Publicity shots in my Olympic uniform!

Woohoo, spent the morning around the University of Nottingham campus, in particularly the swimming pool, taking publicity shots in my Olympic uniform.  Met the photographer at 8.15am and got straight to work, snapping pics outside the swimming pool.  Luckily the sun was shining and I didn't need to use my Olympic branded umbrella, let's hope it's the same for games time hey.  After several outside shots I was getting tired of trying to smile, now know what it feels like to do this for a living!  It became painful after a while to keep smiling but somehow I managed it :)

 

It was time to go inside to get some indoor pics.  I heard the announcement over radio to the lifeguards informing them of what we was going on and to let swimmers know, just in case they asked.  It was quite warm inside and a great opportunity to test out my uniform in similar conditions to that of the Aquatics Centre. Again, walking around the pool, posing and smiling - couldn't do this for a living, it's hard work to have a continuous smile on my face!

The pictures are to be used to promote Olympics and the University of Nottingham, as we have several current and former students who are competing as athletes, as well as a handful of staff taking part in the Olympics as volunteers!

Minus 50 days and counting.......

Wow, less than 50 days to go and the Olympics will be in full swing!  Olympic fever will be widespread and the world will be glued to the opening ceremony - whoop whoop!  Time seems to be accelerating and its hard to comprehend next month will actually be the Olympics.  After years and years of preparation and weeks spent at test events and training, fingers crossed all will go without a hitch, only time will tell.

50 days and counting!

I have reached another milestone in my Olympic journey, my blog has exceeded more than 1,000 views!  A massive heartful thanks to all who have taken the time read my entries and I hope you continue to do so, especially as we accelerate towards the opening ceremony.  I will endeavour to do my best and write some daily entries during the games themselves but not sure if this will be possible after working a 10 hour day!

The torch is rapidly making its way around the country and it won't be long before I get the chance to see it in Nottingham.  The torch arrives into the Old Market Square on day 41 of the relay, in the evening of the 28th of June.  Exact street location and timings can be seen here.  More information on what will be happening can be found here.

As the torch leaves Nottingham on day 42 (29th of June) click here to see the route and timings as it exits Nottingham.  The entire route and information about the torch relay can be seen here.

Venue specific training date - at last!

Woohoo, as the Olympic torch relay makes it's way around the country, I finally have my venue specific training date!  This is the final chapter in my training for becoming an Olympic volunteer.  The next time will be my first shift at games times, unbelievable how fast the time is going.

So, with just over fifty days remaining until games time I will paying my final visit to the Olympic Park on Saturday 7th July!  This will be the only time I get to reccy not only the venue I will be working in but also the surrounding park, now that all the construction, landscaping and sculptures are complete.

So here is my main base for Summer, jealous, course you are!!!

This is one of the most awesome structures based on the Olympic Park and I think one of the most unique and attractive ones at that.  I can not wait to revisit this and the Olympic Park again in a few weeks, with unrestricted access!

So let's take a look at the entire Olympic Park, as it stands today here.  As you can see the park is enormous and there is more than enough to see and do.  Don't forget you can visit the park by purchasing an Olympic Park day pass here. 

An Olympic Park day pass allows you to see any sport in the Olympic Park, other than Athletics, Cycling or Swimming and some finals. Day passes allow you general admission entry to sports on a first come, first served basis and are subject to availability.

The torch has landed and the relay begins.......

It's here people, the Olympic torch is finally in the UK and had started day 1 of 70 of it's journey towards the Olympic Stadium for the opening ceremony - OMG!


Olympic Flame arrives in UK

The London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) yesterday transported the Olympic Flame to the UK from Greece for the start of the Olympic Torch Relay.  The Flame arrived in Cornwall on board a BA aircraft, specially named The Firefly last night.  Read the full article here.

 

David Beckham lit the cauldron to mark the arrival of the Olympic Flame in the UK in Cornwall.

 

 

London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay starts from Land's End

Today the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay starts its 70 day journey from Land’s End in Cornwall.  Ben Ainslie began the relay from Land's End this morning, wow, what a privilege!  Ben won Gold medals in Sailing in the Beijing, Athens and Sydney Olympic Games. He also won a Silver at the 1996 Games in Atlanta. Read the full article here.

 



 

Olympic Torch Relay route

 

The Olympic Torch Relay interactive map shows the route the Olympic Flame will take and each of the communities it will be carried through.  Check out the interactive map and zoom in to view the route street by street.  

 

Olympic Torch Relay route

 

Collect Olympic Uniform - check!

It's finally here, after waiting for what seemed like an eternity, I finally have my Olympic uniform, plus other goodies!

Woke early (6.30am), even though my train was not until 10.30am but had to do the school run prior to catching the tram to the train station.  I think the kiddies were just as excited as me, when are we going to get to see it, was all I heard on the way to school.

