I leave late, so I drop my intention to walk to Liverpool Street. In the last part of the undergruond journey, I see a few people going to the stadium, but not a big crowd. On the walkway, however, when the ones coming from the other lines arrive, there is a crowd. The volunteers point us to the bridge (it's where the entrance to the stadium area takes place) with the shorter queue, telling us to ignore what our ticket say (about the prescribed entrance). The queue at the entrance is discouraging, especially since races are starting, but it gets done in 5 minutes.
Here I am finally in: it is the 9th Olympic stadium I visit, the 8th where I see races (the difference is tmade by he Athens 1896 one). It is almost full, certainly much more than the Rome one during the Golden Gala (not that it takes much). The only time I saw a similar crowd for a morning session was at the Paris World Championship on Wednesday, students' day. I'm just in time to see the finishof the first heat of 3000 steeplechase with the good placement of Zoglami, which gave good hopes for the other Italians, since he should have been our no. 3, instead they do worse.
I am in a good position to follow pole vault (men's qualifications) but bad for all the other events: I can follow he two races of the heptathlon (LJ and JT) only on the screen. Even in track events, I only see the second curve (so I can follow the water obstacle in steeplechase well), but on the final dash I can not understand who won, so after a while I get used to seeing the finishes on the screen. I have trouble following especially Chiappinelli's race, since he is small and gets camouflaged and there are many athletes wearing blue. One thing I see well, however, is Miller's ease of running in the 400: shes does not seem to make any effort.
Lunch at a kiosk at the exit: I eat a simple burger not to move too much, but the choice is vast: I've never seen so many different kiosks. They range from from local specialties (I know, talk about local specialties in Britain may look like an oxymoron) to Asian, passing through classic burgers, hot dogs and pizza. Then desserts, ice cream, and also one specialized in strawberries.
I leave slowly to city centre for the women's Marathon: I decided to see it from a point where I used to go often for my job: in front of the Bank of England. I see the passages of the second and the third round, then I try to get closer to the finish (without getting there: I knew I could hardly see something, too crowded), but for a while I get lost. I can still see a passage about 1 km. from the finish.
A short pause and it's already time for the evening session. I thought I would come early, but I do not have much margin left. Less queue than this morning at the entrance. You see many people with Jamaican colours, but this time they almost all seem really Jamaican. It begins with some victory ceremonies, including the 100 one, which according to the program had to be held at 20: great affection for Bolt, boos but also applause for Gatlin.
I'm in a position similar to this morning, just a little higher. I therefore see the pole vault, but little else: the shot put final and the javelin qualification I have to follow the screen. If I had a group of Spaniards on my left this morning, tonight at least the 20 people closest to me were all British. Making the WCH in such a country with so many fans has the advantage of great participation, but the disadvantage that the atmosphere is less international than usual. Even in official stores, they sell more merchandising of the British team than of the WCH as such. Huge supporting of Johnson-Thompson, of the pole vaulter and for the 800 specialist who surprisely gets to the final. However, they had someone to support almost every race: how I envy them.
Great rush at the exit. If one thought of eating something in the restaurants area of the Olympic Park, he can not: it is barred. Indeed, if everyone wanted to go through it, it would be dangerous. At least the underground arrives quickly.
I'm in a position similar to this morning, just a little higher. I therefore see the pole vault, but little else: the shot put final and the javelin qualification I have to follow the screen. If I had a group of Spaniards on my left this morning, tonight at least the 20 people closest to me were all British. Making the WCH in such a country with so many fans has the advantage of great participation, but the disadvantage that the atmosphere is less international than usual. Even in official stores, they sell more merchandising of the British team than of the WCH as such. Huge supporting of Johnson-Thompson, of the pole vaulter and for the 800 specialist who surprisely gets to the final. However, they had someone to support almost every race: how I envy them.
Great rush at the exit. If one thought of eating something in the restaurants area of the Olympic Park, he can not: it is barred. Indeed, if everyone wanted to go through it, it would be dangerous. At least the underground arrives quickly.
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