Quiet Sunday but still busy

Sunday: a much quieter day today after the excitement of yesterday's road race but still an early start.  Our team has two judo players and therefore I drove to the Excel to look at the venue.  Finding the parking was challenging and the roads were busy but it is difficult to know whether a train would be easier.  I was able to watch the judo and table tennis with the 'Chef' which was a bonus and there were certainly not any spare seats!

Pink was the predominant colour for the Gymnastics arena

In all the excitement of Rafael Alonso's mother driving around London on Saturday there was no space to tell you about the Male Gymnastics at the North Greenwich Areana which I (Rob) attended as a spectator. Great spectator experience and we had a Colombian gymnast to support. The place was buzzing after the Team GB performance in the previous session.  Transport system was brilliant, security well managed by the troops and the atmosphere just like a big party

Saturday: Cycle Road Race Day

Support cars before the start of the Race 

  I had a really exciting day yesterday and am now the champion driver of the Costa Rican team.  Because the team only had one cyclist in the road race yesterday they were not allowed an official team car in the race but were allowed to follow it!  Our team driver went with the spare bike parts in the Venezuelan car whilst I drove the ‘race’ car.  Firstly I drove in the convoy down to the top of Box Hill doing at least 50mph down the Mall 

Cycle Race at Box Hill feeding station

Team GB lead the Pelaton

– then whilst the cyclists did the time trial I sat in the sun and watched the big screen.  After the 9^th lap around the hill the ‘spare’ cars then join the back of the race and head back to London.   So……. I was rallying at about 50mph along the lanes of Surrey,  through Richmond park, past Stamford Bridge and back on to the Mall again.  The crowds were fantastic and since I had got up at 5 o'clock in the morning I was driving on adrenaline and nothing else – a really exhilarating experience.

An Amazing Opening Ceremony

The Olympic Rings 

Industrial Britain 

Nicola managed to get back in time to watch the Opening Ceremony in Barns Green Village Hall after another day with the Cycling team preparing for todays race. We all waved and cheered her Costa Rican team as well as Colombia and Team GB.

Nicola in the stadium at the rehearsal for the Athletes Parade 

We have both been part of the preparations at the reheasals and it was worth "Saving The Surprise". Fantastic technical feat as well as an audio and visual extravaganza. For Rob the highlight was seeing Mike Oldfield playing live at Monday's rehearsal.

After all the build up at last we are into competition. As I (Rob) write this, Nicola is in The Mall ready to drive the Cost Rican support car for the big cycle race.  GO Team GB !!!

Preparations for the Cycle Race

Yesterday was very exciting because I was at Box Hill with the Costa Rican cyclist, his coach and the driver. The teams were allowed to practice for 90 minutes during which the ascent and descent were closed to ordinary traffic. Obviously since cycle fever is now gripping the UK there were lots of spectators about and the British team had a motor cycle escort. I sat in the sun and watched all the practice and saw Bradley Wiggins in is yellow helmet. Also saw teams from Spain, Germany, Denmark, Colombia  and lots of others.

The latest recruit to the Costa Rican cycling team

Race Bikes 

Hoping to get back to Barns Green tonight to see the Opening Ceremony on the big screen in the Village Hall and then back for the Cycle Race on Saturday

Thursday - Only one day to go

I spent yesterday much closer to home! Costa Rica has a very good cyclist who  won a stage in Italy this year. So I drove the team in the cycling car - with roof rack but no bikes - so that they could video the course at Box Hill. This included driving out of London using some Olympic lanes via Hampton Court to fit the radio.  Sat Nav worked well and took me over Tower Bridge! Unfortunately we never stopped - even for lunch - and so I was unable to take any photos.

 The Village is getting very full now and everyone customises their accommodation.  The athletes have been giving great reports of their food!

Welcome to the Canadian Accomodation 

The Netherlands for all at FreislandCampina!!! 

Day 3

Nicola: The challenges of a Costa Rican NOC assistant Day 3: What is the post code of Big Ben and will I be able to park? Where do we buy 15 metres of garden hose in Westfield Shopping Centre? Navigating the UK Tube Network.  But the weather is beautiful, everyone is very friendly and I am marching as an athlete in a final rehearsal of the opening ceremony tonight.

Rehearsal Opening Ceremony

Rob at the Olympic Park

A View of the Olympic Village from the Park

As Gamesmakers we were lucky to be invited to attend the Monday night Rehearsal for the Opening Ceremony. As Nicola was working in the Village, Gus went with Rob. It's AMAZING - whatever you do cancel everything on Friday and watch it - on the biggest screen possible and turn it up LOUD. After Friday we will post pictures but until then everyone must  #Save the secret

Inside the Olympic Village

So ......... much of the last few days have been spent working for the Mali team.  The village is filling up with athletes which is making it much busier generally and I feel very important when people ask me the way.  I am doing lots of walking and so will be really fit even if I am eating a McDonalds every day.  My main job has been sorting out a huge shipment of sports clothes from China which has been consolidated for 13 French African teams. Different sizes, different colours, shortages ........ Now I know what its like to work in logistics.

Today I meet my own Costa Rican team and so I need to start brushing up my Spanish.

Workforce Dining

Flags of the Nations

Prince Edward meeting the National Youth Theatre

Join Rob and Nicola's Olympic Adventure whilst we work as volunteer Gamesmakers as NOC / NPC Assistants to Olympic and Paralympic Teams.  We hope to post plenty of pictures of our experience with the teams from Mali, Colombia and Costa Rica although expect our days to be long, so bear with us whilst we get organised.