Slideshow: Cliff Brunt remembers covering the 2008 Beijing Olympics
By CLIFF BRUNT
ISL Editor
I can’t believe it’s been four years.
Back in 2008, I was getting ready for the challenge of my life. I had been asked to be a part of the Beijing Olympics coverage team for The Associated Press. I had never traveled outside of the U.S. or covered an event this big.
The Summer Olympics is the pinnacle. There’s nothing bigger, period. I knew I was covering field hockey, handball and other events that weren’t in the public eye, but it was the Olympics, and that’s all that mattered to me. From now on, the Games will mean more to me because I’ve been there. Even as a writer, going is like winning a gold medal. My AP evaluation after the Games said I handled business. I won’t forget that, either.
I was the victim of a cutback in Indianapolis in May, and I chose not to transfer to Dallas or Knoxville for family reasons. I’m not bitter. I will be forever grateful to the AP for giving me the chance to go. They cover the Games better than anyone, and it was an honor to represent them, and in a way, represent the United States as an ambassador.
And, the way things are going with the website, who says I won’t be at the 2016 Games? I dream big because I serve someone who is bigger.
Here are the photos:
