London 2012 blog

Not being the most athletic member of the LOCOG team, although very passionate about the Games, the time has now come for me to do my bit!

What with new staff incentives for cycling to work and with the announcement of adidas as our new sportswear partner reminding me that somewhere in the depths of the wardrobe is an old adidas top (which still fits!) I decided the time has come to choose sport!

So out came the old push bike; cobwebs removed, tyres inflated, new batteries in the lights, a new cycle helmet - and the old adidas top washed! I set to the roads and cycle paths of south east London.

Having made it twice now and only got lost once (the cycle path signs can be difficult to follow)  all I can say is ‘get on your bike!’ It took no longer than the train, was safe, enjoyable and good for the environment too.

Having not cycled for about 4 years I was amazed by the extensive cycle route network and the number of cyclists out there. Now I’m not the fittest chap in the world, but made the 11 miles without a problem and beat the train; so fellow London 2012 followers; whilst we may not make the Olympic road cycling team why not get inspired, get fit and get on your bike!

All I want now is a new adidas London 2012 logoed cycle top! 

For more information and free cycle route maps - go to the TFL website.

Just to remind us all of the benefits of sport in the wider community.  Cathy Hughes and I were invited to attend North East London Mental Health Trust’s (NELMHT) Annual Sports Day at Goodmayes Hospital. Getting staff and service users involved in sport has been an objective of the Trust’s Chairman, Jane Atkinson, since taking up her post 2 years ago. The hospital has extensive playing fields which were underutilised and there is some evidence that people with mental health problems benefit greatly from sports participation to aid their recovery.

So NELMHT have developed links with Leyton Orient Football Club to provide opportunities for their service users to participate in various sport events.

Read more of “Health through sport participation”

After an unforgettable two week induction with 9 of my fellow school leavers, I have been chosen to work in the Culture department specifically in Education. I will be spending three months in the department as part of my first rotation.

Me at the Olympic Park site:



On the last day (Friday 14th) of my induction I was given an emergency briefing by my new department buddy Erin. She made me aware that my first week would be very action packed, full of meetings, presentations and paperwork. It was at that moment I realised the honeymoon period of the school leavers programme was over, the rigorous interview process, the induction presentations all counted for nothing, as the real work was about to begin. That Friday evening I went home eager to start my first day in my new department, knowing I would have to ‘hit the road running’.

Read more of “Let’s get down to business”

Athletics is the biggest sporting event of all time. I've always enjoyed watching but most importantly taking part.

I started off just competing and representing my school, then that led from one thing to another. I started competing all around the country, which was great fun because this gave me the opportunity to meet a lot of different people and just learning about different parts of the country that I didn't even know existed.

I did the normal training sessions, and competed on Saturday or Sunday, sometimes both days. My main events were 100m and 200m. I remember seeing competitors doing the high jump and I wanted to try and so after a couple of training sessions high jump also became one of my main events.

I started getting recognition from other competitors and other people. They would ask all sort of question like: how fast are you?, what is your PB?,  etc. I even remember signing my first of many autographs (hopefully).

I stopped competing for a little while because I wanted to concentrate on my studies and other interests such as drama and helping others when able to do so.

However, my plans changed when I saw what I would call "a once in a life time opportunity". I was at college when I saw the advert to join the London Organising Committee (LOCOG), and so I got all my friends to help me take all the leaflets down (I suppose it was unfair for all the other students, perhaps a bit selfish). It was pointless and did me no favours because the next day I got back there was even more leaflets than the day before.

Read more of “Living the dream at LOCOG”

Read more of “Perfect partners for igniting passion”

Read more of “Welcome adidas!”

Today, Adidas was announced as the new sportswear sponsor for London 2012. As a Starting Block trainee in the Communications team, I got to go along and help out…
 
After a few speeches and the announcement, the fun bit came… grabbing some of the sports stars for a quick chat! Unfortunately my colleague [*shakes fist*] had already interviewed the GORGEOUS Louis Smith (who’d earlier performed an amazing routine on the still rings) so I had a few words with 100 meter sprinter Craig Pickering and gymnastics legend Nadia Comaneci.

Craig told me about how he believed the London Games would not only inspire youngsters to take part in sport but they would help tackle child obesity. Nadia expressed how she felt Seb would do an amazing job and how she loved London’s people...and the shopping!
 
Next, I got to speak with me ol’ mucker Daley Thompson. I first met Daley whilst I was in primary school when he came down to help us with a charity event.

Me, third from right. And Daley at the front, of course: 

Read more of “Backstage at the brand launch”

The European Paralympic Committee (EPC) Conference and General Assembly in Crete last week was the last in my reports to Regional PCs, which started with Asia in Kuala Lumpur last November, followed by Africa in Cairo in January this year, then Americas in Rio last month. [Apologies are extended to our antipodeans that I didn’t make it this time…maybe I’ll get down under in the next version of these Assemblies in 2009.]

