London 2012 - Olympics Gamesmaker

I was lucky enough to be selected by the organisers to be a Gamesmaker for London 2012! Not only to be a Gamesmaker, but to work in the main Athletes Village! How lucky was I! Genuinely the chance of a lifetime. I was even more lucky that through the generosity of my friend Harrie, I had some really comfortable and friendly accommodation in Colchester too.

I worked for 15 eight hour shifts helping organise the Bus Station, arranging for the athletes, coaches etc to travel to the competition and training locations! So not only was I in the village, but I also got to meet and work with the athletes!

So who did I see?  I did see Mo and Usain. I also wished Tom Daley luck as he went down to win his medal. I put Michael Phelps on buses on several occasions, and saw so many f Team GB I wouldn't know where to start! Infact it is more likely who didnt I see?! I was in the village on Super saturday when Jessica, Mo and Greg Rutherford won their medals.

The atmosphere in London was just incredible! It certainly wasn't over hyped on the TV. I was working the morning after the opening ceremony, and at 6 am the whole area was buzzing. The cast were just leaviung their post show parties, the pubs were open and everyone was high fiving each other! We all knew the UK was doing a fantastic job showing the world what we could do! The athletes from abroad just kept saying how fantastic the organisation was. I met a young German boxer at the station who couldnt get over how open and friendly we Brits all were! Not what he'd been expecting.

I was mainly on early shifts. My daily drill was to get up about 3.45, ride my bike down the A12 to Brentwood station where I could leave the bike and catch the train into Stratford. The Village was a 10 minute walk/run and I was due on duty about 6. I worked with some fantastic people, and I made a couple of friends there, including a young Canadian girl, Kirsten, who had her hopes of competing in the Games dashed by a career ending injury, but who decided to come as a volunteer instead.

During my time off I was able to get to see the triathlons (which were not ticketed) and the open water swimming. I saw the mens Triathlon with Emily, who treated me to a sumptious lunch afterwards, and the womens with Kirsten, who asked me to show her the sights of London afterwards. I met Sir Mathew Pincent at the open water swimming. My only regret is not getting any tickets to get into the Olympic Stadium

Soon it all came to an end, and it was time to come home. However my Olympic adventure didnt end there as I was invited to go to the Athletes Parade in London and watch from a special enclosure at the end of the Mall. Another very special day!