I arrived at the train station for 10.00am and treated myself to a hot chocolate and a chocolate bar, not that I needed to be anymore alert but I thought what the heck!  The train left on time and I settled to read my latest book 'Provided You Don't Kiss Me, 20 Years with Brian Clough'.  It was a great read and I didn't put it down until I arrived at St Pancras.  What a great player, manager and some great stories :)

I made my way to West Ham via the herds of commuters, all barging their way pass and not giving a damn about anyone else, welcome to London Town!  I arrived at Star Lane and made my way to the distribution centre.  It was quite visible from the tube station, flags flying high with security standing outside, quite visible and not easy to miss.  I followed the other volunteers as we made our way in and once again I sensed the excitement that I felt when I first arrived for my test event back in February.

For security reasons I am not allowed to go into too much detail but the whole process took no more than an hour, from collecting accreditation to my uniform and other goodies. The volunteers who where working in the distribution centre where a credit to the games and certainly knew their stuff.  At every stage, each volunteer was just as pleasant and excited as the next, as I got passed from post to post, until I finally came out at the very end!  It was like being in a gigantic maze going from one section to the next, collecting my uniform as I progressed through each stages.

One thing I noticed and was quite surprised about was the absence of mirrors in the changing rooms, how odd?  I asked the official and it was because the officials are the only ones who are allowed to tell us how we should dress appropriately for the games.  I suppose this is to stop volunteers looking too scruffy, by wearing over-sized or too tight uniforms.  I guess with it being a uniform, we all need to look as uniformed as possible.

 

See for yourself what I got and how I look below, personally I think the uniform looks pretty smart.  Initially I was worried about the colour combination but since trying it all on it looks awesome :)

  

       

        

      

London 2012: Olympic Games flame lit in Greece

Wow - the London 2012 Olympic Flame was lit today in Ancient Olympia, Greece ahead of the start of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay on 18th May.  So it is actually happening people, the games are on the way!

In a traditional ceremony organised by the Hellenic Olympic Committee (HOC), the Flame was lit at the Temple of Hera, next to the historic ruins of the home of the ancient Olympic Games. The High Priestess used a parabolic mirror to capture the sun’s rays to create the Flame. It was then carried into the Ancient Olympic Stadium. 

Further information is available here.

See here for the Olympic Torch Relay route!

I have Olympic fever?!?

Wow wow wow - not sure where to begin, Olympic fever has certainly taken over this weekend and my poor family, especially my wife Farzana, has already had enough!!!  So what has happened over the last couple of days to snowball me into such a mad frenzy.  Well........

• Less than 2012 hours to the London 2012 games
• Collecting of Olympic uniform and official accreditation
• The Olympic Flame will be lit in Greece on the 10th May and arrives in the UK in two weeks
• My Olympic shifts have finally arrived :-)
• The Olympic stadium, the centrepiece was officially opened yesterday

2012 hours to the London 2012 games
Yesterday marked a great milestone in the whole Olympic journey, less than 2012 hours to the London 2012 games.  It's hard to comprehend when the time frame is put into hours, wow, surely not?!  The excitement is crazy now and come games time it'll be electric.  With 82 days to go (not that I am counting) I am beginning to wonder if we will ever get a Summer and will this rain ever stop?!  Not sure if the rain will dampen spirits but it's something we could really do without.





Aquatics Centre to the left and the mammoth Olympic Stadium, the centrepiece to the right

 


Olympic uniform and official accreditation
In just over a week's time I will be collecting my Olympic uniform, official accreditation and oyster travel card.  Quite a few other volunteers have already collected their uniform and posted pictures on-line, I want mine now!!!  Also found out recently that all volunteers will be given a Swatch watch as well - bonus!!!  This is not compulsory to wear but part of the official uniform non the less. Personally I think it looks pretty smart and will certainly be wearing mine.



Swatch watch!


The Olympic Flame
The Olympic Flame will be lit in Greece on May 10th and arrives in the UK in under two weeks - wow what an historic moment!!!  The Olympic Flame, Torch and Relay draw on a history going back to the ancient Olympic Games in Greece.  The Torch and Relay were important elements of the cultural festivals surrounding the Olympic Games of Ancient Greece.
 
Representing peace, unity and friendship, as it makes its way across the UK on a 70-day journey it will bring the excitement of the Olympics to everyone. Find out more about the history and the Torch Relay here.

Ancient Greek ceremony!

My Olympic shifts
Wow, after what felt like weeks, days, hours of waiting, I finally have my email notifying me of my Olympic shifts!  Spread over the entire games, 10 shifts in total, with the earliest start being 7.00am and the latest finish being 11.45pm.  The shifts are quiet long but I guess the adrenaline, excitement and encouragement from fellow volunteers will make them pass with ease.  It is going to be an immense experience and I can only imagine what it'll feel like - woohoo!!!



I think I might need a holiday to recover!

  

The official opening of The Olympic Stadium
A nine-year-old girl who can see the Olympic Stadium from her bedroom window was given the unique opportunity to officially declare the centrepiece of the Games open, along with Seb Coe, the chairman of London 2012. Wow, what a memorable experience for the girl and another mammoth step in the journey towards the Olympics!  Read the full story and see the pictures here.



 The Olympic Stadium



So, now can you see why I have Olympic fever and it's not even games time yet lol!

For those of you lucky enough to get tickets, the latest map of the Olympic Park can be seen here, it's gigantic I tell yah!!!