Sellsy's Olympic Supplement

Or when Michal Phelps met me!

Here is the next part of my Olympic diary, it just gets better and better and busier, but hey, am rubbing shoulders with the world’s best. I wonder what the athletes must think when meet me, Mark Sells, renowned for the love of cider!

July 26^th

How do you start a war / diplomatic incident between North and South Korea? Easy, just put the South Korean flag next to sportsmen representing North Korea. Can you believe it? I wonder what happened to the person who pressed that button. Oh well, great news to wake up too before I set off to the Olympic Park.

Busy waiting outside a tube station at 5.15am and do you know what happens next, well a lady of the night (or early morning) wanted to show me a good time before the station opened – only in London I suppose, must have been my uniform I that did it.

So when I eventually reach the safety of the Athletes Village it was straight down to work in Sports Information. What was install for me today? Well one thing it was very busy, not surprising as it was the day before the opening ceremony.

Turkish boxing turned up a day early for their technical meeting. An official from Iraq gave us (three of us) our first pin badges. Some Colombians wanted to know where they could get their haircut – they are asking me – so I made light of the situation and they laughed saying something Spanish which amused them even more. And next up was this sprinter from the Virgin Islands wanting to know where she could get a manicure / facial – is this wind up Sellsy day?

After all this hilarity, to others especially, decided to go and see a welcoming ceremony. Poland, Denmark, France and The Ivory Coast were the ones I watched; there is something about the French National Anthem which just stirs you a little (but not too much). The delegate from the Ivory Coast how a bit of trouble with security as she did not have her accreditation on her; which was interesting to watch indeed.

The last thing I dealt with that day was the Nigerian Basketball Team. The came in on mass, smallest person must have been 7’, they had some technical query, and I after they left my neck was a bit sore looking at them.

July 27^th

A bit of momentous day today, spoke to gold medallists from Beijing, Athens and Sydney, plus an IOC delegate, I hate to name drop, so I am not going to – will leave that for another time.

However the highlight was helping out multiple World and European Judo champion Teddy Riner – or Big Ted to his friends. Now this 6’8 giant just oozes strength and class, plus what a gentleman he is. Now I speak pigeon French, and he speaks even more pigeon English, so as you can imagine, we got on really well. I gave him the information that he wanted, said au revoir and off he went, knowing that I have influenced him even more in his quest to become Olympic champion.

Oh and I met Michael Phelps today as well.

July 28^th

The morning after the Opening Ceremony and what a fantastic ceremony it was. I picked out athletes who I have spoken to over the past week or so, Big Ted stood out off course, in fact he towered over the rest of the French team. But off course the cricket match was the highlight of the ceremony, how English is that?

This was quite a long day for me today, with an early start after the night before, but hey it was worth it.

Spent most of the day back office, mainly because I was tired, plus results started to come in thick and fast which had to be distributed to the appropriate sports desk. By the end of the day I was just knackered. When I reached my digs, I just crashed out for the night.

What is bizarre about that is the fact it is a Saturday and not one pint passed my lips. What are the Olympics doing for me and my reputation? Lord Coe, are you actually inspiring me?

July 29^th

Sad day today, found out that my Congolese Table Tennis friend had been knocked out in the first round, by a Belarusian. I wonder if she has the doubles however?

With a lot of sport taking place the Information Centre was a little quieter than usual, however the results still had to be distributed.

Two highlights of the day, a coach from a participating country asked me if there was an AA meeting place within the village and we are not talking about motor vehicles here. That threw me a little, but I got my mobile phone out and gave him the number from my most used numbers!

Secondly, two tiny Japanese girls walked in, I was about to tell them that the youth games are not this year. However, to my amusement, I realised they were Gymnasts, and after I looked them up on the information computer I found out that they are worthy of them being here, plus they were 16 years old, older than I thought.

Oh well, a couple of days rest back at my full-time job, the back I go for the long haul, until the games finish. So my next supplement will be on the 13^th August, an Olympic Special, with plenty of pictures.

17.27, time to try a Thatchers, hurrah!!!

Sellsy's Olympic Supplement (SOS) - Part One

Question …….. What do I do at 10.57 on a Sunday?

Answer ……… Go for a Thatchers (or two) at The Cottage Inn.

