London 212 Review: Even the Weather has been excellent!

So, this is it! In little over two weeks, the 2012 Olympic Games have come and gone. It went quick, if you asked me, and pretty much very smooth. Here’s my review on what caught my eye these Games, seen and experienced as a Spaniard who has lived in London for the past ten years:

1. The Weather: 8.5/10. I am Spanish, but because of my ten years living in this country there is one thing I can quickly talk about to break the ice. And fair played to it: Mr Weather during the past two weeks has been mostly fantastic. Not only in London but in the other venues across the country that have hosted Olympic events.

What a landmark to feature the Olympic Rings, and the sun is out yet again!

True that there has been the odd bit of rain and some days and evenings where it went below 20 degrees. But the fact that it hasn’t been too hot either has helped athletes perform at their best more times than not – including many new world records. We even have had some truly sunny days which have allowed for some great photos to be taken and really think ‘this is not too bad, at all’.

2. The atmosphere: 10/10. Having lived in London for ten years, I have seen the city prepare itself to embrace the Games step by step. Even though it unofficially boasts the title of ‘Capital of the World’ with its great diversity and international DNA, these past two to three weeks there has been this floating extra multinational feel to it.

More chances than ever before for cultural exchange, London 2012

The nations, united at London 2012

Wherever you have gone to, you could easily see people wearing with pride their national colours, with a general ‘feel good’ attitude and ease that really felt special. Whether sharing the tube with members of the Chinese Olympic team who were a little lost, high fiving fellow Spanish fans as we walked by, sharing a table at the Olympic Park with a Swedish family before a handball semi final or watching the basketball in the big screens next to some French fans, it really has been as diverse as I have ever experienced in London.

Members of the Chinese Olympic team, a little lost on the Victoria Line.
They had just won the men's race walk gold, mind

Colourful Blues fans before France's handball men's semi vs Croatia. Les French won.

Ah, and a BIG shout to all the Game Makers and volunteers, police and transport staff, cleaners and everyone else working around the clock to deliver this beast called Olympic Games: great work guys.

Game Makers take a moment to enjoy the beach volleyball - they have been great.

Police has been ever present yet one never felt a military-like status, like the media had scared us with. Well done.
And great shout to the troops, stepping up for the G4S fiasco.

3. The Olympic Park: 8/10. You might have missed my first review of these Games, which you can read here, so here’s a second review of the Park having been there a second time: with its great, spacious and green layout, it still missed some more ‘sporty’ atmosphere; like a big radio show from a stage somewhere which we could all hear through the loudspeakers system. Instead of that commercial music they played all along. We could see the BBC studios, but we couldn’t hear them. Wouldn’t it have been great if we had a couple of DJs going “and now, over to the Basketball arena where Argentina lead USA by ten points...” or something like “and over to the North Greenwich Arena where team China are closing in on another gold medal...”. Or just plug BBC Radio 5 live. Either way Rio 2016, take note if you may. Ah, and more screens to watch the action – not just the two huge ones but many more, smaller ones, scattered around the park.

Diving at the Olympic Park, with a decent zoom you could get good pics!

But otherwise the Park was the place to be in London the past two weeks, and by the looks of it many of us were lucky enough to enjoy it.

Fans and spectators enjoy the sun around the Olympic Park - the Velodrome stands out in the distance

4. The free events: 9/10. From the road cycling to the marathon swimming, the race walk or the ‘normal’ marathon. Hundreds of thousands, if not millions, have enjoyed watching some sort of Olympic event for free. The world didn’t end if you had not been lucky enough to get hold of tickets, there have been plenty of events to watch for free. And not just any events, with the road cycling and the marathon featuring most of the best current athletes in the planet, being able to watch them for free is just extraordinary. Ah, and there have been the BT sponsored free Live sites too, like Hyde Park, which was a great success with its five big screens and tons of activities going on around the park every day.

