It is an enormous subject and we didn't come up with all the answers but I'm delighted we've at least started the ball rolling.
So what exactly IS the Athletes' Committee, you might be asking?!
Well, as the name might suggest, we meet regularly to look at issues that will directly impact the athletes in 2012.
We've got a wealth of experience on the Committee – from Great Britain's most successful Paralympian in Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson to Beijing gold medallists Tim Brabants and Aileen McGlynn – and we’re working closely with all the different departments within LOCOG to make sure the Games in 2012 are the best they can be for the stars of the show.
High on the agenda at each meeting is the Olympic Village. With detailed planning well underway, the Committee advises on everything from black-out curtains so athletes can sleep during the day to what foods are included on the menu in the main dining hall. Yes – as you can tell (and as I’ll be updating you on as we get ever-nearer the Games) we really are looking at every detail to make the best possible experience for athletes.
Another hot topic up for discussion this month was the role of the athlete in the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. As an athlete, the moment you enter the stadium at an Opening Ceremony for the Olympic or Paralympic Games is amazing. But the logistics of staging these events can sometime mean that conditions are not ideal for athletes preparing for the biggest competition of their lives.
We're working with Martin Green and his team to make sure that every athlete who wants to take part in these fantastic ceremonies in 2012 can do so without worrying if their on-field performance will affected. In London, given the proximity of the Village to the Olympic Stadium, we think we have an unprecedented opportunity to make our ceremonies the most athlete-friendly of any Games.
