The London 2012 Olympic Games are over.7 years of preparation and anticipation, 18 months of scrabbling to secure tickets, 8 weeks ‘negotiating’ a few days annual leave, 5 days training to be a volunteer and now it’s all done. Well, not all... We’ve got the Paralympics in two weeks time but please let’s have a breather and reflect on what a BANG TIDY job we all did. Right from the spectacular opening ceremony to the madness of the closing ceremony, everything was fantastic. Even the Aussies think so!
There have been so many highlights I could go on and on and on... Mo Farah, Jess Ennis, Katherine Grainger and Gemma Gibbons just some of my favourites. I also surprised myself by really getting into the boxing competitions and we did fantastically well in both the men’s and the inaugural women’s contests with 5 medals, including three golds. And the coverage, OH THE COVERAGE! Didn’t the Beeb do well! TV, radio, web, etc... all marvellously delivered by outstanding and knowledgeable presenters and commentators (I’m starting a petition to see DAME Clare Balding, she is fantastic!)... And all we paid for it was about £5.50 from our license fee – super!
I saw Giggsy and the rest of Team GB play football at Old Trafford, and handball and hockey inside the Olympic Park. Mum and Naomi also got to the ExCeL to see the Women’s Freestyle Wrestling event too. As well as all that I sat with thousands of other at the big screens outside the Velodrome whilst The Real McHoy won yet another gold medal and cheered on the Brownlee Brothers as they swam, cycled and ran for glory. I’ve smiled at people, said hello as I passed, taken photos for them, even hugged one guy (I got carried away watching Sir Chris) and enjoyed every minute of it.
Amid all of the Olympic business, Jenny and Jenny’s sister Robyn have been staying with me for a week or so too. Robyn started the baby fancy dress company Little Babas and won the opportunity to sell her products in a pop-up-shop in Richmond. Its part of the Mary Portas backed Pop-Up Britain scheme, involving new entrepreneurs and giving them a platform to show people what they can offer. Staying with me and going to the shop every day over in Richmond has meant a long commute across London every day but hopefully it will all prove worthwhile!
I met up with Amy who was down in London with some Merseyside Constabulary colleagues on a 2 week attachment with the Met and had a day off – we went to Hyde Park to visit the Live Site and had a great time! 4 huge screen showing different sports, a stage where we saw Nicola Adams and her gold medal, ice cream, beer and music from Temper Trap, Ocean Colour Scene and Feeder.
I’ve also found time to visit some of the Olympic National Houses – Casa Brasil put on a show every night with samba beats, more beers, and even the sunshine came out to say hello and I got chance to catch up with Heather and Jimmy.In between all of that, mum, Naomi and I climbed to the top of the O2 arena too!
So yeah, it's been a fairly busy ol' week...
So during the ‘break’ I’m making sure I get all the important stuff done... I’ve sorted out my Fantasy Premier League team for starters! And Lord knows I need a haircut, I currently look like a shaggy dog but what with my hairdresser being in Stratford town centre I just haven’t been able to face it.
The tag-line for the Games has been #InspireAGeneration. And I think it has worked, for me at least. I’m now looking into, statistically, which Olympic sport is the ‘easiest’. I mean, who doesn’t want a free jolly to Rio in 2016?! I think I might have go at wrestling and see how I get on...
Until next time,
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