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!