In less than 24 hours, I am leaving for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. This is the first summer Olympics I’ve attended in person and as a fully credentialed member of the media. (I attended the Torino Games two years ago as a fan and to do some snowboard reporting.) In Beijing, I will file daily stories for espnthemag.com and espn.com. And, of course, I will link to them here so you can follow along. Please do!

I would have a hard time expressing, in words alone, exactly how excited I am about the next three weeks. Since I was a little kid, I’ve dreamed of going to the Olympics. Of course, back then, I thought my sports skills would get me there. But I’ll settle for a ticket paid for with my pen. So, since I can’t quite find the words, I’ve enlisted the help of a few of my former selves. They are even more excited than I am. If that is possible.

WANNABE-MARY-LOU ALYSSA CAN’T WAIT FOR THE US-CHINA SHOWDOWN IN WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS. SHE SAYS SHE WILL NOT MISS ONE MINUTE, AND SHE’S ALREADY PICKED HER WINNERS IN THE INDIVIDUAL EVENTS. (SHE ALSO CAN’T WAIT FOR THE FARRAH FAWCETT TO COME BACK INTO STYLE) …

WANNABE-SHOW-JUMPER ALYSSA GREW UP AROUND HORSES (ALBEIT MUCH BIGGER ONES THAN SHE’LL SEE IN BEIJING) AND SAYS SHE CAN’T WAIT TO SEE HOW THE PENTATHLETES FARE ON A HORSE THEY’VE KNOWN FOR FIVE MINUTES (AND SHE IS FEELING NOSTALGIC FOR THE BANANA CLIP) …

WANNABE-FLO-JO ALYSSA SAYS SHE IS MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO A VERY SPECIFIC 10.67 SECONDS OF THE GAMES (AND REALLY WISHES SOMEONE WOULD BRING BACK HIGH BANGS) …

WANNABE-JESSICA-MENDOZA ALYSSA IS SAD SHE WILL WATCH THE FINAL OLYMPIC WOMEN’S SOFTBALL GAME EVER. BUT SHE IS SO EXCITED SHE WILL BE THERE FOR THE FINAL PITCH (AND SHE THINKS SHE REALLY SHOULD WEAR MORE HATS) …

Really, we’re all just very, very excited. See you in Beijing!