Olympic fever
I worked in the Olympic village for three weeks, my first job since entering CAMHS in May of this year. The first week there was definitely the most fun and interesting.
I started on a Monday before the opening ceremony, and we had over 5,000 athletes walking in. Every day we were expecting 2,500 more athletes, so by the end of the week we were feeding over 13,500 for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
I was first put on cleaning tables, but eventually moved to attend the bins, which I first resented, but soon after realised it was the best job I had ever had. I was able to interact with all of the athletes and on my first day I met the Williams’ sisters.
The days were going so quickly that by Friday it was the eve of the opening ceremony, and meant all the athletes were in our food hall. I was emptying the bin and it suddenly went quiet. We looked to see why and there was a guy over 6ft tall, with sunglasses on, and wearing the Jamaican team colours. It was none other than Usain Bolt, the fastest man in the world, with his friend Blake.
As the days went on, the medal table was growing. The athletes were becoming more focused on their diets and what they spent their time doing and we were busy providing a first class service, catering for each athletes' individual needs. During our breaks we would be watching the games on TVs in our workforce dining room, it was weird seeing people on the TV winning gold and then seeing them the next day with the biggest smile on their face with a beaming gold medal dangling from their neck, certainly a once in a lifetime opportunity.
As the games were coming to a close, the amount of people we were serving was going down but we were still busy providing the top class service. It was funny seeing these athletes and being able to speak to them, and not knowing who they were but to someone on the outside they were their heroes and it was certainly a honour to do the job.
On my last day of the Olympic games, which was the Friday before the closing ceremony, I took 20 minutes from my break to just walk around the now empty food hall, and relive the memories of the last two weeks. I could feel the triumphs, the defeats and the camaraderie of all 10,000 athletes working their hardest to achieve their best and for some, getting the gold. It was an amazing feeling that I shall never forget. I wish it was something that could be replicated everywhere because throughout the two weeks of the games, everyone was being friendly and warm to each other, crime was reduced in the UK, and it was how a country should be the whole time and not just for two weeks of its history.
The Olympics was certainly an experience I shall never forget, and I feel proud of the achievements I accomplished and would not change a thing about it. Here’s to Rio 2016 and the young people that will make their games a success, because it changes your life. I wish them all the luck and success we had in working for the Olymic Games London 2012.
Nicky
