Our weekend of …

Our weekend of Olympics, was exciting, tiring, exhilarating, I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. Way back in 2000, we were lucky enough to travel to Australia for the Sydney games. We were both struck by how much difference the volunteers made to the games, their enthusiasm was infectious and made the long journey back from Sydney to our base in Windsor, NSW each day more bearable. We vowed then to get involved if the games ever came to Great Britain.

As soon as London 2012 was announced, I had no doubt it would be a success. We signed up to become volunteers and waited. Although I got an interview, I wasn’t chosen (given the state of my back at the moment, a blessing in disguise). Pete was luckier, his dream came true and he’s having the time of his life as a gamesmaker. We applied for tickets and got them in the second ballot. Ladies basketball and handball and men’s hockey. The basketball was a truly ‘American’ event, but lots of fun, with imaginative entertainment during the breaks. Handball – legalised violence without the histrionics usually prompted by the presence of too much testosterone in men’s sport! The beautiful blue and pink hockey pitch at the Riverbank arena was matched by a clear blue sky and pink sunset. On Saturday, after a few drinks and much online perserverance we obtained the ‘hot ticket’ of the games – for a price – the Sunday evening athletics session which included the mens 100m final. Just as we shouldn’t doubt our country’s ability to put on a big occasion, we needn’t have doubted Usain Bolt. Gone in under 10 seconds, the freak of nature won convincingly. Even more delightful, was the discovery of the lady behind us, Christine Ohuruogu’s mum, sobbing with delight at her daughter’s silver medal in the women’s 400m. Priceless moments like this are occurring all over the Olympic park and other venues. These things can’t be seen on television, and we’ll hold them in our hearts forever.

  I feel so sorry for those who said ‘I don’t like sports’ or ‘we’ll get a better view on the telly’ and are now frustrated by the non-availablity of the tickets. Never under estimate the power of the big event, especially one which has lifted the spirits of a country in the doldrums, experiencing one of the biggest and longest economic depressions in history.

So, it was worth the money, the pain, and the lack of sleep this weekend. I’d do it all again in a heartbeat.