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Reports from Belo Interactive contributors at the Olympics in Sydney, AustraliaMark Johnson: Notebook from Down Under 09/12/2000 By Mark Johnson / KTVB-TV, Boise, Idaho First entry – Sept. 9
Somewhere above the Pacific Ocean.
So this is what they mean when they say "long flight"! We departed LA Friday night at 10:30–nearly two days ago! It's Sunday morning now at 6:30 and I'm thinking I just lost 36 hours of my life! (I just lost Saturday!)
Staff Photo / KTVB-TV, Boise
Mark Johnson, KTVB-TV, Boise, Idaho, reports daily on the Olympics.
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Everything about this trip screams Olympics. We are on board with about 150 media-types from all over the country. Sports Illustrated guys, photographer and reporters from NBC affiliated television stations, as well as athletes.
This flight is bringing the Mexican boxing team which numbers a dozen. I tried to talk to them but was told later that when I thought I asked them if 'they were excited about going to the Olympics' what I really asked was 'why do your feet smell?"
The in-flight movie chronicles the Olympic story for Sydney and how it has been the primary focus for this country's biggest city over the past 5 years. And what a story that is! From the development of the city's wasteland to the environmental awakening that has become a priority, Sydney is being called the world's model for running the games in the new millennium.
Meantime, my traveling companion, John Miller (not watching ANY of the Sydney-related in-flight movies), is sitting behind NBC's Katie Couric and cannot muster enough nerve to strike up a conversation during the entire 14-hour flight–until the end. When John grabbed his three carry-ons he turned to Katie and said, "Can I help you with that big bag?" she politely smiled and said, "I think you've got enough to handle right there." John's moment with NBC's morning host was not a long one.
We land, get our credentials, check into our "bunks" at the media village and begin the long and certainly event-filled road to covering the Sydney Games. A road that will include many headaches and small disasters (like the bus that broke down halfway to the media village) but many more highlights that will become lifetime memories of the 2000 Olympics.
They say you aren't supposed to 'imitate' the Australian accent or 'catch phrases' so I will refrain from the all-too-cliché g'day mate and instead leave you with 'wow, I can't believe I'm in Sydney covering the Olympics!!!!'
Mark Johnson is a reporter for KTVB-TV in Boise, Idaho, a Belo Interactive affiliate. He is writing a daily notebook column from the Olympics.
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Track star 
1996
swimming gold medalist Ryan Berube 