BT Live at Hyde Park - hundreds of thousands embraced the free-to-attend concept, loved it

5. The sights of London: 10/10. Seeing these world class athletes perform at some of the world’s most iconic landmarks, particularly in the centre of London, has been also a great experience. Every year London hosts already some great events (Wimbledon, the Marathon, the FA Cup Final) but seeing the Olympic cycling, the race walk, the triathlon and other events taking place on the very same streets and parks that many millions of us walk by every day it really is an honour. And considering the history of London itself, knowing that it won’t most likely happen again in my lifetime –for all the up and coming developing countries around the world bidding for them- it takes things to a whole new level.

Beach Volleyball just off the Prime Minister's pad - and that big wheel in the background

Olympic men's marathon swim at Hyde Park

Cameraman covering the marathon swim at Hyde Park .
Not sure about all those photos though, swimmers are IN the water.

6. Friends’ enthusiasm: 10/10. I have been working in the sports industry for the past ten years and I have been lucky enough to have made great friends along the way. It has been great to see how many of us working in the industry have embraced the Games these past two weeks. Mostly through Facebook and other social media, my news feeds were virtually covered in Olympics related stuff, and tens of pictures from my friends attending events here and there. And those not attending where sharing their pride and enthusiasm for this or that medal or performance. Truly fantastic.

7. The Games on TV: 9/10. Or actually I should say the Games on ‘any device’ because I watched Live and delayed action on TV as well as my laptop and my phone. The BBC have again raised the bar when it comes down to Live coverage. With 20+ Live HD channels available for free (i.e. I mean paid by the £145.50 a year License fee tax each of the 26 million households pay in the UK) and all the live and Video On Demand clips they have made available on their website, there really are no excuses not to have seen all the action happening these Games. If anything we needed more days! With all the official and unofficial social media offerings and Apps out there, these really have been the Digital games – not only to watch but to interact with. Twelve years ago few would have anticipated this boom; let’s see how do we ‘watch’ them twelve years from now!

OK, everyone is allowed a slip every now in a while - BBC coverage London 2012

8. The Opening Ceremony: 9/10. Here is a little secret: I was supposed to have performed at the Opening Ceremony (as a dancer of some sorts) after passing the two auditions earlier in February. But I couldn’t commit to the demanding schedule they sent through. It asked for you to attend 3-4 hrs rehearsals between three to five times a week for about twelve weeks before the Games, with only transport costs being reimbursed. With everything else going on in my life I had to decline this opportunity but having been involved in the very early stages, and knowing the number of rehearsals they put in, I have huge respect for the show they put together. It was a great musical all round, a fantastic tribute to all the shows we can see day, day out in the West End whether dramatic or fun, modern or old. The NHS bit might have been a little over the top but having been helping at the Great Ormond Street Hospital before I think that was a great touch.

9. The transport: 9/10. I used public transport to attend all events and in all that was six different days. Even though my very first trip to an event started with a familiar “we are sorry to announce that the O Eight Thirty Two South West Train to London Waterloo has been cancelled; we apologize for the delay this may cause to your journey”, everything else since has run smooth and without much trouble or particularly large crowds.

Plenty of bright signs to get around

Plenty of people at the Olympic Park - we made it!

At all stations there have always been more than enough volunteers to help me find my way. It was also boosted by the extra bright pink London 2012 signs pointing you right or left depending on what event you wanted to go.

10. The Sport: 9.5/10. Ah yes, this is about sport after all, isn’t it? I have been lucky enough to attend men’s basketball, handball, beach volleyball and marathon swimming, and women’s volleyball, diving and beach volleyball. 

Men's handball semi final  - relentless; nobody saw his foot was on the ground before releasing the ball, ooopss!

My pick definitely is women’s volleyball. I played the sport a few times in my teens, and have watched it on TV many times but actually attending live was great. I was even luckier to see both Brazil and the USA playing each other in the early rounds of the competitions, and they both ended up with the Gold and Silver medals in a great final (which I watched, recorded, on TV).

