.

This centre houses over 10 000 people including volunteers, IBC staff, CCTV and international broadcast journalists and production teams. It's a huge place - whilst I was taking photos I got lost several times down the wrong hallway (they all look the same). The main press centre is even larger and sits right next to the IBC.

Here's one of the MANY hallways in the IBC.

In the corner of the IBC basement (where many other broadcasters have little cubicles) is our producer Prem - hard at work... or surfing the internet - it's hard to tell.

Our Indonesian TV neighbours were not around - probably out shooting live events and stand ups.

The main dining hall is huge - there are several other cafes around - and the main press centre has a dining hall almost double the size of this one.

The staff of volunteers have their own dining area - it's always packed - due to the many rotations they have.

The nerve centre of these olympics is BOB tech - which stands for Beijing Olympic Broadcast. This is where all the camera feeds come in and get recorded and transmitted world wide.

And finally here is the main lobby - complete with comfy couches for sleepy broadcasters. Just outside the main doors is the fleet of hybrid buses that ship us daily to the various arenas - door to door.

Ok - so after our team got silver - we had a little wait before they all began their singles campaign.

During that wait we HAD to do SOMETHING - so our motley crew just started aimlessly strolling the streets and happened on a few interesting things... like this building... known to the locals as the "pot"... officially known as "the National Theatre".

 And right across the road from it - Tiananmen... we just did a drive by - thought we'd return when there was light.

And after a bit of driving we came up against a wall... a big wall you could say... a long wall... maybe even a "great wall" some might say...

it just keeps going and going...

It's "this big"!!

In and amongst all this heritage stuff - I must add another photo of great importance - the Apple store in Beijing... Steve Jobs is everywhere...

And a trip to Beijing just wouldn't be the same if we didn't do a little shopping...

The driver took us to some local malls - very much like Tikka market and Pearl Centre I guess - very cheap stuff - which is the reason why half the van was full of shopping bags. Prem also became a bit of a celebrity of sorts - or a curio - as we had almost the entire shoe section trying to find size 48 dress shoes for him - the jolly giant. We told everyone he was an athlete - Shotput was his specialty... they seemed to accept it.

Finally, we had to visit Tainanmen. It was a smoggy day again and the place was a little underwhelming but it was a must see I guess.

Yes folks - I was there at the 100m final to witness the fastest man on earth.

He was fast and he knew it - he had time to pull back just before the finish, tap his chest and pose for the photo finish. That's gotta be a pretty cool feeling to be that fast and know it.

We were sitting dead centre practically metres away from the track - perfect vantage for the whole race. The atmosphere was electric - everyone around us stood for the whole 9.69 seconds it took for him to fly down that track. No one else had a chance...not even Tyson.

Here is the photo of the stand just minutes before the world record was broken... packed to the highest steel girders...

Yep, I think this is a pretty good seat for this event... think I'll stay right here...

There's the start line...

Usain - the champion - coming over to say "hi and thanks for the support".

It was a perfect finish to a perfect day of spectating. Earlier I'd watched Guo Jing Jing in the semifinals of the 3m spring board - she is just SO good it's frightening. She's a league above everyone else. As we strolled back to the International Broadcast Centre - I thought I'd click away a couple of pictures of the Bird's Nest on this beautiful summer night (managed to catch the moon up there too).

And just one more...

Hi All,

Well, it has continued to be a very eventful Olympics for us. Was at the table tennis yesterday when Singapore made history and secured our first olympic medal in 48 years! Very tense match - though I'm not usually vocal as a spectator I became increasingly so during the series of matches between Singapore and Korea. Feng Tian Wei was just on form yesterday - the rallies were beyond believable. I was so happy for the team and for Singapore. Can't wait to see the final on Sunday - hope everyone tunes in. A very proud moment for Singapore. Apparently it clashes with the PM's National Day speech. Don't know how they'll deal with that...

Had some R&R time the other night - went down to Hou Hai - one of the oldest segments of Beijing - which has now become a tourist trap - historic buildings now taken over by trinket shops and bars. Nevertheless, it still had the charm of the old and the lake and tree lined boardwalk would make this a fantastic location for a stroll or jog.

Then a big a day of sports spectating - we manged to catch some gymnastics in the morning -the men's finals - won by the Chinese of course - and later that night - the amazing dream team - USA basketball vs Greece. It was a whitewash - I couldn't believe the Greek team had actually defeated the US in 2004 - cause they certainly weren't a threat this time.

