So it appears I need a visa from China since my Olympic credentials may not be ready in time. I downloaded the application and completed it. Had a spare passport photo at home from the visa application for Brazil 2 years ago so I used it instead of having another one taken. I got a letter from my company explaining the nature of my visit to act as "support" to my application and went to the Chinese consulate's visa application office.

Imagine an emergency room waiting room on steroids. There must've been 50 or 60 people there. Take a number and wait...and wait...and wait. Watched many people go up to the window when their number was called and go away not exactly happy with the result. Glad I had my ducks in a row!

Two hours later, and literally minutes before they were going to break for lunch, my number came up. I needn't have waited so long. The ice princess behind the window took one look at my application, pushed it back at me and said "you need a letter". I quickly pointed her to the letter from my employer and she pushed a paper at me with a highlighted portion that said for business visas, a letter from the employer in China was required. "But I'm working for my company at the Olympics," I told her...and here's my letter. "Read the paper" she said. "Yes, but that doesn't apply in this situation, does it," I asked...this is the Olympics. They're not a business that's going to write me a letter.

Apparently, that's what they want to see. So I contact my company's Olympics coordinator. She's been a total rock star so far in getting everything together. "They want what?" she asks. Yeah, kinda like that. Later in the day, she gives me the email address of someone with the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (BOCOG). I emailed her and am waiting to hear back from her.