Ten Years On......

That 'last' post was meant to be THE last post but couldn't resist this last, last post!

Hard to believe it but it's ten years on since London 2012. 

London 17 July 2022 - The Cow, Westfield Shopping Center

That's when and where we had our 'annual' reunion - the London 2012 NGR NOC (Nigeria National Olympic Committee) Assistants - in Stratford Westfield close to the Olympic Village which was our home along with Team Nigeria for two weeks in 2012 - ten years ago!

We - Alex, Bernie, Cath, Dapo, John, and I - try to meet annually but  Life and the Pandemic meant it's not every year as you can see...

A time to reflect on what has happened in those ten years.....we have become husbands, OBEs, FRSAs, changed jobs. moved up the management chain, retired, become doctors, fathers, grandfathers - all change - the reunion was our chance to share those changes. #GoodFun #AllLifeIsHere.

We also took the chance to remember and reflect on the many 2012 highlights, the common one was Golden Saturday - 3 Gold Medals for Team GBR.

Together we've enjoyed our personal London 2012 legacy sadly the same cannot be said of the Government with its promised legacy of the regeneration of the East End of London.

Sadly Dapo couldn't make the 10th, let's hope he can the 15th and that'll be the last, last, last post....maybe!

 

The Last Post...My Three Games Maker Objectives

Way back during the cold winter Games Maker training days - 28th Jan 2012 - we were asked to write down what were our three objectives for volunteering to be a Games Maker. The response was put in a self addressed envelope which was sealed .

That envelope appeared - 7th Aug 2012 - seven months later - pinned to the notice board in the Team NGR office. I opened it to be reminded of my three objectives.

1 To help others who want to be their best to be their best.
2 To be part of an event that puts the Great back in Great Britain.
3 To help others (and me!) to have a great time.
28/1/12

Back then it was all a bit cheesy but nevertheless written with belief and commitment.

As I reflect on those three objectives I can only say:  Mission accomplished!

This will be my last post so Good Bye & Thanks for being on the journey with me; see you in Glasgow at 2014 Commonwealth Games

Walking Weight Loss

Here's my final walking graph and summary :

Start date 13th July

Total distance walked in those 31 days 372.2 miles

Average daily mileage 12.1  miles
End date 14 August

The rushing around at the start - 15 plus miles per day - to set things up is balanced by the running around in the last three days organising departures with the ADS (Arrivals and Departure System) with the record set at 20.1 miles in one day as I tried to work out how ADS worked and make it  work for NGR.

While walking those 370 plus miles I lost 4kilos aka 8lbs, I weighed 85.5kilos at the start of my Olympic Adventure by the end I'd 'shrunk' to 81.5kilos.

All despite eating in Workforce Dining & MacDonalds aka and ending each evening in the small hours with quantities of crisps and wine.

BTW One of my 'take aways' is (was?) the very tasty MacDonalds Grilled Chicken Salad only 320 calories compared to the Big Mac's massive 1,320. 

Medals Like Buses?

To see or be near an Olympic medal was like waiting for a  bus - none for ages then two or more turn up together! It seemed like I'd been waiting ages for my opportunity to see one.

After almost 10 dys of waiting to see a London 2012 medal or to be seen with a London 2012 medal winner  I had three in encounters in one afternoon early evening spell.

Italy Men

SILVER Men's Water Polo

The afternoon opened with a chance encounter with two members of Italy's Silver Medal winning Polo Team as they were making their away from the Village's Main Dining to their apartment, complete with their Silver Medals [proudly!] around their necks.

GBR - Lutalo Muhammad  

BRONZE Mens's 60kg Taekwando

Next chance encounter was with GBR's Bronze Medallist in Men's 80kg Taekwando Lutalo Muhammad  as he walked past Team NGR on his way to Main Dining. Big Smiles and High Fives from and with him - a very nice guy!

Algeria - Taoufik Makhloufi 

GOLD - Mens's 1500m

Ending with a photo opportunity with the Algerian Gold medallist from the men's 1500m - Taoufik Makhloufi. Who I had seen before as I celebrated his win in the stadium with some Algerian Athletes who were ecstatic aka went mental at Taoufik's victory. I had tried to capture part of Taoufik's  victory lap - the moment his fellow athletes gave him an Algerian flag....

Taoufik IS in there!

Dinner with the Deputy Chef de Mission

Front the back left to right

Dapo, Hellen, John, Chef de Mission, Arek

Cath, Lekan, Me, Alex

(the Torch!) Bernie

To thank, Team NGR's NOC Assistants, we were invited to dinner at Nando's in Westfield  by NGR's Deputy Chef de Mission. To mark the event he had a photograph session commissioned of the Team (see above!). A great evening with some great people!

Saturday 4th August - An Unforgetable Olympic Memory

Saturday the 4th August I will remember for ever – I was in the Stadium GBR won three Gold medals, while NGR sadly won nothing.

I saw Jessica and Mo ride on the cheers of 80 thousand spectators, as both moved effortlessly to take the front in their races almost in sync with the rising  sound of the crowd. As the crowd became louder and louder so they ran  faster and faster leaving others in their wake  – moving (apparently!) effortlessly  to take the lead and Gold  medal – breathtaking!

Jessica

Mo

Watching Greg win his Gold was more tasking - he held the lead from early on -as others tried to exceed his jump and failing, with each jump by his opponents  there were respectful cheers while the loudest reserved for Greg. My heart was in my mouth when  Will Clay from USA seemed to out jump Greg  but the jump was given a red flag (to my relief!) Greg held on to his Gold.

Greg

On the night  the results for NGR  were regrettably not so golden. Amaechi Morton running in the men’s 400m hurdles, who has run 48.73s this season,  was disqualified  in the semi-finals. He might have been in medals as 48.10s by the Cuban Javier Culson won the Bronze.

Blessing 

centre in Team NGR Green

Blessing Okagbare one of the stars,  if not the star,  of team NGR track and field as she has the Long jump Bronze from Beijing. Came last in 100m finals running 11.01s having run 10.92 in the semi-final.

A sad night for NGR a happy night for GBR, together making a memorable for ME. 

More Nigerian Nails....