Wow what a games

My first experiences of London 2012 took place on Saturday when I went to indoor volleyball at Earls Court kindly thanks  to England Volleyball. Great experience from start to finish with the exception of the result of GB. Although it is worthwhile to identify how quickly GB have risen from nowhere to compete in the games. I really don't think the BBC are giving the team sports Volleyball, Basketball and Handball enough recognition for the fact that the whole of the world plays these sports not just the commonwealth like netball. The level of competitiveness is very high and to stay in touch is one thing but to beat countries who have a deep tradition is extreme difficult.

Wouldn't it be good if the main channel of the BBC on the early evening programme instead of repeating what everyone knows what the cyclists and rowers have done to also have a short feature on one of the team sports? Every day in the first week the GB teams have been playing which could have featured hockey or more on the women’s footballers etc. missed legacy opportunity.

Back to Earls Court - thought I would take in the atmosphere before going in and found a lovely little pub with Dutch, British and Italian supporters all enjoying a pint and a pub lunch whilst watching our failed attempt at winning the road race.

So we went to Earls Court later than the 90 mins in advance - sailed through security like an early morning flight at Birmingham airport and took our seats after a little poor direction from one steward. Sat back and enjoyed the games. Although majority of the crowd were British it was great to feel the different culture to an indoor team sport - the eastern European whistling to a level I had not heard since I saw basketball in Barcelona.

Earls Court was well branded and with more than adequate refreshment facilities reasonably priced.   left after the second game straight out into the station with the barriers up and on to train - quick meal in London just off Regents Street next door to where they took the photo of David Bowie for the cover of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars and off to the train.

The trains were a really good price and all in all a great day out.

Start of the Games

These games are like many people say a life time ambition to see the games in your own country – well they are nearly here. I wanted to put down a record of the average man’s experience of the games and how it felt to be involved. My involvement started before the announcement in July 2005 – I logged on the volunteer for the games. When I volunteered, with all my three children, there were only 30,000 people who had put themselves forward. Within a month of the successful bid it was over 250,000!

I then decided not to undertake volunteering as I wanted to see the games. I went to Athens and watched 6 events and found the experience wonderful and I don't think we in the UK fully realise exactly how big this thing called the Olympics is.

My ticketing experience appears to be better than most in that I got some tickets but also didn't get the popular one's i.e. didn't get any athletics, swimming or cycling. But did get women's basketball final and women's archery final (wanted to see Lords in a different light).

So as well as some basketball and handball I have a fair spread - the last round I got some boxing, beach volleyball and women's football final. Old friends also added volleyball and gymnastics so all in all ten events will do me.

As a sport makers facilitator I have started getting excited about the games for a few months now (delivered to 100 people two nights running - great fun) but it was only when the torch started touring that i got excited. I was nominated twice (not sure who by) but didn't get selected. However one person who did was Jason who took part in our personal best programme and has volunteered into football and street games so it was wonderful to see home carry the torch in Ashbourne. As a member of the black country board was delighted to see some great volunteers carrying the torch - what was disappointing was that there was more people from South Africa than Wolverhampton carrying the torch through the black country -sponsorship wins the day!

However I was invited to the Birmingham torch bearers celebration and that for me was the launch of my Olympics to see Ben Smoldon, John Fry , Matt Lloyd and Pritesh Patel, I can certainly say they picked the right people. I knew Ben's dad who was not only a PE teacher turned head teacher but a leading light in Birmingham School sport, where I came across him, and Sutton Rugby club. His actions after Ben's accident were ground breaking where he got the RFU to, sort of, take responsibility for the actions of a referee in scrimmaging. Ben has carried on that tradition with his commitment to making Sutton rugby club a great community club. He also is a regular attendee at our workshops. A great ambassador for the value of sport.

So my Olympic and Paralympic blog starts with the torch celebration - now to the opening ceremony on Friday starting at 20.12!!