4th August 2012 - My last shift as a Games Maker!

Wow! That went fast! I never imagined that my time at the Olympics would come to an end so quickly - but as the saying goes, 'Time flies when you're having fun'! A week and a half of amazing memories, great friends made and superb sporting achievements - it was almost time to head home! I went back to the UDAC on the 5th August to collect my Paralympic uniform -YES, I got a place at the Paralympics too, and then I flew home to little ole' Lurgan that night. 

London 2012 Olympic Games - Wembley Arena

3rd August 2012

The day of 3rd August 2012 was my penultimate shift as a Games Maker - and it was only three days before I packed my bags and headed for home. The thought of going back to Northern Ireland after the most amazing experience of my life, was just unthinkable.

However, I tried to enjoy my shift as much as I could. I was also keeping tabs on my pin collection - and I only had one more to get! 

After my shift, I headed back to Watford, but stopped to get a photo with one of the members of the British Army, who were simply superb at London 2012! They were a credit to their country, and as a proud Irish citizen, I have no reservations about saying how much of an amazing job these people do, serving their country!

2nd August 2012

The day of the 2nd August was very eventful, especially after eight badminton players were disqualified from the competition the day before, after deliberately trying to lose their games so that they were able to get an easier knockout game. Nonetheless, the competition went on - and we had another day of exceptional badminton!

At the end of my shift, I left through the side exit - and a group of Canadians spotted my Irish flag, half-tucked into my Games Maker bag, and approached me, asking for photos. I happily posed for pictures with them, and one of the men in the group gave me a pack of Canadian Badminton playing cards - which I will always cherish as one of my favourite moments of London 2012! 

Meeting some awesome Canadians!

1st August 2012 - My first day off!

On the 1st August, I had my first day off! Woohoo! I also had a ticket to go to the Olympic Park. So I got dressed, hopped on the tube, and headed for Stratford.

Once I got there, it was security check, after security check - so it took a while getting into the Olympic Park. Once I was in, I had to take a step back and just stare in amazement at the beauty of this place. World class sporting venues, thousands upon thousands of people, including a sea of purple and red - the Olympic Park Games Makers. 

Entrance to the Olympic Park

As I walked in, the Aquatics Centre was to my left, the Olympic Park in front of me, and numerous other venues throughout the park. It was an absolutely amazing sight - one I will never forget! 

I had to take as many pictures as possible, and I got my Irish flag out at every opportunity! 

Representing Ireland at the Olympic Park

As the day went on, darkness began to fall, and I had a ticket to the Orbit - and at the very top, I was able to see some incredible views of London. After this, I headed back to Watford, and got a good night's sleep before another shift! 

The view of London from the Orbit

31st July - Day four of being a Games Maker

Day Four - I was extremely tired after three hard days of working at Wembley Arena! However, the competition was heating up, and there was so much excitement in the crowd as the days went on.

I was on a late shift on this day - and had to leave early to be able to make my last train home. So, my team leader let me go home, and as I was leaving - another Games Maker asked me to wheel a lady in a wheelchair to the nearest bus stop - which was quite a distance away - and also in the opposite direction of the tube station. If I missed the tube, I would have to pay for a taxi back to Watford - which would have cost a fortune. However; I decided to bring the lady to the bus stop, and finish my duties for the night. 

As I wheeled her towards the bus stop - we began speaking, and she told me she was from Belgium. We spoke about London 2012, and how the Games Makers were an integral part of the whole Games.

When we reached the bus stop, I seen two athletes, both from Belgium, they introduced themselves as the son and daughter of the lady in the wheelchair. Yuhan Tan, and Lianne Tan both thanked me for bringing their mother to the bus stop, and asked ME for a picture! Absolutely awesome! Oh..AND I made my train!! :)

With Yuhan & Lianne Tan

30th July 2012 - Day three of being a Games Maker

Day three of being a Games Maker - absolutely amazing! I made sure though, that I did not sleep in like I did the day before!

The main moment of day three, was watching another Irish competitor in his first badminton game of London 2012 - Scott Evans! Luckily, I was able to meet Scott during my shift and get a photo with him.

In addition to this, I was able to watch the World Number One Men's Badminton player on court 1! Brilliant day :)

With Scott Evans, Irish Badminton Player

29th July - Meeting Gary Cotterill!

Day Two of being a Games Maker was absolutely AWESOME! The day began with a bad morning - I had slept in for my second shift! Uh-oh! I was so exhausted from the night before that I managed to sleep through my alarm! Not to worry though - I stuffed a quick cereal bar into me and left Watford to travel to Wembley!

Running about 20 minutes late, I hopped off the tube and began to walk down Wembley Way. There were thousands of other fans around - due to the fact that the Team GB Football team were playing United Arab Emirates.

So as I was briskly walking towards Wembley, I caught a glimpse of a Sky Sports umbrella. Knowing I was already 20 minutes late, I couldn't stop to see who it was because I would risk being even later for my shift - but me being me, I had to see who it was!