Well a couples of weeks a go that would have been the right answer. Now, temporarily, it is completely different – so don’t panic Thatchers Cider or Julian and Molly at The Cottage Inn.

Recent Sunday’s I have been helping to inspire the nations, living the dream and some more clichés. I have been busy being an Olympic volunteer, based in the Olympic Village no less and what a wonderful experience it has so far been.

It is not every day of the week that the opportunity to rub shoulders Congo Table Tennis players, Serbian Shooters, Madagascan Wrestlers, Belarusian Gymnasts, or even mention them in the same sentence, but this is what life has been like over the past eight days.

Words like awesome, amazing, overwhelming etc., can’t really describe the experiences I have been through and even what I am about to experience, however I will attempt to give you an insight of what has been going on.

July 14^th

Arrive in Hammersmith, London, found my B&B – think the rats left and I moved in -, went for a pint(s) of cider, got a take-away, went to bed.

July 15^th

Into the unknown a little today, and I tried my uniform on for the first time. Decided to skip breakfast in the B&B, grabbed a bacon roll from a food stall instead, caught the underground and headed for Stratford.

Again, as I travelled up, I was still in the unknown as never done the venue training, so didn’t know where I was really going. However my mind relaxed as there were quite a few people in that distinguished uniform as we got closer to the Olympic Park.

Decided to get off at Leyton, as there seemed to be more volunteers in the purple staying on the tube, got off and followed them to security.

After getting through security and trying to pretend to know where I was going, I found the Village Services, and that sounded quite familiar, hurrah, the right place on the first attempt.

Everyone in our team gradually turned up, some later than other (much later in one particular case), the training for our roles began, which as good as it begun it finished and off to lunch we went.

Now lunch was and is an experience in more ways than one. The food hall is just massive, do not know how many football pitches would fit inside, but I think a few would; and as for the food, I think the guys dishing out lunch saw me, thought I need to lose a few pounds, a small portion was handed out, with their eyes encouraging me towards the fruit!

A tour of the village followed. I thought I was in dream land, just a wonderful place – more of that to come.

After, a trip back to Hammersmith then off to Taunton, with plenty of Zzzzz’s.

July 18^th

 Shift at the Olympic Village due to start at 12.45, so what is the last thing I need, a train cancellation at Taunton, great start.

Arrived in Paddington, found my B&B, much better than last time, think the rats were moving in this time and off I ventured to Stratford. Got through security, picked up my dinner voucher (yes I am going for some more), and off I ventured into Village Services.

Working out in the front on reception was a bit daunting, but a guy from the USA put my mind at ease quite quickly. After the ice was broken, I asked about his flight from the US, and he said he came from Denver, which led me in quite nicely, as I mentioned the Broncos and we had a great chat about American Football for some 10 minutes.

So who else did I help that day?

Madagascan Judo

Slovenian Rowers

Indonesian Badminton

Somalia Football (indirectly)

And Belarus in general

So a nice friendly day, but can someone tell me what the difference is between diving and driving? There was a bit of a language problem with an Indian guy, but thankfully was not in that conversation, but to their amusement, a couple of my colleagues were.

July 19^th

I had a lie-in and watched the golf. I travelled to the Stratford soon after Lee Westwood had a double bogie on the third, and did not hear much about him after.

So, what delights were in store today? Well the early shift had some fun with finding out where to get bed extensions for a basketball team and it seems that the dentists are in great demand.

Who did I meet that day?

Slovenian Rowers – again

Serbian Shooters

Chinese Cyclists

Tajikstan representatives

German Badminton

Barbadian Sprinters

Congolese Table Tennis

The list is becoming extensive now. Final mention must go to the choice I had a dinner, wafer thin pork. I am beginning to think some sort of conspiracy is going on especially when I hear one of my colleagues had toad-in-the-hole with three sausages!

July 21^st

For those who don’t know me very well, this is a Saturday, plus with a shift on Sunday, it will mean no alcohol on a weekend. Can’t remember the last time this happened, but hey it’s worth it.

What happened today, well more athletes arrived and Chad turned up with no equipment, no gear, no flag, no nothing apart from their passes and the clothes they were wearing – BTW it was not lost at Heathrow!

After doing some back office work, I managed to gain access to the internet, and found out that Somerset had beaten Warwickshire by one wicket, in fact they snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, good one, and what a knock by Craig Kieswetter.

