The Starting Line-up

Posted on Jul 20, 2012 by cliverh

Right here goes, my first blog. I’m encouraged to do this by my friend from the West Street Writers in Farnham, Georgie Knaggs, who has been writing a blog for oh… ages now. I really needed to get something going because on 29th July I attend my first shift at the Excel for the London 2012 Olympic games. So I’ve got my uniform, my accreditation (ID card in normal parlance) and I’m good to go.

Me at a BBQ last year

I’ve had several days training, culminating in last Sundays ‘Venue Specific Training’ at the Excel, so now I’m ready to receive the visitors. The Excel has 7 events: Wrestling (freestyle and greco-roman), Judo, Boxing, Table Tennis, Taekwondo and Weightlifting. The 5 event areas can hold up to 70,000 people so it really is a big deal and 2nd only to the main Olympic park.

I shall try and report fairly quickly after each day and see how I get on, any comments welcome.

About cliverh

Retired aerospace engineer, first with the Royal Air Force and then BAE Systems. Now enjoying a variety of activities and not getting bored. I was a Games Maker Volunteer at the London 2012 Olympics and a volunteer at the Rugby World Cup 2015 in England. I was also a volunteer at the 2019 Cricket World Cup in Southampton. I intend to blog about what interests me.

View all posts by cliverh →

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9 Responses to The Starting Line-up

Dianne Robinson says:

Jul 21, 2012 at 8:20 am

Looking forward to hearing about the Olympics from one on the inside,no pineapples though!

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cliverh says:

Jul 21, 2012 at 8:58 am

Hi Dianne. Just to let you know your comments received and appreciated. I can’t promise an absence of pineapples though.

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Georgie says:

Jul 23, 2012 at 8:48 am

Congratulations Clive! I like your layout. I hope the Olympics are a great, exhilarating success – you do have the eye for detail to record it for all of us. Thanks and … have fun!

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- cliverh says:
  
  Jul 23, 2012 at 10:08 am
  
  Georgie. Thanks for the encouragement, I shall do my best. First report is on Wednesday after the full Opening Ceremony dress rehearsal which our daughter go tickets for. We are sworn to secrecy though!
  
  Reply
Patricia Nice says:

Jul 23, 2012 at 4:16 pm

Very clear layout, even I can find my way round it!
Good luck as Olympic volunteer, looking forward to hearing the inside story.
Patricia

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- cliverh says:
  
  Jul 23, 2012 at 4:33 pm
  
  Patricia, thanks for the kind words, I shall try and live up to the WSW standard.
  
  Reply
retiredaircraftengineer says:

Jul 23, 2012 at 4:54 pm

I trust you have arranged a flypast for the days you are on duty!

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- cliverh says:
  
  Jul 23, 2012 at 5:01 pm
  
  Thanks for looking Dave. Yes the aircraft are at Northolt on standby ready for my command. I have a hot line to Dicky Patounas and he will let me know so I can point through the clear domed ceiling in the Excel and wave at him!
  
  Reply
David Wickham says:

Jul 24, 2012 at 1:30 pm

WELL DONE YOU! Enjoy, will be following. Staying further away than when Munich was on!!

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