Three weeks into my internship with the Government Relations team here at LOCOG, and I have already been involved in the major public consulting project in Greenwich Park; been to a photo shoot at Stratford station with Philips Idowu, Christine Ohuruogu and other sporting stars; helped to produce a presentation for Tessa Jowell and assisted in the organisation of an MP drop-in event which was attended by Margaret Beckett and Jacqui Smith. But despite the variety in the work and people I have met, there is one thing which can be seen across all the different projects and teams, and that is a real excitement and enthusiasm for the Games.
The unifying force of this excitement could not have been more apparent than during last week as we prepared to celebrate 1000 days to go until the Olympic Opening Ceremony. With my desk located in the communications department of LOCOG I was perfectly placed to witness the time and effort that went in to achieving Saturday night’s celebrations. But what was most apparent to me was the real sense that every member of the team was part of something they are passionate about. They are not just ‘doing their jobs’ when organising such publicity event, but are trying to share their own personal excitement for the Games with others in order to inspire and involve the nation in the lead up to 2012.
What is also apparent is the great sense of pride that everyone feels at having the opportunity to be involved in staging the biggest sporting event in the world. Indeed, <Paul Deighton, LOCOG CEO,> summed it up best at the all-staff meeting last Friday night when he said that;
“London 2012 is the biggest thing to happen in my city, in my country and in my lifetime, and I am honoured to have had the chance to be a part of it”.
Although I will only be here for another month, I would echo this sentiment - it is immensely exciting to be a small part of a project which will have national and global impact for many years to come. As the Organising Committee starts to move to centre stage in the preparations for the Games I have been given a unique insight into the workings of a hugely complex piece of project management of vast scope and scale. However, judging by the commitment and enthusiasm of all those involved I have no doubt that London 2012 is on track to be a memorable Games.
