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Oct
2
1:27AM | October 2, 2009 | posted by Diane Yamazaki
Denmark: 45 Minutes Away
I'm in the journalist work area here at the Bella Center and Mike has just been escorted into the Bid Cities Presentation Hall along with the other pool videographers to get into place. It's 8:05a here in Copenhagen and there is plenty of buzz in the air, as you might imagine.
Chicago 2016 will present in about 45 minutes, then there's a 15 minute Q & A from the IOC members who will vote.
They then must quickly leave the area and then we will be taken to another area for a news conference with Mayor Daley and Pat Ryan. Right now we don't believe the President or Mrs. Obama will be at that one. I did get about maybe 3 hours sleep last night but today will be a LONG work day...and that's NOT a complaint, just info sharing. This work is fun..though I'll be a zombie by the time we get to O'hare tomorrow night.
Antwan Lewis, WGN Reporter
They then must quickly leave the area and then we will be taken to another area for a news conference with Mayor Daley and Pat Ryan. Right now we don't believe the President or Mrs. Obama will be at that one. I did get about maybe 3 hours sleep last night but today will be a LONG work day...and that's NOT a complaint, just info sharing. This work is fun..though I'll be a zombie by the time we get to O'hare tomorrow night.
Antwan Lewis, WGN Reporter
Oct
1
4:54PM | October 1, 2009 | posted by Diane Yamazaki
Thursday: Decision time in Denmark
Day three in Copenhagen. It is the last night before the big vote. There are going to be a lot of anxious minds in Copenhagen tonight.
A lot of folks have asked Antwan and I if we had a chance to see any attractions. My initial reaction is to say, "no, we're running around all day covering the 2016 events." Then I thought about that statement after talking to a local resident. He was telling me about Danish life and growing up in Copenhagen.
You know, all it really comes down to is people. Not statues or monuments or any tourist attraction. It's about taking a couple minutes to chat it up with the locals and you'll learn more about a culture than you ever will on a double decker guided bus tour.
Mike D'Angelo, WGN Photographer
A lot of folks have asked Antwan and I if we had a chance to see any attractions. My initial reaction is to say, "no, we're running around all day covering the 2016 events." Then I thought about that statement after talking to a local resident. He was telling me about Danish life and growing up in Copenhagen.
You know, all it really comes down to is people. Not statues or monuments or any tourist attraction. It's about taking a couple minutes to chat it up with the locals and you'll learn more about a culture than you ever will on a double decker guided bus tour.
Mike D'Angelo, WGN Photographer
11:10AM | October 1, 2009 | posted by Diane Yamazaki
The Ubiquitous Oprah
For anyone who doubted that Oprah is her own universe, tell him to ask me about how the Copenhagen, Denmark crowd went beserk when she got out of the car tonight at the Chicago 2016 reception.
Dude...I'm serious.
She should have currency printed with her face on it. She was very kind and gracious to me during our interview tonight (she's always like that) and just came she says to take care of biz. She got a great reception for the Danes that's for sure. And off subject here...but has anybody found out what beer I should try while over here???
Antwan Lewis, WGN Reporter
Dude...I'm serious.
She should have currency printed with her face on it. She was very kind and gracious to me during our interview tonight (she's always like that) and just came she says to take care of biz. She got a great reception for the Danes that's for sure. And off subject here...but has anybody found out what beer I should try while over here???
Antwan Lewis, WGN Reporter
11:04AM | October 1, 2009 | posted by Diane Yamazaki
Day 2: Staying Healthy in Copenhagen
Many of you may not know this, but I'm the "healthy one" in our newsroom. No, I am. The photogs hate me when it comes time to eat while we're out in the field because it's almost always some kind of green salad...chicken or tuna.
Having said that, OMG...I slipped over here in Copenhagen. I had a danish this morning. Ok...two. I set my alarm for the wrong time and was rusing and didn't get down to eat breakfast before Mike and I had to meet our taxi at 7a. So I had to eat "somethin" and WHAT would the Danes have out for the press to eat at the neews conference?? Danish. Those crispy flaky air-filled pockets of sin and no-redemption. Lol, BUT I will now have to try to get back on the wagon and but they sure were good!
