Wow, it’s been a busy few weeks. Two growing businesses, not to mention all the cool things connected with the Youth Olympic Games, continuing to work on my French, and trying to have a social life. I’d like to put it out there that if anyone figures out how to slow down time, flip me an e-mail. Actually, text, might not have time to read an e-mail.

Ha, that being said, right now is a really exciting time. Along with the COC, we are ramping up for the big Youth Olympic Games this August, (14^th to 26^th), getting the plans implemented, and finding new ways to get the athletes stoked! (Ya, I wrote stoked, it’s nearly midnight, my vocab is waning)

I have to say, spending a minute at The Cube, which is the official Olympic portal for the YOG is enough to get you “stoked”. In the coming weeks I’ll be rolling out all the social media for the Canadian Youth Olympians, and everyone else that’s interested!

Follow my feed to get the real-time updates…it’s the easiest way for me to keep people in the loop. I can’t wait for summer to really hit, and to meet all the athletes. Plus, they will get the chance to experience humanity is a really unique way. I just hope I can make it easy for them to learn and grow at the same time.

Kwan Jo, Sophia, me, Devon, on our island adventure, day 2

It’s a quarter after one, and we Youth Olympic Games Young Ambassadors have just spent the evening with the IOC, 200+ National Olympic Committees and all the other SYOGOC (Singapore Youth Olympic Games Org. Committee). It was the Chef de Mission Welcome dinner.

That was a whole lot of titles so I am going to write this sentence so you can digest all of it.

Already I have met some incredible people. We arrived this afternoon at the Swissotel The Stamford, and have since been exposed to a true Olympic Organizing Committee experience complete with the cultural features, great food and overall excellent experience. As one of the Olympic values, excellence is certainly being lived to the highest degree here in Singapore.

This is just an update, I hope to have some more to contribute tomorrow, or in the days following. I managed to link up with Brian and Caroline, from the Canadian Olympic Committee tonight, but they haven’t been the first Canadians I’ve come across. Stacey, (sp!), Liz, Torey, and Jon are a documentary team from Canada covering the Youth Olympics, in a really unique way using new media. (I toted around a Flip HD camera yesterday, doing interviews). I suppose they could also be named the team of folks with hard names to spell. Sorry if I’ve botched it guys!

Anyways, in the morning we have an intimate discussion with Jacques Rogge, (I’m sure you all know who he is!), and so I’ll have a chance to ask some questions. But right now that’s all because it is bed time, as we’ve been pulling 18+ hour days. Goodnight!

I haven’t written in a few days, just been enjoying the experience. Earlier today, (or I suppose yesterday), I went over the Westin Bayshore, which is now VANOC headquarters, and home to all the IOC people that make an Olympics happen. I met the people involved with the social media generation of the Games, which was pretty cool. There were Olympic posters all over the place, a simple campaign that shows the power of the Olympic brand. The art for these posters was so simple, all you have to do is throw the Olympic rings on the top and all of a sudden it’s profound. Oh the power of a brand.

I was there to be interviewed by a young reporter about my Youth Olympic Games Ambassador role. It was a great experience because I was able to really articulate why and how I wanted to make a difference in Singapore later this summer. I believe in the respect that the Games hope to develop between young people. It’s really important to me.

People talk about the commercialization of the Games. Sure, it’s big business. But there’s a reason for that. It is because the movement is simple and pure and you can use that to sell something. At the end of the day, this transaction doesn’t diminish the true impact of the Olympic movement. Part of that is the leadership and respect that the Olympic dream fosters among young people. I hope that is never forgotten in the argument.

Part ONE

The Olympic city is getting louder.

The village opens tomorrow, and will welcome all the athletes, coaches and support staff, many of whom are already in the city!

I am excited. Sort of anxious, but looking forward to what the next three and a half weeks will hold. I have rehearsal tonight, as it becomes crunch time for the Olympic Opening Ceremonies crew to pull off what will be an amazing show.

Not only that, but yesterday I had an inspiring meeting with one of my clients, Georgia Simmerling. She was added to the Olympic Alpine Ski team last week. Yes, a newly minted Olympian.

Georgia just returned from speeding down hills in St. Moritz, just in time to go rip down some more hills in Alberta, (Nakiska for training), before it will be race time in Whistler. It’s a really exciting time for her, and an honour to be helping out.

It was great to get a sense of her anticipation and remember what it was like to behold the Olympic dream. It can be an overwhelming thing, but she seems content, and focused on what is next. Racing for Canada.

I am going to be writing a lot over the next while, as well as at http://www.ngfarrell.com/blog so keep updated here and there. And get out there! It’s going to be fun!

Georgia Simmerling, Olympic Alpine Ski Team