From Walpole to London: Chris Lotsbom's Olympic Blog

In less than four days, I will be across the Pond, working at the biggest sporting event in the world. It is still hard to imagine and comprehend.

For those of you who may not know me, my name is Chris Lotsbom and I am an incoming senior Sports Media major at Ithaca College. From July 29 until August 16, I will be in London working with NBC Sports at the Games of the XXX Olympiad, covering track and field as a logger from the Olympic Stadium.

From London, I hope to write a few journal entries for the Walpole Patch as a way to bring the experience back home.
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For many years, I have had a goal stuck in the back of my mind, pushing me to someday make it to an Olympic Games. I have been a runner for close to eight years, and have always been mesmerized by the athletes who take to the track and roads to compete on the ultimate stage every four years.

Watching the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, I knew that I likely would never come close to the times needed to be an American Track and Field star. But what I did have was a dream: to make it to the games in another way, as a journalist.

In the years since the 2008 games, I have continued to write and write and write some more, submitting stories for numerous news outlets. What began as a sophomore at Walpole High School's The Rebellion (http://whstherebellion.com/) was a passion for the art of journalism, something I have kept alive at Ithaca College. 

Since January of 2010, I have been the Junior Editor of Race Results Weekly (http://www.raceresultsweekly.com/), an online news and results service that covers distance running and track and field. Under the tutelage of Editor and Publisher David Monti, I have learned the ins and outs of my favorite sport. Blessed with such an opportunity and mentor, I have been able to get to know and interview some of the biggest stars in the sport while attending the nation's premier road races and track meets.
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With that being said, London 2012 will certainly be the biggest and most exciting event I have ever been a part of. Many people have asked my expectations or how I feel, and it still hasn't completely hit me yet.

Part of me feels like I'm about to fly to a new world, not knowing what to expect. I will be the first of my family to visit Europe since my grandmother and grandfather did so some 30 years ago, making the trip that much more special.

In an odd way, I also feel like an athlete making it to the games. I've 'practiced' writing and covering track and field for years, trying to perfect my style, grammar, wording, and voice like a sprinter works on his start, drive, and finish phases. Now I am one of the lucky few able to represent NBC, our country's Olympic network, at the Games, wearing the famous logo on my sleeve like a nation's flag.
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When I step off the plane in London early Sunday morning, I will be that much closer to achieving my goal of making it to the Olympics. I look forward to bringing a piece of the journey back home to you, giving a glimpse of what the Olympic experience has to offer.

Chris' blog is used with permission from Ithaca College Sports Media and Management.