Brazil v USA in the first round - they both went on to play the Final

Brazil v USA first round - in the Final Brazil won 3-1

At the top of the medals table no surprise to see the USA. The nation that has made sport become a huge industry in its own right really embraces the Olympics like no other, though it relies heavily in Athletics and Swimming to pile up their medals (about 60% of those come from these two sports alone).

China has too embraced sport at the highest level and though there always are rumours about their tough training techniques and regimes, it is a fact that they have the most widespread list of medals across many disciplines.

The Chinese take over the Queen's house.

The Brits, my adopted country, have performed exceptionally well, more so considering there are only sixty million of them; I hope this carries forward in Games to come. And my beloved Spain: what a sight of the medal table after week one, with just a couple of medals. But week two has delivered yet again.

A Spanish race walker never gives up - vamoooos!!!

Mostly through team sports but with some fantastic individual performances too – and mostly by women too, like sailing, swimming, water polo or handball. Really well done girls (and guys), you have delivered despite all the cuts in funding and the horrible economic situation the country is going through. There is always hope.

Ok then, this is it. I am sure I have left many areas out, but since this is unofficial and all that, I can always write about those later. In any case, and despite the empty seats mostly in week one, it has been great to be part of the Greatest Show on Earth at least once in my lifetime; hopefully there will be more. Rio, hello.

The sun sets at the 2012 Olympic Games - THANK YOU, LONDON

The London 2012 Olympic Park Experience, a 7.5/10

In the first of a series of Olympics entries, today I cover what was my experience at the Olympic park last Sunday, from security to entertainment, from food to staff or venues and more:

Security Controls: 9/10 - Despite all the worries about the GS4 fiasco, having to call in at the eleventh hour thousands of troops to cope with security, this part of the experience is pretty much painless, quick and straight forward. Just like passing through the security controls at an airport, only that instead of a boarding pass you just need a ticket – ah, and there is no plane waiting for you, just great sporting action! You are allowed to bring in your own food and empty bottles of water to refill inside, which always helps to save money on drinks.

Entrance to the Olympic Park, with plenty of space and easy access

Olympic Park Layout: 8/10 - It is incredibly spacious and all is new and clean, plenty of plants and trees and walking areas, a little river and so on. Directions to venues are all clear with big signs; you can’t get lost but even if you do, there are plenty of stewards who can point you in the right direction.

The distance between one end and the other is about 20 min walk at leisure pace. It is good to keep this in mind if you are going to the Basketball or the Cycling from the (strategically located) Westfield shopping centre main entrance to the Park.

The Olympic Stadium and the eeerrr.., metal thing call the Orbit, from within the Olympic Park

One of the several super size maps to know where you are 

Atmosphere outside the venues: 4.5/10 - This really disappointed me. Unlike many big sporting events where the loudspeakers system plays its own radio station, commentating on the events that are on, on what court and what time, who is winning, who is losing, with live commentary... Here they play commercial music. That’s it. I’ve got my iPod for that, thank you very much.

Having been to the likes of Wimbledon, Formula One, Moto GP and many more high profile events, where you walk around and can still hear what is going on, here you have no opportunity to know what’s going on around the park, or elsewhere for that matter. And this is not just any sporting event. It is the ‘greatest show on Earth’, right?

Well, if it is, I really want to know what’s going on, at all times. I want to be informed. I want to listen to it, to watch it; on small screens placed along the big walking areas – surely Panasonic has a few spare ones?

Well, they do: there are a couple of large screens in some green areas – duly sponsored by Panasonic and British Airways, mind- but they are really quiet and off the main walking sites.

Plenty of space, and colours!

And there is no entertainment, no streets entertainers to play jokes or games with the crowds. Surely from the 10,000+ cast members that took part in the mighty Opening Ceremony on the Friday, some would love to continue to entertain passers by at the Olympic Park or at other venues.