Anyway, back to the Olympics, managed to blag a lunch and dinner voucher today, oh how I like new members of staff.

And who did I meet today:

Burkina Faso Judo

Paraguayan Swimming

Portuguese Gymnasts

Turkmenistan Judo

Very tall Russian athletes

Moroccan who wanted to know where the casino was

Belgian Hockey

Highlight of the day was having beef cobbler for diner and it turned out to be lamb! Plus having a photo with Wenlock off course.

July 22^nd

Only managed two hours sleep that night, due to the room being like an oven, and this did not really set me up for the day ahead.

Had a walk through Hyde Park in the morning, ended up at Speakers Corner. I do like that place, and it was especially amusing to listen to an American Jew going on one!

Even more athletes turned up that day

More tall Russians – am itching to try out my fluent Russian on them

Short Mexican weightlifters

Archers from Ivory Coast

Belgian Cyclist coach – who asked “why are you all sop friendly and happy, was it down to training?”

And my favourite of the day was talking and directing two very tall South Korean Volleyball players who wanted to know where the Village Plaza was. I gave them directions, saying it’s only a five minute walk, but in your case it should take only three!. 

So here I have my very brief insight to my first week as an Olympic Volunteer. Very busy, going to get busier and as I am typing this I feel exhausted, but hey it is worth it. 

More to come very soon, it is 5.27pm you know, so time for a pint!

Sellsy's Sunday Supplement

Having a telephone call at 11.20am while I was in London to hear that Over Stowey’s Cricket Pavilion had been broken into and items were stolen wasn’t my ideal start to which was meant to be a fun weekend. The items pinched were not any old items, but mainly equipment the club uses for kids cricket – training gear, match day kit, etc. – plus some senior items as well; what use is that going to be to a petty criminal, unless he has kids who want to play cricket!

After spending so much time, effort and money in completely refurbishing and extending the Pavilion, to find out that this has happened completely deflated everyone involved with Over Stowey Cricket Club, and I am sure that many people outside the club will condone the actions by one or some idiot(s).

What next? Well I am sure the club will bind to together and go forward stronger than before. The club had a similar incident some six years ago when a mindless idiot(s) decide to do hand break turns right over the square with just a week before the start of the cricket season, the club, then, got stronger and moved on quickly as a unit just to let those vandals know that we can and will.

Whoever did the break-in on Friday night / Saturday morning are feeling very pleased with themselves knowing that he (they) have spoilt the enjoyment of children, adults in fact anyone who is involved with cricket.

+++++

“Such predominantly repulsive, ill-behaved, aplolgies-for-memnbership-of-the-human-race – what, for most part, I would regard as ‘The Great Unwashed’ No, this is not the description of the cricketers from Over Stowey, but a certain John Fingleton (who?), a colourful MCC stalwart on about T20 cricket at Lord’s.

He went to say: “I have never recognised so few of my fellow members in the Pavilion at any previous match. The Long Bar was jammed to capacity with mobs of ill-behaved, ill-dressed, screaming yobbos – and that was just the men!

“I understand, albeit anecdotally, that a number of guests were drinking in the Long Room during the match, and when asked to refrain by a fellow member, behaved discourteously and even somewhat pugnaciously.”

Well to be fair, he could of quite easily of been describing the cricketers from Over Stowey, have you ever seen us on tour! But surely this Fingleton chap, if he had anything between those ears which reassemble’s a brain, would and should of known what T20 cricket is all about. I don’t expect he would come down to Somerset and watch them play in front of a ‘cider-fuelled’ full house! Incidentally, that is where I will be going at 1.00 today, after my 10.57 jaunt, hopefully to see Somerset get back to winning ways – how the hell did we lose to Gloucester? I know, we won the toss and batted!

Bad day / weekend for Over Stowey. 1^st XI called off, 2^nd XI lost by seven wickets, Under 11’s lost, Under 13’s called off, and a friendly on Sunday called off. What next? Charity Cricket Weekend on Saturday and Sunday this weekend coming, plus a mouth-watering encounter for Stogumber on Saturday, somewhat a curtain raiser I think!

Ok, that’s it for a few weeks, off to the Olympics I must go, there may be a few Olympic Specials, so still watch this space, if not I will be back at the end of August!

For the last time for a few weeks, it is 10.57, time for a pint!