Days 15 & 16: Final Nanjing Diary Entry

A bit of a sad day today; The 2nd Summer Youth Olympic Games will end tonight with another fantastic show at the main stadium. Around the time the show begins most of the commentators from the past fortnight will either be on board their flights home or about to get on board, like myself. So I find myself in a reflective mood as I write this.

First things first; before coming to this massive city we Kiwis, from our 'little neck of the woods.' and those from places unfamiliar to the ways of China, might have been forgiven for thinking when we looked at the map that these large Chinese cities were populated by enormous hoards of shuffling crowds which contain no individuals at all.

Now I know different. Nanjing has a warm and friendly population with real character and characters living here. They are very family orientated, curious about us and where we come from and been couldn't have been more welcoming. Apart from one early display of over-zealous officialdom (of which I will write here - but when I get home) I could not have been welcomed more warmly by the Nanjingers we have met. Not just from the Games people, but from the hotel staff, in the restaurants, taxis, buses, shops - you name it. Helpful people in the street.

Of course there was a language gap for us here but patience and tolerance mixed with a bit of gentle pointing and gestures from both sides and we got through any difficulties. Thanks Nanjing - you made our stay!

And the Nanjing Youth Games were a tremendous success as a serious sport event. The kids of the 'Yoof' countries who were here and the locals fans who supported them in such numbers gave their everything to make the whole fortnight memorable. And they did. It looked like a full Olympic Games every day. I was so glad to have been here. Sitting here now I'm trying to put that quote from one of the Dr Seuss books to best use; 'Don't Cry Because It's Over; Smile Instead Because it Happened.'

That said now we have to ask; what is next for this new initiative from the International Olympic Committee which has gained so much new momentum here from its humble beginnings in Singapore in 2010? In four years the Youth of the World will gather again - this time in Buenos Aires, Argentina. None of those who were here in Nanjing will be able to return - the birth dates disallow that happening - so Argentina has to find a way to satisfy and thrill a whole new generation of teenagers.

I am sure that the natural kindness of Argentinian people will have all the goodwill in their hearts to make the Youth event of 2018 as good as Nanjing's was - but I wonder (from afar I admit) does Argentina have the financial wherewithal to match or better what was done in Nanjing by the Chinese Government's seemingly bottomless pit for sports funding? This Chinese city built all manner of sports stadia, parks, gymnasia, medical backups and a complete Olympic Village capable of hosting 4000 young people. Can Argentina do the same? I sincerely hope so - but I suspect it will be a much bigger challenge that Nanjing and China had.

So farewell Nanjing; thanks to the Volunteers (you are not worthless because no one pays you - you are priceless!) thanks to the staff of the great Hilton Nanjing who made our stay so memorable (and run so superbly by a Kiwi Iulai Sau!!), thanks to OBS, my employers here from the Olympic Broadcasting Service - putting out a 24/7 'Youth Channel' and their Olympic digital channels with coverage of the highest techical and production values. I was proud to be part of it.

And thanks to to my colleagues who commentated it all for you; Duane Dell'Oca, Gerald de Kock, Gillian Clark, Glen Larmer, John Burgess, John Cullen, John Harker, John Trower, Mark Doran, Mark Tompkins, Peter Blackburn, Liz Chetkovich, Richard Drew, Rob Walker, Roger Tames, Ronald McIntosh, Vitor Sobral, Warren Boland, Colin Bryce and Elaine Watts. (Gee, forgive me if I missed anyone out....) And the OBS production bosses and staff (please, in no particular order) Kostas Kapatais, Helen Borobokas, Mark Wallace, Mark Laughlin, Bernie Smith, Song Nie, the Kiwis - Barbara Mitchell and Karen Hinkley - and my mates in the Audio Area (ACQC) Nuno Duarte, Andreas Kuemmerle and Jeroen Heuff (the Dutch Rugby fan!!) Thank you all for giving me the opportunity to work among you, for you,  to be in such a lovely town and work with such a nice international crew. I never hugged so many people in one place last nght!

In 2000 I wrote a book about my adventures travelling around the world talking about sport. It was called 'Keith Quinn-A Lucky Man.'  If I was starting to write that book all over again in 2014  I know the title would be the same! Only the book would be fatter - with more yarns!