NOC ? OMG NGR! V HPY!!

I was thrilled delighted to be given the Nigerian delegation (NGR) as my National Olympic Committee (NOC) for London 2012 – my first choice  on my Expression of Preference Form (EPF).

 Nigeria NGR

The Volunteer Management team let me find out  in a  novel, fun manner.

At the last RST (Role Specific Training) training session I was directed to sit at a specific table - table 6 - and note the letter B, all very mysterious. Once seated,  I began asking what countries the others at the table had given as their preferences:  Seychelles (SEY) , Mauritius (MRI), 'Not Bothered Happy to be Part of the Olympics'  (NBH!)and Nigeria (NGR). Further asking those Games Makers  on the surrounding tables revealed – Ghana (GHA), South  Africa (RSA), Zimbabwe (ZIM) and so on, all  countries from the African continent.

There was also a big clue in two huge globes on either side of the stage with their Africa continents   facing the audience.

After the obligatory intro and review of the Games Maker Journey and what we might expect going forward from the Volunteer Team management – NOC Relations Team Africa. We were asked to find and open the folded piece of paper with our name on it amongst the pieces all neatly folded inside another piece of blank paper in the center of  table 6. We each found the folded A4 piece of paper with our name on.

We then all agreed to unfold our piece of paper after the count of 1-2-3!

When I opened my piece I was SO happy to see I’d been given NGR. Even happier to find on my table were all six of the Games Makers who have been assigned to NGR.

From left to right 

Alex, Bernie, Me, Christine, Adedapo, John 

Games Maker Team NGR

We spent the next hour or so exchanging views, ideas,  thinkings  on the Olympics, Nigeria and Life:

Why did you choose Nigeria ? [Me: My Dad came from Nigeria] What part of Nigeria are you from?  [Me: My Dad was from Etitti a village near Owerri,  Imo state] When was the last time you were there?  {Me: A while ago 1989] What’s your favorite Olympic sports? [Me: Gymnastics and Men’s 4 by 400m] Have you got any tickets? [Me: Yes; for weightlifting]  Do you know any of the Olympic team ? [Me:No, but interestingly  some of the team had already met some of the NGR NOC at last summers  test events so that’ll certainly get us off to great start] and so it went on. Great fun!

It soon become apparent to me these were people I could work with all intelligent, fun, keen, enthusiastic wanting to make the games work for Nigeria – brilliant!

Now I’ve my country and my team next is VST – Venue Specific Training – I get to see inside the Olympic Village (OLV)