There is a floating great spirit, with so many colourful fans with their faces painted, wearing wigs and their national colours with pride, taking photos and so on. But it just feels all quite flat throughout.

I missed particularly not seeing the Games mascots –what are their names again?- wandering around and having their photos taken with the visitors. Don’t be fooled, this is not Disney World and it seems here the mascots only exist for merchandising sales or on telly.

Commercialization: 7.5/10 – They have found a fine balance between offering essential services that are needed (food, beverages) at reasonably acceptable prices and variety –it is not only McDonalds but there are other British or International food places- and those not-so-necessary products, as the BMW car dealer.

There is a large souvenir shop where you can get everything and anything a London 2012 logo can be placed on. I didn’t stop by as there are thousands of retailers across London where you can buy stuff. And if you are subscribed to the London 2012 newsletter, you are reminded regularly of the many products available too.

The Souvenir shop - an a vigilant eye, protecting us all

Loyal to the promise of no corporate branding at the events themselves, there are some places elsewhere where you see clearly the Visa, Samsung or Coca-Cola logos and products. But it is all quite reasonable given what they invest in this beast called Olympic Games. You cannot escape Visa since that’s the only card accepted when not paying in cash, mind.

I love the “treat corners”, fully branded and supplied with Cadbury’s products. Not a huge menu in offer but the mere concept is highly plausible.

Colour everywhere

Working Staff: 9.5/10 – There are plenty of stewards, so-called “Game Makers”, to help you with virtually any enquiry. From mobility issues to finding the right venue or service or once at the venue to locate your seat and so on. Everyone is really helpful and even when they don’t necessarily know the answer, they try to help or point you in the direction of someone who may.

Game Makers, they do make a difference working so hard - and they deserve a moment to relax

The army staff present is very discreet and other than for their clothing you can barely notice them. I saw more in proportion at the Earl’s Court venue on the Monday where I attended the women’s Volleyball; and again they were all really helpful.

Basketball arena: 8/10 – Being a temporary venue it can be tricky to make them feel like ‘proper’ venues. In this instance it definitely feels good from the start. The access to the seats is quite straightforward; maybe not so much if you are sitting at the very top of the rows, but the view is very good from every seat, no one can really complain. It is not rocket science and does the job nicely though there is nothing mind-blowing about it, simple as.

The Basketball Arena from the outside

The Basketball arena - view from my seat  - yes I see the empty seats too, don't get me started...

Brazil's NBA player Nene flies to the hoop

The entertainment in between matches and at half times is visually good and the cheerleaders are very committed and display some decent tricks, whilst the 'venue host' is constantly engaging with the crowd and via the big screens.

Cheerleaders literally going upside down to please the crowd

Aquatics centre: 6.5/10 – Also a temporary structure when it comes to most of the seats, the climb up to the general admission seats is really a climb. Up the stairs for four floors outside the actual venue, then open the door to enter the middle level of the stands, turn a right and continue to walk up the stairs until you are sitting five rows off the top row, like I was. Despite the height, the view is reasonably good too. With the help of my camera zoom I was able to get a few good pictures and made it all more enjoyable.

View from up high

View with the zoom - one, two, three you move first! 

It was a little too warm when I got there around 2.30pm and throughout, however just at the end, as if by act of magic some breeze started to come through from the outside and it helped cool things down a bit. It was raining cats and dogs too.

The shame though is, because of the roof layout inwards and downwards, from your seat you cannot see the opposite stand, which makes you feel it may be empty there.

Do not expect to be entertained by anything other than the actual competition though, because there is nothing really.

A Chinese fan celebrates the Gold medal

Earl’s Court arena (NOT AT THE OLYMPIC PARK), Volleyball: 6/10 – OK, this is a permanent venue used for multiple purposes during the year. It was built a few decades ago and you can tell. Access through security is fairly quick and sharp but once inside there really isn’t much to do other than go to your seat. The space between the entrance and the arena is like a big hangar with some stands selling food and drinks, some merchandising and toilets. It is poorly lit and you feel you rather be on your couch. 

