Thank you to the Games Maker, schhhh if you know who they are, for the following post.
Part 2
I was running late for the tube from Epping so knew I would be late in for my shift, but my 'boss' didn't mind. I found the workforce bus to take us from one side of the Olympic Park to the other. Got some pics of other venues on the way round as well, which was good. Signed in and no goodies today, which was disappointing but hey ho, can't expect too much too often really.
I was statione...
I was running late for the tube from Epping so knew I would be late in for my shift, but my 'boss' didn't mind. I found the workforce bus to take us from one side of the Olympic Park to the other. Got some pics of other venues on the way round as well, which was good. Signed in and no goodies today, which was disappointing but hey ho, can't expect too much too often really.
I was statione...
d in my usual corner for the first game which was South Africa V Great Britain. It was good to hear the 'football band' out in full force and the usual renditions of "Rule Britannia", "God Save the Queen", "Jerusalem" and "Is this the way to Amarillo?" coming out regularly during the game. Former Chelmsford (And Invicta :rolleyes: ) junior Ashley Jackson scored a screamer of a penalty corner early in the game and it's always good to have them score at the end you're 'working' as you really feel the emotion of the goal and what it means to the players. The rest of the half was a mixed bag really but GB were the better side.
Got soaked at half time as they water the pitch with huge sprinklers and with the wind, it blows everywhere. Was all right though as it cooled me down somewhat.
In the second half it was a definite case of 'turning tides' as SA really came at GB and struck with 2 goals in quick succession with about 10mins left. The crowd really came to life then and got behind the men in red. Something then happened which I never knew you could do in field hockey and GB pulled their goalie with about 2:35 or so to play for an extra forward. It paid off as almost instantly through Jackson again as he tipped in/diverted a shot past the SA goalie and if there was a roof on the Riverbank, it would now be in Hyde Park. Even the other Games Makers were cheering and punching the air (Impartial and 'keep your emotions to yourselves wherever possible' went right out the window!) as the ball struck the back of the goal.
The crowd tried to be the 12th man for the GB team, but it wasn't to be and it played out as a 2-2 draw.
I then helped out with the Olympic Broadcast team during the 'mixed zone' part of the post-match proceedings. Basically this means every player has to go through the mixed zone and if requested by the media, they MUST speak to them and do a post-match interview.
Tea-time next and time to see what was on the menu today. It was either vegetable chilli or roast turkey. I went with the turkey and had that with roast potatoes (Horrible they were!), cauliflower cheese (Passable) and some other unknown vegetables. Also had a salad with it, but as was pointed out from one of the other volunteers "Why give you a roast dinner with the trimmings and then dump a load of salad on it? They should at least give you a second plate/bowl". Dessert was custard or cupcake. I went with custard as I'd not heard many good reviews from others about the cupcakes...
Then it was time for a trek up to the back of the block and arguably the best view of the OP. It's great up there as you're right in front of the coaching video box so you have a number of coaches up there as well as technical guys recording every game. There are 5 seats reserved for photographers and apparently so far only about 4 GM's have had photographers up there in 4 days of action. I don't get why more don't go up there, the views are outstanding across the OP. The video is below on my timeline.
Next up was Pakistan V Argentina and to be frank, I nearly fell asleep if it wasn't for the strong winds that high up. Second half I was in the Venue Media Centre helping the photogaphers out in there with whatever they needed. This involved showing the newer guys how to get to pitchside, up to the stands, where to smoke etc.
I then heard the sad news of the cyclist who died, but in the media driven world we live, one of the guys I was helping had got some distance pics and was quickly emailing them to his agency so they could be put out along with the wires about the death.
Onto the final game and I started out in the VMC and second half I was pitchside again to direct photographers and such like. Also at the end of the game I was again helping with the mixed zone and applauded both Germany and Korea off the pitch as they both had done well during an exciting 1-0 win for the Germans. A couple of the German players even shook my hand as they came off. Nice gesture from them and makes the Games that bit more special.
Got home fairly hassle-free, apart from the horrible walk through Westfield, but hey ho, it's worth it!
Really looking forward to Thursday and Friday next week as I'll get to see the medals being handed out in the women's competition and the men's semi-finals and placing games
Got soaked at half time as they water the pitch with huge sprinklers and with the wind, it blows everywhere. Was all right though as it cooled me down somewhat.
In the second half it was a definite case of 'turning tides' as SA really came at GB and struck with 2 goals in quick succession with about 10mins left. The crowd really came to life then and got behind the men in red. Something then happened which I never knew you could do in field hockey and GB pulled their goalie with about 2:35 or so to play for an extra forward. It paid off as almost instantly through Jackson again as he tipped in/diverted a shot past the SA goalie and if there was a roof on the Riverbank, it would now be in Hyde Park. Even the other Games Makers were cheering and punching the air (Impartial and 'keep your emotions to yourselves wherever possible' went right out the window!) as the ball struck the back of the goal.
The crowd tried to be the 12th man for the GB team, but it wasn't to be and it played out as a 2-2 draw.
I then helped out with the Olympic Broadcast team during the 'mixed zone' part of the post-match proceedings. Basically this means every player has to go through the mixed zone and if requested by the media, they MUST speak to them and do a post-match interview.
Tea-time next and time to see what was on the menu today. It was either vegetable chilli or roast turkey. I went with the turkey and had that with roast potatoes (Horrible they were!), cauliflower cheese (Passable) and some other unknown vegetables. Also had a salad with it, but as was pointed out from one of the other volunteers "Why give you a roast dinner with the trimmings and then dump a load of salad on it? They should at least give you a second plate/bowl". Dessert was custard or cupcake. I went with custard as I'd not heard many good reviews from others about the cupcakes...
Then it was time for a trek up to the back of the block and arguably the best view of the OP. It's great up there as you're right in front of the coaching video box so you have a number of coaches up there as well as technical guys recording every game. There are 5 seats reserved for photographers and apparently so far only about 4 GM's have had photographers up there in 4 days of action. I don't get why more don't go up there, the views are outstanding across the OP. The video is below on my timeline.
Next up was Pakistan V Argentina and to be frank, I nearly fell asleep if it wasn't for the strong winds that high up. Second half I was in the Venue Media Centre helping the photogaphers out in there with whatever they needed. This involved showing the newer guys how to get to pitchside, up to the stands, where to smoke etc.
I then heard the sad news of the cyclist who died, but in the media driven world we live, one of the guys I was helping had got some distance pics and was quickly emailing them to his agency so they could be put out along with the wires about the death.
Onto the final game and I started out in the VMC and second half I was pitchside again to direct photographers and such like. Also at the end of the game I was again helping with the mixed zone and applauded both Germany and Korea off the pitch as they both had done well during an exciting 1-0 win for the Germans. A couple of the German players even shook my hand as they came off. Nice gesture from them and makes the Games that bit more special.
Got home fairly hassle-free, apart from the horrible walk through Westfield, but hey ho, it's worth it!
Really looking forward to Thursday and Friday next week as I'll get to see the medals being handed out in the women's competition and the men's semi-finals and placing games
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