Flying the coop on the last night of track and field

BEIJING -- This has been the Olympics of order and regimentation, with brilliant organization but such a concern for doing things just so, for making sure security was airtight, that the Chinese success as 2008 Olympic host has sometimes made the Games seem soulless.

So I was a little hesitant about even trying to relive a moment that always had provided me with a wonderful last memory.

Since the 1992 Summer Games in Barcelona, a few U.S. reporters have taken what now is a traditional lap around the Olympic Stadium track late on the night the track and field competition ends.

When I sized up the situation for taking the lap Saturday night at the Bird's Nest, I saw Chinese police approaching a few people who were posing at the finish line.  But the police let the photo session continue, so my colleague Tim Layden (in photo, center) of Sports Illustrated and I (at left) walked out of the stands onto the track and began walking around.

No one stopped us, so Tim went back to get another colleague, Jere Longman (right) of the New York Times, who had joined us for the lap in previous Olympics.

Tim and Jere had jogged one lap around the track, with volunteers jogging bemusedly alongside, before I joined them for a second lap.  By the time we finished, the police were taking pictures for others who were doing the same thing.

From the track, the Bird's Nest was even more stunning and imposing than it seemed from our seats only a few rows up in the stands.  I wondered if any of the runners who had toured the track considerably faster had found the time to be as overwhelmed and appreciative of the grandiose  beauty as I was.

It had been a long, hot trudge at times during  nine days of work at the Bird's Nest.

In the 400 meters on the night before the closing ceremony, all that faded away, replaced by the exhilaration of being on the track where Usain Bolt had run faster than any man before him.

It was even better because the Chinese volunteers, police and Games workers had let us do it, smiling at what clearly seemed a little goofy to them, leaving us to drip with sweat and feel  warmer about the 2008 Olympics.

-- Philip Hersh

Photo:  Philip Hersh of the Chicago Tribune, left, Tim Layden of Sports Illustrated and Jere Longman of the New York Times take a victory lap at the Bird's Nest.

Comments

[Michael Harang-American]

Will someone explain to me if during the course of a 4x100 relay baton exchange, is the baton passer allowed to step into another teams lane or on a lane line? If not then someone should take a closer look at the Jamaican team's exchange between second and third leg; it appears that Frater while having the baton still in his hand stepped on the lane line and/or into another team's lane prior to completing the exchange to Bolt. No protest is necessary if the IOC is properly monitoring these games. Mr. Bolden made the observation that Jamaica's second leg runner stepped into the outer lane during the exchange. If so is it a legal exchange when either the passer still has the baton or both runners posses it. Will we ignore the viewing of this possible mistake or is the world record more important than integrity.

Controversy is abound but should not dictate how the IOC manages these games. Atheletes have been disqualified for stepping on the lane lines with expediance and it is not clear to me why there was no review made public regarding the Jamaican 4x100 relay team's baton exchange. We as fans at least deserve and explanation of the rules and an assessment of what took place. Go U.S.A. Track and Field.

[Bob Guzauskas]

In my opinion, NBC failed to qualify for these olympics. A viewer would think that the games were swimming, diving, running and volley ball. NBC's coverage failed to convey the variety and richness, the traditions of the games. Their coverage missed so much they should have stayed home because that's where they left the audience..

No medals here.

[Anonymous]

The Jamaican Mens 4x100 relay team was clearly guilty of SEVERAL line violations when passing the baton from runner #2 to #3. I counted 6 consecutive line violations with BOTH FEET, worse yet it was on the outside line right in front of the Canadian runner! I am shocked that this was not an issue given the number of previous line violation DQs during these games. Was Jamaica given a free pass because of the world record time? The team that came in 4th place deserves a medal.