Patience is a virtue

Last Friday, I and many others, received an email telling us that over 50,000 people have been interviewed, with around 40,000 to go. The email said that some people would start to be notified if they had been selected.  I felt excited that soon I would know one way or another.


On Tuesday, a friend's mother, Jenny Egan, posted on Facebook that she has got an offer as a Games Maker. So pleased for her, but the news has also increased my anticipation. Her job will be within the same sector that was mentioned at my interview. Is that where the older Games Makers will be working :-)


Reading the Facebook site is exciting. http://www.facebook.com/london2012gamesmaker All the people with their offers and comments. The spirit will be incredible.


Patience, Rita, patience...

Radio publicity

I was asked to review the daily papers on Radio York this morning.  I wondered whether there would be an Olympics story that I could talk about, but not today.


Then the presenter spoke to a Yorkshire swimmer who had won a bronze medal in Beijing 2008. That was my chance.


Instead of talking about the papers, I launched into a defence of The Olympics in London2012.


The paper review was hijacked, but the presenter, Blair, took it well.

Background to an adventure

In May, I attended a London 2012 Games Maker interview selection meeting at Gateshead. 
When were the seeds of this adventure sown?


July 2010 when the call for 70,000 London 2012 Games Makers was first announced?
October 2008 in Trafalgar Square at the 2008 winners parade?
July 2005, when the announcement that London had been selected was made?
August 2000, at the Sydney Olympics?
May 1986, the first Sport Aid event, 'Run the World'?

They all have contributed.


Let's go back to early May 1986. Buckinghamshire
It was a Sunday afternoon and as usual, Sunday Grandstand was on the TV. Red wine had been consumed at lunchtime and I was dozing in front of the screen. Bob Geldof came on and was chatting about something called Sport Aid and a worldwide event called  'Run the World' on May 25th. In his inimitable style, he aggressively challenged people to get off their backsides and do something.
So I did.
Within a week I had organised a fun run down the village we lived in. The pub was the starting point, the Police gave us permission to close the road and a local sporting celebrity had been found to start the race. My daughter designed a poster  and my son and friends were commandeered to leaflet the village. The local newspaper was notified and pictures were taken with the celebrity.


The celebrity? Just a local lad, who had won a Gold Medal in the Los Angles Olympics rowing. 
Sir Steve Redgrave or just Steve, as he was then. 


The event was very successful. I dressed as a chicken.
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Life moved on and by 1999, I had moved to Yorkshire and re-married. Fortunately, my husband's work had taken us to Sydney a couple of times. 


We knew that the Australians would hold a wonderful Olympics in Sydney and we decided to go back for The Olympics and see Steve Redgrave go for his 5th gold medal.  (I've haven't spoken to him since 1986, but somehow felt an involvement.)


It was a truly memorable holiday with so many highlights. Yes, we were there when Steve and crew won the race. We wore special 'T' shirts that I had printed using a photo from the 1986 Sport Aid run. Photos? Well, no. Such was the excitement, that as the boat passed, the cheers and arm waving became manic and the battery flew out of my camera.


Amongst the great highlights were the thousands of volunteers. A fantastic body of mainly Australians of all ages, who set the benchmark of volunteering at The Olympics.  The spirit was uplifting and I told my husband that if ever the Olympics came to the UK, I would volunteer. I could only dream.


From a Sydney volunteer at the 10 year anniversary party: 
Retired teacher Judy Lawler, one of the Sydney Games' 46,967 volunteers, said: "These volunteers are like my second family. We come from different backgrounds and occupations, but we all share the same spirit, and that spirit has never died."


I can only wish that spirit is on show in London.
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July 2005.  Scotland. We were on holiday with our grandsons, Paul and Jack. They were having a great time on a huge climbing frame in an adventure park. I was listening to the radio. The announcement came. London had won the Olympics for 2012. I promised the boys they would go. Like thousands of others, I was euphoric, only to have the feelings of elation literally blown apart by the bombs in London the very next day. Such a very bittersweet 24 hours for London.


I registered an interest in being a volunteer. Then waited.
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October 2008. London Trafalgar Square. I was in London visiting my sick father. I was travelling back to Kings Cross when I read about the parade of Beijing 2008 medal winners.  I took a detour. It was great weather and great fun. I picked up all sorts of London 2012 memorabilia for the grandsons.
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July 2010. York. Two years to go to London 2012. An announcement is made for 70,000 volunteers to be called Games Makers. I went to the website and signed up. Then waited.
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May 2011. A trip to  The Baltic Arts Centre at Gateshead. I took one of the Steve Redgrave 'T' shirts. Why? Because I wanted to show then that I was serious about wanting to volunteer. I talked to some of the staff. My name had been earmarked for a possible position.  I had an interview. Thought provoking questions. Now I wait. I'm used to it.
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