Team GB - Hockey in the Riverbank Arena

We watched a tight and controversial final group match between Team GB and Spain with both having potential to qualify for the Semi-Final. After a 1-1 draw Team GB qualified. The rain then poured down as we watched an end to end 5-5 draw between Germany and New Zealand.

Team GB play Spain

Team GB salute the crowd after qualifying for the semi-final

Great atmosphere in the Arena and fantastic support for Team GB with us joining in with the flag waving and chanting. The Olympic Park looked fantastic at night from high up in the stands.

The Spectators at the temporary Riverbank Arena

Today Nicola is enjoying a well deserved day off before the "final sprint" to the Marathon, Mountain Bikes and the Closing ceremony  We watched the Costa Rican athlete in the Taekwondo on the TV. Unfortunatelty he lost, not sure how or why, the sport is still a mystery to us.

Enjoying the Olympic Park

Gus, Rob and Nicola at the Olympic Park

Yesterday (Tuesday) gave us the opportunity to soak up the atmosphere in the Olympic Park as we had tickets for the Men's Hockey. After a day in Essex at the Mountain Bike track Nicola joined Rob, Gus his friend Oki to walk around the park. Some pictures below from the park

The BBC Studios on top of Shipping Containers 

The wetlands above make a green oasis and below the crowds watch on the BIG screens

Just an easy Sunday morning bike ride!

I spent most of yesterday with our mountain biker and his coach (his father!) - looking for mountains! The previous day we went to the official training loop in Essex but I have to agree that the hills were a bit tame. I explained that there are no mountains in southern England that will compare with Costa Rica but we settled on going to Box Hill and enlisted Rob's help to find us a route with some hills.  When we got there Box Hill was covered with cyclists, but unfortunately also some local residents that seem to have lost their Olympic Spirit. So following the bike was pretty much a nightmare. In the end Pablo seemed quite happy with 'La Ruta Olympica' and I spoke to some very friendly cyclists who suggested we try Ranmore Common and I am going to phone a cycle shop there this morning to see if they will be able to act as guides.

Paolo Montoya ready to cycle

Following in the summer rain 

Super Saturday. Team GB - Fantastic

I don't think we can still believe it! Six Team GB golds in one day and three in 45 minutes in the Stadium! We have both followed athletics for a long time and been to many UK track meets, but that was something special. Fortunately Nicola was able to watch the evenings athletics on TV.

Rob spent the day travelling up and back to UDAC (Uniform Distribution and Accreditation Centre) in West Ham very close to the Olympic Park to pick up his accredition badge and uniform for the Parlympics. Some pictures below. Such an efficient operation with Gamesmakers still enthusiastic even though some have been working there as volunteers since April!!!

Watching the rowing whilst waiting for my number for the changing rooms 



The pick up point after the fitting rooms



Check out lines to match any supermarket



Quiet Friday as the Atheltics start

Costa Rica have had no events for 3 days and so things are quite quiet.  Yesterday I drove to Centre Point (end of Oxford Street) with our two athletes to pick up some promotional gear. I am getting much more used to driving in London and I even found somewhere to park and a nice deli for a coffee.  Most of the day has been spent trying to find the tri-athletes bike so that he can practice: so far without success.  We also had our photos taken for a Costa Rican newspaper. Whilst outside the Village with the press,  several police arrived closely followed by Tony Blair and Tessa Jowell who is deputy village mayor.  We walked over to take some photos and he walked over to shake our hands and tell us what a good job we were doing!

Tony Blair and Tessa Jowell MP met a small group of Gamesmakers

Tony Blair Talking to Nicola (Picture from Tony Blair Twitter Feed)

As the Olympic Park fills up as the stadium comes into use, everyone is commenting on how good the transport system has been. The atmosphere is so positive and all the athletes saying how important the Team GB support in all the event stadia has been.

The Orbit and the Olympic Stadium 

Fantastic day of tennis at Wimbledon

Sunshine and showers at the start of the day soon cleared over at Wimbledon. We had fantastic value for money with a great day's tennis on No 1 Court. What a line up: Federer, Azarenka, Sharapova, Petrova and Ferrer!! All the time checking our phones for news of Wiggo and the Rowers. We could just hear the shouts from Centre Court for Andy Murray above the grunts of women players.

David Ferrer

Federer Serving !

Nicola Rob and Wenlock 

Organisation first class a great blend of traditional Wimbledon and London 2012.  Well done Team GB on their first gold medals. Thanks to Gus for giving up his ticket so we could go with Chris and Sarah, as a  mixed doubles foursome.

Its the 1st of August already!

Now that the competition has begun, things have begun to quieten down and the Costa Ricans are not competing again until the ladies Marathon at the weekend.  Look out for Gabriela Trana!  There is some more organising of accrediation to do and driving to and from the airport and London hotels. I have a day off today because we have tickets for Wimbledon.  Keep your fingers crossed that the weather is good because there is no roof on Court no 1.