EMPTY BUT NOT ALONE.

Experience working at Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games.

Breathe. A lot has been happening this past month - these past months. At the time it didn’t seem like much at all was happening, but, up there it was busy. The thinking mind thinking. Perhaps the world seems to be moving onwards in a sluggish motion, yet it still goes on. For example, right now, the Tokyo Olympics are taking place after being postponed for a year. Even with Tokyo being in a State of Emergency - the Olympics go on, spectatorless.

It’s the strangest thing watching Olympians walk out onto the field, their hands in the air while they scream out into the seats around them. However, cheers that return to them are ambient ones, recorded from the time of spectator filled events. Only a handful of accompanying teammates put their hands together to add to the past cheers.

It’s really quite surreal.

Yet, as I watch the cameraman to the side of the center field dodge a soccer ball that flies at his head I realise that these olympians are not screaming to the couple of dozen clapping.

They are screaming to the world.

If only they could hear the aaaa! and nooooo! gasps and screams from behind television screens.

My experiences come from soccer (football) games held at Sapporo Dome, Sapporo city, Hokkaido Japan.

Yesterday I worked as a microphone assistant and held a shotgun microphone for two 90 minute matches plus extra time.

My job was very simple - point the microphone where the ball was.

After the games my legs somehow hurt more than my arms, but this was nothing compared to the steady cam staff from the local television station who was there to get those dramatic moments up close in person (Australia vs Argentina there was a little bit of a shoving fight by a goal).

That camera weighs over 20kg. I saw him lay down on the floor after the final match and just look up at the ceiling of the dome for a few minutes. But, he still managed to give me a wink and a fist pump at the end of the game.

“Australia won!”

The moment when Australia scored their second goal in the second half, the team ran from the field and met their seated teammates to grab them while shouting in celebration. The steady cam ran to their side.

I stood silently to their right, the team about three metres away.

At that moment I was very glad that I wore a mask, hiding my soundless shouts.

Although, I think the athletes warming up in front of me caught the look in my eyes.

The steady cam staff smiled under his mask to me when he came back to his position next to mine.

The eyes give everything away.

I held my shotgun mic for two matches.

Egypt vs Spain.

Argentina vs Australia.

However, I must admit understanding the screams makes a difference. Australia vs Japan would be interesting to see.

The shouts of:

“F**K!”

“F**KING C**T”

“GO SON!”

From Australia reminded me of that home in all its vulgar glory. I wonder how much of that is audible on TV.

At the end of the game the Australian team embraced in a ring cheering their first win and the steady cam ran from the opposite end of the field to rotate around their circle.

From below me one of the local television station staff poked my foot, pointing to the team, indicating it was safe to follow.

I sprinted across the field, mic gun pointed.

I took my position behind the steady cam, watching his feet from behind his back as he rotated, focused on not standing inside the live camera’s frame.

Then I followed him as we walked together with the athletes towards their locker room, my focus shifting to cheering faces before me.

Just a shadow behind the camera.

In the moment but not in the moment. Well. Mostly.

Apparently I was on screen a few times.

I don’t believe this was the steady cam. The TV station staff also promised it was normal, that I didn’t screw up (unless this was Mr. Steady cam putting me in shot purposely like he joked he would).

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This was just one day at work.

The day before I was asked to interview the Great Britain team after their match (Great Britain Vs Chile, Female) on behalf of the BBC who could not make it to the venue.

That was nerve wracking a little, yet somehow as I met the eyes of the girls I just relaxed. They’re olympians, but people just like us. Just have a chat, I told myself.

I’m glad they won though, it made my job a little easier.

Never a boring day.

I wish every working day could be like this.