London 2012 8/08/12

Today started out with James bursting into my flat to tell me he knew someone who was giving basketball tickets away for this afternoons men’s quarter finals. There were four tickets available which we snapped up for myself, James, Kate and Katelynn. We went to a block of offices to collect the tickets from a woman who James said knew his ex basketball coach which is how we managed to get them just hours before tip-off!



Whereas most basketball games were played in the temporary basketball arena, these games were being played in the North Greenwich Arena (O2 Arena). We made our way to the arena via tube and train while Kate was getting live feed from the equestrian as she was looking for stories to develop from the event.



When we got to the arena we passed through security and I showed my BAJ press pass to see if I could get media access. Although security was tight on letting people into the media area without the official Olympic press pass I managed to find and get some decent stories from fans in the stands.

The arena was nearly full capacity and the atmosphere was electric for Russia v Lithuania! It was surprising to see how many Russian's turned up. I interviewed a group of Russians sat next to us who were really helpful and happy to give their time.



Russian fans

 We then watched Spain v France which was full of big name players. James went as close as he could to court side to take pictures on his professional camera he bought and looked for interviews with officials.

 When the basketball ended we stayed behind to soak in the Olympic atmosphere and to find more stories. However we were tight on time as we had to head to the Olympic Park to collect the tickets for the football match tomorrow night. We made our way to Stratford where we got the tickets and while in the Olympic Park we interviewed volunteers who spoke about how much they were being paid whereas some weren't paid at all. They also told us about the long hours they put in but how good the atmosphere is and how everyone has come together for the Games. Like one of those documentaries where they try and uncover the truth, I was sure there was a darker side to the security of the Games as Sky News and BBC News had emphasised on lack of security and control. I wanted to find and talk to someone who was honest about how the Games security in the Olympic Park was being controlled.

My Olympic tickets!

Katelynn led us to the Team GB house which was just a stone throw away from the Olympic Park. Upon arrival we had to wait in reception before being scanned in and given our press pass which gave us access to the whole house. Even Kate and James were allowed access which was great as we planned on working as a team to get stories from whoever we could find! We were taken upstairs and into a corridor which had written across the wall “Our Greatest Team” and the signatures of ever British athlete competing in the Games. We were then taken into a room where I couldn't prepare myself for what was about to happen.



The floor was layout in a track and field style which made it's way round the champagne bar, buffet, plasma TV showing the Games and the Olympic torch. Scattered across the room were signed pictures of the athletes who had already won medals for Team GB and the back wall was glass overlooking the Olympic Stadium and Stratford station which was rammed with thousands of Olympic fans squeezing their way to the Park.

The most overwhelming part was that the room was full of Team GB athletes which included present, upcoming and former medallists. Seconds past before we decided to split up and get as much coverage as possible. Katelynn went one way and we went the other. First we interviewed three young Taekwondo athletes, Ruebyn Richards, George Lee and Jamie Abley. They were here under a programme which brings upcoming Olympians together to get a taste of the Games before it's their turn to take the world stage. The three Olympic hopefuls were aiming to star in the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Games. They told us that being here and seeing the Olympics first hand made it less nerving for what was to come. They had been competing in the martial arts sport for over 10 years being put through national bodies. Although originally from South London, Durham and Nottingham the young athletes had lived together for a year where they train twice a day under the programme and also get to train with current Olympic Taekwondo stars. They came across very level headed and confident towards the next 4 years and it's no surprise considering Ruebyn beat the world No.1 in Manchester last October and George Lee has been ranked world No.1 until he was beaten in the World Championships. They think the Olympic Games is incredible so far and it definitely helps being on home soil as they've managed to get tickets to almost every Taekwondo event. After the interview we gave them our contact details and are currently following them on Twitter and Facebook so we can keep in contact with them on their journey to Rio.

George, Ruebyn, Jamie, Kate, Me and James

Still buzzing from that interview we approached an Olympic Wrestler. Oleksandr Madyarcmyk was a 28 year old who had been competing in professional wrestling for the last 10 years. The interesting thing about Oleksandr was that although he was originally form the Ukraine his coach took him to Britain to train. He has lived over here for 4 years where he has a British wife and passport. He had won the British Championships to claim the No.1 spot which made him eligible to wrestle for Team GB which he seemed very proud of. He had chosen to wrestle for Team GB rather than his home nation which was intriguing and was very excited to wear the Team GB colours with pride in the Rio 2016 Games. Like the Taekwondo athletes, we exchanged details and will stay in contact with Oleksandr as he continues his Olympic career.