The EPC Conference kicked off the first day with presentations from a number of organisations involved with the session theme ‘Youth Sports Development’ – a theme very close to our own hearts. IWBF Europe (Wheelchair Basketball) reported on initiatives they were taking in terms of coach/trainer development and the organisation of multi-country clinics followed by a competitive event to finish: some of these activities are funded by the EU.

Read more of “Inspiring the European Paralympic Committees”

I love watching athletics so I'd always thought I had it pretty much figured out…how wrong was I though…!? Yesterday we had presentation for staff on the sport – one of a series that will help us learn about each of the Olympic and Paralympic sports featuring in the 2012 Games.

It gave me a great insight in to the different aspects of what makes athletics such an amazing sport as well as getting me in the know about some remarkable facts about the Olympic and Paralympic Games that I never knew!

The presentation started off with a quick history lesson – which almost took me back to my school days… except there was no classroom, no blackboard and no boring teacher for that matter.

Read more of “Getting the rundown on athletics”

I volunteered for the Open House Weekend not really knowing what I was letting myself in for as we welcomed the public to see the Olympic Park for the first time. But I thought that if I want to develop at Reception when handling enquiries, I need to learn more. The best way to do this is to throw yourself in to opportunities like this and give it your best!

I arrived on the Saturday not expecting to have a crowd. Boy, was I wrong! As soon as I arrived, the room was full of people; I dropped my bag and jumped right in! The first half an hour was mostly me referring guests to other volunteers as it was a lot of enquiries aimed at ODA.

Read more of “Opening up our 'house'”

Last week saw NBC the American Broadcaster visit London for the first of its orientation meetings. NBC are one of the Olympic broadcasting rights holders who have the exclusive television rights through until 2012.  They are part of the GE Group which operates in over 100 Countries and employs some 320,000 people.

At the beginning of the week we met with the production team who are responsible for all logistical arrangements leading up to 2012.  They are looking for 1,000 rooms to accommodate camera crews, reporters, makeup artists, chefs, doctors and runners. 

On Monday we welcomed the team to London 2012 HQ and spent the morning outlining our vision for 2012 and looking at venue locations.  That afternoon we toured the Olympic Park, specifically looking at the Main Press Centre to the North of Stratford which is where many of their employees will be based. From there we dropped down to Excel, the Dome and Greenwich. That evening we had a great meal over looking the Thames as the sun set!

Read more of “Showing off London to NBC”

Recently a group of us from different LOCOG departments embarked on the IOC’s Test Event (‘TE’) Observer Programme to Beijing. There was representation from Sport, Transport, Security, Technology, Communications, and Venues and Infrastructure.

As part of the Venues & Infrastructure team I was there to observe and gather information relating to venues and how they were operated in a Test Event situation. Observing the IOC delegation as they observed BOCOG, and understanding what they will expect when it is our turn to put on our rehearsals was an insightful opportunity.

Read more of “Testing the Test Events”

Watch a video of comedian Lenny Henry talking about his cultural education.

You can also hear from comedienne Shazia Mirza and actor John Barrowman

Watch a video of actor John Barrowman explaining what culture and sport mean to him.
 

Here at Bath University we have serious ambitions that students and Bath based athletes will win medals at the 2012 Games. We have a great record in sport - for example Kelly Rudman trained here prior to her silver medal at the Turin Winter Olympic Games, and we supported three modern pentathletes in their preparations for Olympic medals. We are working hard to maintain this level of achievement.

Today is very rewarding for me as it's a tangible demonstration of our efforts to bring academic sport science together with elite sports preparations, which in the past have been much more separate. Putting an academic department near the complex in which athletes train on a daily basis is a major step towards better co-operation between academic Sport and Exercise Science and athletes / coaches in order to improve training, competition and recovery from injury.

Read more of “Sport and sport science in Bath”

Today I visited the South West of England and witnessed first hand how
local organisations are using the excitement generated by London 2012 to catalyse local projects and deliver community benefits.

I started the day at Bath University, where I was honoured to open a new Biomechanics laboratory which will enable scientists to analyse athletes movements and work with them to improve their sporting performance. This sort of thing, which was in its infancy in my day, is now a vital part of an athlete's preparation for achieving that tiny advantage over their competitors.

Whilst on campus, I also addressed the annual conference for the British
Association of Sports and Exercise Science. Many of those listening are
already working with the Olympians and Paralympians of the future and
this therefore provided an excellent opportunity to support and
encourage them on their road to 2012.

Read more of “Biomechanics and circus skills”

Read more of “On track at Stratford”

Read more of “New kids on the block”

Read more of “A fine 20-year ride for DLR”

Read more of “Technology and triumph in Osaka”

Read more of “Liberty in Trafalgar Square”