London 2012 blog

Ever get that feeling that you’ve agreed to do something without fully thinking it through?! In a moment of weakness earlier this month I agreed I’d join a coach load of lively school children on a fact-finding mission about the 2012 Games.
So it was with trepidation yesterday that I took 20 pupils from Capital City Academy school in Brent out on a bus trip around the Olympic Park site to show them how this corner of east London is being transformed into the world class Olympic Park that will grace their TV screens in 2012, and which will be their generation’s playground after the Games with first-class sports facilities for them to come and use.

The pupils were visiting the site to help with a newspaper supplement they are writing about the 2012 Games which will be given away inside local newspapers across the north London area.

Like all good journalists, they came armed with an inquisitive eye and a hunger for information and were captivated by the sights and sounds of the immense amount of work taking place on the Olympic Park site.

Diggers, demolition, piles of mud and flashing lights were always sure to be a big hit with young people so seeing work taking place on the Olympic Park at first hand didn’t disappoint. I was impressed by how much the pupils already knew about the plans for 2012 and once back in the site offices after the tour the questions about 2012 came thick and fast, putting my knowledge of the project to the test.

The logo, the budget, the Olympic Stadium, venue designs, the environment – lots of issues came up and it was good to know just how much young people have taken in the plans and issues that have surrounded the 2012 Games since we won the bid.

It was a really rewarding visit and in a busy working week too often filled with meetings or being stuck in the office it was great to get out on site and meet and chat to the young people that will benefit most from the 2012 Games.