The Insider's Scoop on the Olympic Games

For those of you who have been living under a rock for the past month and have missed the build up to the greatest sporting event....we're smack bang in the middle of the Olympic games!! I think I'm feeling different about the Olympic Games this time around. Usually the games has been something that I would watch casually on TV and follow occasionally in the newspaper but this time I'm hooked! Maybe it is due to a combination of aspects; its on home turf this time around, I'm in London for the duration, AND I'm a Gamesmaker volunteer!! 


The atmosphere around London is electric. The feeling of hope, excitement, pride and expectation is so strongly evident.  Its felt on the underground, the platforms, the streets and even when waiting for a bus, people can't help but be inspired by the olympics, its unavoidable. An example, generally speaking Londoners aren't the most forthcoming of people, rarely do people talk amongst themselves on the underground or out and about on the streets unless they know one another or at best, they absolutely have to. The rule of thumb is that people often keep to themselves. The entire dynamics of London's social means has evolved and shifted. I have people approaching me when I'm dressed in my Gamesmaker uniform on my journey to and from the games wanting to talk about the sporting events. They want to hear about my experiences and highlights so far, whilst sharing their own views on the whole affair - it is brilliant! Yesterday evening a gentleman started conversation with me on a hot, stuffy and overcrowded carriage along the Jubilee line between Canada Water and Waterloo. He was a typical swarve - looking businessman wearing a grey suit, neatly pressed holding a black brief case. He took his earphones out and began conversation. We exchanged our tales of how we thought that the tube system has been coping well so far with the high tourist volume and that all lines seem to be working well with frequent trains. We moved on to Rebecca Adlington securing a bronze  medal and then conversation steered onto which venue it was that I was working.

I'm volunteering at the ExCel arena where the boxing, weightlifting, judo, wrestling, table tennis and fencing is held. On my first day, the Saturday after the opening ceremony I was working the Boxing spectator zone where ticket holders would buy food and drink before they entered the seating bowl. It took me back to my first day at school feeling. The venue was HUGE, I didn't know where I was going and was praying that no one asked me where anything was as of course I didn't have a clue! It calmed me once I got upstairs to the staff area where I saw one hundred plus volunteers dressed exactly as I was. Beige trousers, Ribena coloured top and an unsure look on the face. We were briefed and deployed. A group of British spectators approached me and we got chatting about about the opening ceremony and the different parts that we really enjoyed. I realised later that I had forgotten all about how I was struggling to pull off my beige, lose trousers and how alien I felt in trainers. Before they left me to go and take their seats, two of the men shook my hand and said, 'thank you'. I smiled uncomfortably as I didn't understand what I was being thanked for, after all we were just chatting. I asked why, and they replied, 'For volunteering, without you we wouldn't have this so thank you.' It was moving and so unexpected to have heard that. I think it was at this point that that I felt the enormity of the games and what a fantastic opportunity it is to be a part of making the games happen. To top off the day, I even got the chance to watch some of the boxing.  

Since then I have been outside scanning tickets and welcoming spectators into the venue. Some of the fancy dress outfits that come through the gates are so imaginative and hilarious at the same time. One man was dressed as an ancient warrior supporting Thailand. Another pair were dressed in leotards and had foam weights who came to enjoy the weightlifting. The best I have seen so far are six men wearing morph suits in the colours of red, white and blue who were supporting the United States in the judo. I've also been asked a couple of times to have my photo taken with people. I think it was because at the time I was wearing a huge giant pink finger opposed to them appreciating my smile and charm! 

There are so many army personnel at ExCel, they are always wondering around the boulevard, outside and in the arenas. Most of them are working the security check points where bags and body scans occur. However every time that I go up to the staff break area they are there in their masses chatting and having dinner. It is a welcomed distraction to have them around though as it is always nice to gaze at men in uniform and exchange flirtatious banter. 

I think that the best moment of my volunteering experience so far has been watching the Judo quarter and semi - finals. My role was to stand next to the Olympic Family area where the athletes and their coaches are held. I constantly had to approach 6ft something athletes to ask them to find a seat and sit down. The reason being is that they were restricting viewing from those in the seating area behind who had paid a handsome price for their tickets. I got chatting away to the USA team coach and we jested after his team lost a match against Germany. When Canada was fighting in the semi - final the Canadian coach was so nervous that he came and stood behind me and shook me at one point. As you can imagine I didn't know what was going on! Then Canada won and he came over and hugged me and muttered some words in French. I replied, 'Oui, baguette' and walked away. Of course I didn't, I smiled and congratulated him and then asked an athlete from Mongolia to sit down. 

Sitting on the left are the Olympic Family

Yesterday was my first day off. I slept in and spent the day watching the swimming and cycling on TV, and rubbed Germoline on my achy feet. Today I'll get my debrief before my shift and will be deployed to my post for the day. No two days have been the same and I'm excited to find out where and what I'll be doing later. 

Feel free to leave your comments, I'd love to hear your thoughts and opinions :) next update will be posted soon, sit tight. x