Very shortly after the Interview with Oleksandr, Sarah Winckless entered the room and came over to where we were sitting. After meeting and greeting we were psyched for the interview where we were joined by Katelynn. She started by telling us about the programme she was running which began at the Beijing 2008 Games and that she was the chair of athletes commission in London. She was very keen on bringing the young athletes to London where the programme would create an Olympic experience that would prepare them for the next coming Games where they would participate. The student accommodation for the athletes is in Loughborough but before the Olympics Sarah took them to Macao where the athletes performed and were selected for Team GB. Sarah expressed having the young group of athletes in London during the Games has been phenomenal. She spoke about how they saw the Olympic torch pass through and met the Royal family. She wants to help the athletes understand where they are on their journey as well as learning along the way. She said “Nothing being a sacrifice but everything being a choice”, which she has fused into the young Team GB athletes on their journey as Olympians. She explained how the programme she's running is an adult to adult programme which the athletes love and she would have loved if she had the chance to join as a young Olympian. The programme runs for 22 days and consists of 130 athletes and 57 coaches where Sarah explains that they work as a family helping each other out.

After getting information on the programme for a story we went on to talk about Sarah's personal life as an Olympian. It came to a surprise to find out she was a discuss thrower to begin with before taking up rowing. She emphasised how special the Olympics is and how during her career she kept the right mind set as Olympic careers are short and vulnerable. It was fascinating to hear how she told us it was hard knowing she was becoming an Olympian but not in top form which pushed her harder and to the limit where she managed to clinch an Olympic medal which was the highlight of her career.

Sarah added “It's important for athletes to meet their hero. It's a hard journey where every story from past Olympians matter. It's not just about the podium.”

Katherine Grainger who won a gold in the current Games in the Double sculls is a room mate of Sarah's and a best mate. She gave us first hand quotes from Katherine which I will develop into a story and she explained how they've went through the journey to success together and how nothing comes close to that feeling as the national anthem plays and your awarded the Olympic medal.

Overall from the interview with Sarah I learnt that as the Team GB programme continues to grow and thrive, the Team GB athletes continue to win more medals than ever before.

We had photos taken with Sarah and the Olympic torch before being escorted from the building as one of the programmes activities was about to begin. As I walked out the Team GB house a sense of accomplishment ran deep through my veins. Ever since I was 7 I wanted to become a professional journalist and 13 years later at the mere age of 20 I've had the opportunity of a lifetime and have taken it by both hands. I was right in the heart of British Olympics and the best part of the experience was that I felt I should be there. It was like that 7 year old kid who walked round with a notebook and pen was finally able to say he's a full on journalist.

With emotions running high in all of us we went to get food and drinks but before we settled down we bumped into security personal from the Olympic Park who had just finished her shift. I took this opportunity to ask about the issues the Games has faced and surprisingly she took the time to explain how when the Games began the security struggled to control the thousands of fans coming and going in long chaotic days. However she did express since then the security has got tighter and managed to maintain a steady control of the Olympic Park and Olympic Village. I was grateful of how honest she was and can use the details she gave for a story in TNS.

Eventually back at the flat ready for bed I received a phone call from a friend Evie, who was also in London for the Games. Evie was working in “the worlds biggest McDonald's” in the Olympic Park and after a catch up I interviewed her about her experiences in McDonald's over the Games. She told me how a huge quantity of USA and Japanese tourists stormed the restaurant for photos with staff to prove they had been their. Also how a lot of filming was being done for TV shows and news programmes along with the thousands of visitors filling the whole building at all times. McDonald's had chose the best staff from branches all over the UK to head to their largest restaurant in the Olympic Park and provided the staff with luxury accommodation free tickets to events and vouchers to tours and activities all over London. It may not be a dream job but it defiantly sounded like Evie was having just as much of a good time I was having!



Another successful day down and I can only hope that the rest of my time here will continue to be the same!