It was awesome sitting court side at the match - some incredible displays from the US team.

 And finally - we had such beautiful weather yesterday - blue skies - low humidity - great visibility... it seemed like all the smog had been sucked out of Beijing.. that I just had to include some photos of the olympic stadium and water cube as well as a tree lined street next to Peking University.

And here's a happy production team - off to dinner!

Ok today the crew were a little tired...

So I decided to give them a day off and go record my report myself. 

Here I am searching for location around the Olympic domain...

Ok - I think this is a good spot...

Just have to check the frame...

Fix the focus, white balance and other technical things...

Do make up and hair...

 And then record the link...

Then back to the office ... have a little break... boy it was hot out there...

 before writing the VO ...

recording the VO...

then edit it all together with the use of a tape to tape editing station...

...before I have a little rest. All in a day's work.

Ok - we've been eating out here from time to time - and the menu is just awesome! You can't find these dishes anywhere else...

 I think this one has family photos in it, or is it ABOUT a "family photo pot" (a pot for photos I guess)  that leaves home, or is it...? I don't know...

Either this one is a dish with a yellow fish CALLED "Burns" or the cook is admitting to burning this dish every time.

"German Morley" is my favourite chef - he cooks the live fish really well !!

I think this one is a question: "Does the pot rip the chicken?" ... fair enough... well does it?

And this is when vegetables get their revenge on meat...

Well - Tao Li has made history in becoming the first Singaporean to compete in the Olympics swimming finals. She came fifth but in the heats and the semi-finals she broke the Asian and national records. An amazing performance at these games for her.

 Here I am looking like a real reporter at the fore front of international news... (waiting for Tao Li to emerge from the water cube).

The weather has been a little gloomy here - with some rain and, of course, smog but everyone is still coming out in force to see the events and just to hang around the stadium. We went out today to get some sound bites from locals coming to the games - they were such good sports - almost everyone we asked would accept the request to be interviewed and they spoke so highly of China and the way the Olympics has helped clean up and improve service and courtesy in Beijing.

Hi all,

I was simply blown away by the opening ceremony last night. Just entering the stadium was awe inspiring - the two pieces of architecture - the water cube and the bird's nest stadium are impressive to say the least. On top of that - as it darkens - the lighting design on both buildings seems to bring them to life.

The pre-show entertainment was superb - which really increased our expectations for the final event. We were not disappointed, of course, it was a beautiful, delicate and inspiring performance by the Chinese and I was so glad I got to experience it first hand. It's THE most watched event in the world and it's easy to see why. I was so happy for the Chinese crowd who were so proud of their nation - and so they should be. The efficiency, politeness and effectiveness of all the volunteers so far has been exemplary. Many speak english very well and will go out of their way to solve any problem. I have used my almost non-existent Chinese on at least a few occasions and they haven't laughed at me once. 

They're pretty curious too - here are a couple of bystanders who wanted photos of me after I did my pre-opening ceremony link...

 And here is a photo just to prove I was there - at the opening ceremony.

Here's team Singapore walking past... they got quite a reaction from the local crowd.

Alright - landed safely in Beijing having flown in on the A380 - which I must say - really is a very comfortable plane - even for economy. The new entertainment system is great.

Beijing is a buzz with activity and excitement. Opening ceremony is tonight and we have tickets!!!  Unbelievably excited. The locals are equally excited - thousands were gathered around the main stadiums last night watching the lights, the changing colours of the water cube and taking pictures of just about anything - of press, of cameras, of reporters. 

We're off to the Great Wall today before the opening ceremony tonight - will upload some photos later... 

Hi Everyone,

It's Jason Chan here - I will be corresponding from Beijing in two weeks time - covering, for channel 5, what I'm sure will be an amazing Olympic games.

To say I'm excited is an understatement. I have never been to China and I cannot believe I'm going at a time when they will be hosting the most watched event of the world. I was in Sydney during the 2000 Olympic games and it was just superb - the energy was hard to describe but it was inspiring: national pride, generosity, an immense sense of community filled the city. It transformed the Sydney that I was used to. I'm sure it's one of the best times to visit a foreign country.

I'm also excited about meeting and following our 25 atheletes in Team Singapore. It's such an achievement to make it into competition on the world stage - my hats off to all of you. Jia you!! ...I think that's how you spell it - my Chinese is hopeless... I'm sure there will be many times I'll be embarrassed by this fact.

OK - stay tuned for more - especially when in Beijing... looking forward to the Beijing duck too...