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Olympic experience ‘indescribable’

McDonald’s employee serving it up in Beijing

Aug 20, 2008 - 08:51 AM

Brad Kelly

BEIJING -- A lot of the athletes here at the Olympic Games struggle to put into perspective what the experience is like.

Add Anthony Barsanti to that growing list.

Although not an athlete, at least not one scheduled to compete, he is representing Canada through an employee program offered by McDonald’s.

The 33-year-old, who lives in Ajax but works out of the McDonald’s in Whitby, is in Beijing for the duration of the Olympics, working at the various locations.

“Almost indescribable,” he says of the first few days in China. “It’s totally different than anything I’ve experienced with McDonald’s than before.

“Unless you experience it, it’s hard to say it.”

Barsanti is one of 1,400 McDonald’s employees working at the four outlets in the Olympic village. There are 900 staff from China, with the other 500 made up from 36 countries around the world.

So far he has met workers from Australia, the U.S. and Argentina, with just enough English from everyone to get by.

It’s not all work and no play. The other day he toured Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, and he made it to the National Stadium to take in some track and field. If he can squeeze it in, a trip to watch some diving and rowing is also a priority.

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