Day 3: I see gold...

The sporting competitions come thick and fast now and we've decided to ditch the history DVDs in the info area for live screening of the events. The TVs have live feeds from 15 different cameras including ones on the London Eye, the flame in the stadium and from the Orbit.

Certainly helping to draw in the crowds. Spoke to a Team GB 7 a side footballer with Cerebral Palsy on his right side. He talked me through the different classifications (how severe CP was for each player). Was an amazing insight as we talked for half an hour watching Russia smash Holland 9-1 or so.

My position seemed to draw in a lot of weightlifters and I joked a lot with the athletes about how many of me they could lift. A sweet Philippine lady said I was a warm up weight (75kgs!!). I handed her an IPC badge and she hastily apologised for not being able to give me the Philippine badges in return... I really didn't mind, but she took my name and promised to return at the weekend to hand me them...

Amazing she would return 3 days later looking for me handing over 3 different badges and key rings. What a star Adeline Dumapong is!

http://dumapong.com/

As I was about to close the IPC area, in came Jón Margeir Sverrisson the Icelandic 200m swimmer who has just won gold in the pool... he posed for a picture with the Paralympic torch then allowed me to hold the medal and get a picture with him. He was Iceland's only gold medallist of London 2012 in either the Olympics or the Paralympics...

I joked with his coach that he would be a superstar back home... bigger than Bjork!

http://www.iceland.is/iceland-abroad/uk/news-and-events/icelandic-swimmer-wins-gold-at-the-paralympic-games/9247/

Fame at last!

Clearly a half day at work, a shift at the athletes village and numerous photos and videos will take it's toll on an iPhone 4S' battery. It died towards the end of the ceremony...

It wasn't until I got back to my car in Ealing Broadway and begun to recharge it that my phone started going berserk!

Texts, voicemails, Facebook updates and Whatsapp messages galore as people had spotted me on the Channel 4 coverage (including my mum!!).

During the Issac Newton apple scene, a bright light from across the other side of the stadium shone bright upon our section. Little did I know that we were being filmed for the mass apple eating part of the ceremony!



Great spot!

We had rehearsed a 5 second countdown then a fake bite of an apple.... but I had given my apple to Alex (who had eaten it leaving me with an orange!). I faked eating an orange and been spotted doing so on TV in a delayed reaction to everyone else!! Hilarious!!

Spotters badges need to be given to all my friends and family who saw the 2 second glimpse! Acting lessons for me...

Day 2: Fancy the opening ceremony??

You know it's going to be a great day when you arrive at your shift to a gift! The IPC managed to source tickets for the Opening Ceremony no less, as a thank you for our hard work over the next week or so. The tickets also came with a corporate picnic!


Opening ceremony ticket


I couldn't keep my smile off my face as I chatted to athletes and coaches for the remainder of my shortened shift (just 2:30 til 6:30).

The shift whizzed by and it was time to organise some clothes (the IPC were keen for us to not be in Games Maker uniform) so a quick visit to the athletes merchandise store resulted in a purchase of an Athletes Village hoody... something that can only be purchased in the residents village (so clearly a keepsake!).




Picnic!

 I collected my picnic and made my way to my seat only to be surprised once more... the tickets were 5 rows from the front!! The stadium was breathtaking (I've always loved visiting stadiums here and abroad - Boca Juniors in Argentina being my favourite to date).

A few of my games maker colleagues joined me (Alex & James) and we shared our delights and took 1000s of photos/videos. The picnic was delicious and offered another great keepsake.

The ceremony itself was a joy. Completely different to the Olympic one, but equally as powerful. Some of the athletes stories nearly reduced me to tears as I was transfixed to the screen. Watching the A-Z of countries walk past us was long, but far better than watching on the TV... shame TV producers constantly tried to speed up the procession when clearly their disabilities restricted how fast they could go.



Spectacular display

The Team GB parade got the goosebumps going as ticker tape littered the sky. Such a proud moment. The goosebumps would return for the national anthem as the Queen opened the games (the Royal Family and Government were only about 25 rows behind us).

...and then the finale. The torch appears on top of the Orbit and he floats in. INCREDIBLE! The torch was lit by a footballer from Cansdales (who is known in my real job) and the fireworks boomed around our heads from all angles. Then sadly it was time to go home.


Incredible night!

It wouldn't be until 3am until I finally reached my bed but it was sooooo worth it. Thank you so much IPC for one of the best days in my life!

Day 1: IPC meeting and greeting

After two long years, I finally got to start being a games maker. The journey itself was epic.. 20min drive to Ealing Broadway from work at Gerrards Cross, then 17 stops to St Paul's to log in at The Grange Hotel.