Antwan Lewis, WGN Reporter
Having said that, OMG...I slipped over here in Copenhagen. I had a danish this morning. Ok...two. I set my alarm for the wrong time and was rusing and didn't get down to eat breakfast before Mike and I had to meet our taxi at 7a. So I had to eat "somethin" and WHAT would the Danes have out for the press to eat at the neews conference?? Danish. Those crispy flaky air-filled pockets of sin and no-redemption. Lol, BUT I will now have to try to get back on the wagon and but they sure were good!
Antwan Lewis, WGN Reporter
Sep
30
1:14PM | September 30, 2009 | posted by Diane Yamazaki
Day 2: Heavy Hitters arrive in Denmark
Wednesday: The heavy hitters are starting to arrive to support Chicago: First Lady Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey and Friday, President Obama arrives.
There is definitely an energy in the air tonight. The hoopla for Chicago is great, but one thing I am really enjoying is the array of languages being spoken here. The world is literally convening in Copenhagen for the 2016 vote.
Everywhere we go in this city we stumble upon a group of people speaking something different everyday. You have Danish, the official language of Denmark. There's Spanish, Japanese, German, French and the most appealing to my ear, Portuguese.
It's a good thing though, for me and Antwan, that everyone seems to speak a little English because if we tried our hand at any of the above languages we'd still be trying to get out of the airport.
Mike D'Angelo, WGN Photographer
There is definitely an energy in the air tonight. The hoopla for Chicago is great, but one thing I am really enjoying is the array of languages being spoken here. The world is literally convening in Copenhagen for the 2016 vote.
Everywhere we go in this city we stumble upon a group of people speaking something different everyday. You have Danish, the official language of Denmark. There's Spanish, Japanese, German, French and the most appealing to my ear, Portuguese.
It's a good thing though, for me and Antwan, that everyone seems to speak a little English because if we tried our hand at any of the above languages we'd still be trying to get out of the airport.
Mike D'Angelo, WGN Photographer
9:46AM | September 30, 2009 | posted by Diane Yamazaki | comments: 1
Day 1: Antwan Lewis in Denmark
Day 1:
BUSY day today but this is so exciting. Denmark has a great "old world" charm to it, but we haven't had a chance to "see it" just yet...lol
The plane ride over was very smooth and I think I finally dozed off around 1am Chicago time. But it was packed and a lively flight.
Early day tomorrow for us b/c Michelle Obama arrives and there are a couple of events we'll be chasing down. If you miss my blog be sure to catch the live reports on the air and the stuff on the web. Also...ANYBODY with the name of a Danish beer I can bring back to my recuperating best friend Tom Negovan...PLS let me know. ( But he can't drink it until after he's of his pain meds)
Til tomorrow....
Antwan Lewis, WGN News Reporter
The plane ride over was very smooth and I think I finally dozed off around 1am Chicago time. But it was packed and a lively flight.
Early day tomorrow for us b/c Michelle Obama arrives and there are a couple of events we'll be chasing down. If you miss my blog be sure to catch the live reports on the air and the stuff on the web. Also...ANYBODY with the name of a Danish beer I can bring back to my recuperating best friend Tom Negovan...PLS let me know. ( But he can't drink it until after he's of his pain meds)
Til tomorrow....
Antwan Lewis, WGN News Reporter
Sep
29
1:31PM | September 29, 2009 | posted by Diane Yamazaki | comments: 1
Denmark: Day 1 (Tuesday Sept 29)
Our first day in Copenhagen. We are a bit jet lagged and sleepy after a seven hour red eye but we hit the ground running on pure adrenaline.
This city is beautiful with old narrow streets and traffic that will make the toughest Chicago driver cringe. Antwan and I are working hard to bring you the best pictures and sound from not only the 2016 delegation but from the locals as well.
-Mike D'Angelo, WGN Photographer
This city is beautiful with old narrow streets and traffic that will make the toughest Chicago driver cringe. Antwan and I are working hard to bring you the best pictures and sound from not only the 2016 delegation but from the locals as well.
-Mike D'Angelo, WGN Photographer
