KC Old Boy and orthopedic surgeon, Warren Blake and another KCOB Dr Herb Elliott were two medical doctors assigned to the Jamaican contingent of some 50 track and field athletes and an equestrian to the recently concluded Beijing Olympics (August 8-24).
The 2nd vice president of the JAAA fondly recalled departing Jamaica July 29 and arriving with the athletes at the famous Chinese cultural city of Tianjin, which hosted, rolled out the red carpet and picked up all the tabs for the duration of the training camp from July 31 to August 10, 2008.
The contingent stayed at the Hu Bing Yuan Hotel and fully utilized the training facilities at the University of Tianjin. Some athletes went off for the opening ceremony. Special thank you was expressed not only to the hospitality of the people and mayor of the city of Tianjin, but also to Jamaica’s Ambassador to China, Wayne McCook who provided the athletes with a home away from home by availing a special cook and the famous Jamaican dish of yam and dumpling.
Warren missed the opening ceremony and arrived at the Olympic Village on August 11. He was awestruck by the wonder architecture of the Bird Nest stadium and the Water Cube aquatic centre, the ongoing evidence of construction activities in Beijing and the overwhelming structure of China’s CCTV which spans some 5 city blocks.
At the Great Wall of China
Warren did not have much time to tour the historic centres as the welfare of the athletes was central. He beamed with pride about their unequalled performance and that he was in the Bird Nest to witness the triple world records of Usian Bolt and 4x100m men’s relay team, Shelly-Ann’s and Melanie Walker’s triumph in the women’s 100m and 400m hurdles respectively and indeed all the others not mentioned. He cherished the camaraderie of the camp and shared in all the joys and sorrows of victories and defeats.
The 2008 Youngster Goldsmith honoree recalled that other Fortis were at the Olympics such as Garth Gayle, Edward Hector and Dr Herb Elliott and Jeremy DeLisser.
The "Bird Nest" Stadium
Dr Blake was only able to tour the Great Wall of China towards the latter part of his stay in the country. He just missed on a tour of the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square.
He returned to Jamaica on August 31st.
