographing his first Olympics Games. Click HERE to see his pictures.