I knew the hotel was only a temporary location and that was confirmed upon arrival. I was off to the Athletes Village! But first, to update my accreditation. That took an hour as clients quite rightly got preferential treatment. I was then whisked away on the Olympic Lane road network in a posh BMW...

Even being in an official car still didn't mean we could jump through security. The car was thoroughly checked before finally getting to the village entrance. More security though as my bag was checked in an airport style scenario.

IN!

The IPC information area is immediately to the left in amongst a plaza of a post office, shops, ticket office, salon and Samsung shop... all for the benefit of athletes, coaches and distinguised guests. I met my boss Malini (Secretary General for the Asian Paralympic Committee) and Bettina Kaus (official IPC staff member in Bonn, Germany). Both were very nice and they gave me the orientation tour.

Basically the info area has lots of leaflets, the history of the games and Paralympic movement (in DVD format), a statue of Dr Guttman who started it all back in 1948, past medals and the torch. Pretty cool area! My role was to meet and greet whoever walked in and ensure I dealt with all issues they may have.



The torch

The rest of the shift was a pleasure to be involved with. Met so many different people from all over the world with varying impairments. I would suggest I am very lucky to have been located in such a position.

Networking too... right up my street!

Particular hightlights were seeing Team GB being welcomed to the village... the national anthem and raising of the flag. Saw the legend that is Tani Grey-Thompson too.



Tani

And so it begins...

After a long 2 year wait... the day has finally arrived.

A few emails have been sent to me and it now seems like I am working in the IPC Information Area based in the actual Paralympic athletes village!! Looks like I will need some extra accreditation then..

3 shifts this week. All 2:30pm until 8:30pm. Next stop: Stratford

Training at The Grange

Last night I was invited to The Grange in St Paul's to take part in my games maker training. What started off being an unknown quantity (as I still am not 100% on what I will be doing), finished off in similar fashion.

Sat through some PowerPoint slides about the hotel venues etc, but was then taken away to a side room (with about 15 others) to be told that we were the lucky ones... The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) who are based in Germany, were in fact only bringing over key staff and we were to fill in the gaps of each department.

What an absolute honour and privilege to be working for the governing body of Paralympic sport! Feeling extremely proud to have been selected and can't wait for start.

In terms of my actual role, won't know until I get there unless they email me beforehand!

Looking the part!

You know it's getting near when you get invited to collect your accreditation and uniform.. having seen my university friend Ben Waring in his Olympic gear the other day, it's clear to see that the uniform and Games Makers made a real positive impact.

Ben and I



Verity and myself took the long road to East London to visit the UCAD building. Rather annoyingly, poor Vez had to sit and wait in the car park for an hour whilst I passed through various checkpoints.

First of all it was to collect my accreditation, then into a waiting room to wait for my number to be called. Entered the men's changing rooms to try on various items of clothing.. all medium. Knew that anyway but they made me go through the process!

It was then on to the massive warehouse where piles of Adidas equipment were being stored. All my new equipment was collected by some smiley volunteers and then into the shop where it was scanned (Tesco style). Thankfully the bill came to £0!

The task for the rest of the day was to navigate the rest of London hoping not to get robbed!

Treated Vez to a night of Billy Elliot where numerous Games Makers had also taken advantage of the 2012 promotions too. Great show.

Putting the GREAT back in Britain...

Never one for negativity, my views on London hosting the Olympics were always going to be positive ones. I wish, however, the same could be said for the many Facebookers, Twitterers and media outlets out there who preferred to dwell on the economic uncertainty instead during the build up.

Whilst the games were always going to cost a few quid, you can't put a price on morale and pride which seems to have returned in abundance last week. With some lateral thinking you can also see a better sporting infrastructure, transport network, regeneration of East London, current and future tourism, increased public spending, not to mention the inspiration to us and our children (I could go on!).

The eyes of the world are upon us and no one really cares about some of the logistical issues that ALL host countries have to overcome.

As a marketeer, ROI is a common concept to me, but I'm confident that London's ROI/legacy will continue to drag us into a more profitable and happier place.

I wish the Games lasted longer!

Olympic fever

As the Olympics enters into its 2nd week, it's been impossible not to get carried away with Team GB success. I've been one of the lucky ones having seen 5 different events already (Team GB football at Old Trafford, Wimbledon tennis, Team GB basketball, the cycling time trail and football at Wembley).

Whilst my quest and hunger for more tickets continues, I am now rapidly approaching my Gamesmaker stint for the Paralympics, made even more real by the collection of my uniform and accreditation on Saturday and the training session next Wednesday.

Details of my volunteering are still vague, but I do know that I will be based at The Grange in St. Paul's working as an IPC (International Paralympic Committee) assistant team member. 8 shifts confirmed 2:30pm til 8:30pm.

Very excited now.. and even have 2 tickets for the Paralympic athletics and the closing ceremony too to look forward to as well!

Watch this space...