London 2012 Olympics: Living The Games Diary #4

“Back in the day” I spent two years living in Japan and teaching English.  That was before the 1998 Nagano Olympics, and way back then I dreamed that I would somehow find my way back to Japan and volunteer at those games, maybe doing some translating work or general hospitality stuff. 

Fast forward to 2005 when the Olympics were awarded to London.  At that point of my life I had just begun to look to exercise as a way to feel healthier.  It had been only a year since I was officially diagnosed with a neuromuscular disease, and due to issues with my feet I had stopped doing longer walks and had started to do yoga to build core strength and stability.  I had not even dreamed of doing a triathlon…

Fast forward to 2010… It was my third year of doing triathlon and I felt like it was time for me to give back to the sport that was helping me to get strong and feel healthier than I ever had.  So I signed up to marshall the world championship series triathlon race at Hyde Park (including open participation for 2,500 age group triathletes).  When we were at the morning marshall briefing the ITU representatives told us that marshalling for the event would also enable us to receive the pre-selection code to enter the triathlon applicant pool to volunteer for the 2012 Olympic Games.

Later in 2010 applications opened to become a Gamesmaker – a volunteer at the 2012 London Olympics.  I received a code not only through marshalling the Hyde Park race in 2010, but also from my triathlon club.  So I filled in the form, crossed my fingers, and applied.

The interviews started in early 2011.  Then candidates were asked to volunteer at the test events – the dry runs of the courses that would be used for the Olympics.  We attended orientations and trainings.

And then we were 284.  284 volunteers accredited to be on the triathlon course on race day at the London 2012 Olympics.  And I am 1 of this tight team.

Last week Tuesday and Wednesday the triathlon team was invited to preview the Hyde Park race venue.  We got an insiders look at the facilities.  Where we would screen through security in the mornings.  Where we would collect our lunch.  Where we would be working on the day.  And then some.  We saw the ins and outs of the London 2012 Hyde Park venue.

In one word?  Impressive.

There are some things I didn’t get photos of.  Like the floor to ceiling fully mirrored walls of the anti-doping facility on site.  Yes, the walls and ceiling are covered in mirrors – to ensure the athletes do not use tampered samples during their testing.  The 2012 Olympics intends to test over 3000 athletes during The Games, which is more than the testing done for all sports all athletes combined in the UK in any given year.  Whoa.

We walked in and saw the athlete lounge.  Frankly, it wasn’t so interesting.  Kind of like a normal kitchen.  So I took a picture of the sign.

We saw the media room.  The site was fully cabled to ensure no interruption to internet connectivity for the journalists on site (they explained how wifi can sometimes have issues and that ethernet was the safest way to ensure online access at the site).

We were shown the security set up (impressive – seriously mega impressive). 

We saw how the facilities were created to make the London 2012 triathlon and marathon swimming venue the best possible venue for the events.  Lots of scaffold – to ensure reusability!

We saw the banners. The flags. The Olympic rings.  It was all so real.  So soon.  After years of preparation, the games were finally here.

The triathlon events are on Saturday the 4th and Tuesday the 7th.  Our first volunteer shift was this morning, starting before the sun rose.  I’ll be working on the run course, and we are supposed to remain impartial and not to cheer.  It’ll be hard not to root for both Team USA and Team GB though.  Both the women’s and men’s races should be incredible, so please watch.  And see if you can spot me on the path just south of the Serpentine…

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