As I approached the Sky Sports cameras, I seen a crowd of Union flags, and in the very centre of the horde of people, was Sky Sports News correspondent, Gary Cotterill!

Of course, I had to stay and talk to him - and was even featured on Sky Sports News that afternoon! Luckily, I phoned my mum and dad to record Sky Sports News on Sky Plus!

P.s. I ended up being almost an hour late to my shift! Please don't tell Seb Coe though! :)

With Gary Cotterill of Sky Sports

So as I finally arrived for my shift, I was able to join up with my team leader, and start my day's work. Another exciting part of the day was seeing an Irish competitor win her first badminton game! Chloe Magee - from Donegal, Ireland, was one of two Irish badminton players in the London 2012 Olympics, the other being Scott Evans.

At the end of the night, I finished my shift, and left Wembley Arena to be met by tens of thousands of football fans on Wembley Way! Team GB had defeated the United Arab Emirates 3-1.

Tens of thousands of people on Wembley Way!

28th July - First shift as a London 2012 Olympic Games Maker

Day One of the Badminton at Wembley Arena, and Day One of being a Games Maker! As the crowds flooded in, I could sense the excitement from the spectators! I wonder if they could tell how excited I was to be there as well? :)

When I arrived, I had to check in, and I received an official Games Maker pin badge! Some may think it was only a pin badge - but it was so exciting for me! 

A few dozen of us Games Makers gathered for a briefing of our duties - very exciting stuff! Once we had been allocated our positions, we dispersed and got ready for an exciting day's competition.

Inside Wembley Arena

Overall, it was an amazing first day of being a Games Maker. I got a quick picture in the arena as the spectators began to leave after the day's competition. Once I had finished my shift, I headed back to Wembley Park Station, and off back to Watford to get some sleep and prepare for my next day of work! 

Hard at work ;)

27th July 2012 - London 2012 Olympic Games begin!

Wow! Those few months went quick! It seems only yesterday that I was offered my role at London 2012, and the night of the 27th July was the night of the Opening Ceremony! I didn't have tickets to the ceremony, but I was able to enjoy the atmosphere outside the Olympic Stadium with thousands of other Games Makers, and fans.

We could hear the cheers bellowing from the stadium - an incredible atmosphere! We seen blasts of colour, and eyes were glued to the sky at 8:12pm (20:12), as the Red Arrows performed a flypast over the Stadium. What a beautiful scene! After four amazing hours, the ceremony ended, and spectators began to leave the stadium, and I decided to make my way back to my room to get some rest before my first shift on the 28th July.

As I got on the tube, I overheard a group of young kids talking about the Opening Ceremony, and I heard that they all had Northern Ireland accents! I politely interrupted their conversation asking them where they were from - and they were from Portadown!! This was amazing because they lived only a few miles from me in Northern Ireland! Small world eh?

The view of the Olympic Stadium once the Opening Ceremony had finished

So it was time to go back to my room for the night, which was a single room in Watford - totally on a budget! I gathered my uniform and placed it neatly on the chair in my room - excitedly envisaging my first shift as a Games Maker! 

Venue-Specific Training at Wembley

Once again, it was an early flight to London Gatwick, on Sunday 15th July. Just over a week before I started my first shift in Wembley Arena, I was off to London again for my venue training. That morning, mum and dad dropped me off at the airport, and I landed in Gatwick at 8.30am. From Gatwick, I traveled to Central London, and then on again to Wembley! 

Wembley Way

By the time I had arrived - about 10.30am, I had a bit of time to kill. I jumped off the tube with immense excitement - and from the tube station, I could see the famous Wembley Way. 

I decided to take some pictures - what a stadium it was! The Official London 2012 Logo was brilliantly displayed behind the statue of Sir Bobby Moore. It was the biggest football stadium I had ever seen - closely followed by Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland. 

I went inside to see if I could get a tour, and just my luck - there was one right away! Woohoo!

FA Cup at Wembley Stadium

The tour was brilliant. I was able to see snippets of some amazing historical treasures such as the 1966 World Cup crossbar, the Jules Rimet Trophy commemorating England's World Cup glory, the original flag from London's 1948 Olympic Games and much more. I was able to sit in the dug out, visit the changing rooms & press conference area. I was even able to get my hands on a replica of the FA Cup!

Once the tour was over, it was almost time for my Venue-Training. And so I was off to the Arena, which was right beside Wembley Stadium! The London 2012 displays were amazing & the Olympic Rings looked superb. 

View of Wembley Arena 

I walked down the steps from the stadium, and was greeted by a fellow Games Maker, who directed me to the entrance. As I walked in, I seen dozens of other Games Makers! We were then directed into the main area inside the Arena, where we were given an overview of the day, and shown a number of presentations. following this, we were given a tour of the Arena, wow! We were able to see behind the scenes, and it looked incredible! Roll on games time!!