Earl's Court  - home for Olympic Volleyball

Once you make it to the arena proper, the area of play and surroundings is all very modern-looking and colourful. The seats though at the upper tier have seen some events over the years. Being so old it means there are many pillars around and many seats have to be “killed” or not sold so not to miss the action, which is a shame. Once you are in a proper seat, the view is very good and no one is ever too far or too close.

View from the 2nd level Earls Court

 The non-match entertainment consists of a host similar to the one in the Basketball arena, with young cheerleaders dancing along the perimeter of the court. The unexpected entertainment was to learn that USA mega star Kobe Bryant was present too, cheering for his fellow country women. But given the time and age we live in, one would expect a more compelling all round compelling experience at the venue. So that’s why I give it a 6 out of 10.

Olympic Volleyball action - relentless

Olympic Volleyball - never a dull moment!

Ok, after the spectacle on court I’ll give it an extra point. End of.

And this is it for now. Thank you for reading and stay tuned for more Olympic stories in the coming days!

PS One final comment, I can't help myself but seeing so many empty seats really is terrible. LOCOG please do.something.about.it.NOW!

Empty seats at the women's volleyball on the first Monday. Sad.

Wimbledon’s Middle Sunday – NO TENNIS!!!

Today’s post was prompted last evening when I heard that a friend of a friend was planning to queue for tickets at Wimbledon from 06.00am today...

Any other day of the famous two-week tennis tournament that would have been a brave and most admirable commitment, no doubt. However today happens to be the “Middle Sunday” of Wimbledon, which means there is no tennis played, at all.

At The Championships a couple of years ago - I know, what a show off

It never stops amusing me how people can commit to attend sporting events around the world. It probably is only matched by music fans attending big concerts. Both sharing the fact that they are live performances and the added excitement of being within relative touching distance of their heroes and idols.

On a different level I think we have Star Trek or Star Wars or the Twilight Saga or Harry Potter fans waiting for their new movies or video games being released or premiered.

Somewhere else we have loads of iPhone and iPad fans too queueing overnight or for days. But these ones I still cannot get. How much better is your life going to be by getting your hands on that brand new phone or tablet or games console a week earlier than your next door neighbour? That I cannot understand, sorry.

Anyway, sorry I digressed there. Back to Wimbledon...

What is this Middle Sunday? Well, it means there is no play on this day. One would think that, given it is a Sunday it would be a great day for people to attend the tournament and make a big day out of it. However traditionally there has almost never been play on the middle Sunday at Wimbledon - the three only exceptions in the history of the event are listed in Wikipedia, and they'll probably have to do with the weather, I bet.

Why do they do it? Well it is not for the players to rest, no. Those brave ones remaining at this stage after three or four rounds of play are well used to the demands of long tournaments; and if not, they will have to. They do not need to rest per se. In fact, the rest day is for the grass. The players go and practice a little in the non-match courts, or go for a light round of golf, or go shopping in London, or take a spa day. Meanwhile the green stuff used as surface on those courts, almost unique to the international summer of tennis as a British trademark, is given something equivalent to a ‘spa day’ too. Yes, the grass needs to rest after six days of battering by over 200 of the world’s best tennis players, with already over a hundred and fifty matches of anything between one to five hours having been played on it; and there are also the exhibition matches played by former players, the juniors and the wheelchair tennis too. Plus sun, rain and wind too! So yes, the grass needs to breathe and recover, so the expert keepers work all day looking after it, trying to recover as much as possible for the second week of tennis madness starting the day after; magic stuff.

Really? You cannot be serious! If you asked me, I would say that this was probably necessary back in the day when the grass was not as strong as today, and did not receive the treatments it does today. Just look at pictures of Wimbledon in the 1970s or 80s and those of today and you can see the difference; and I am not only referring to John McEnroe’s hair style and tight shorts! However, considering the stronger grass used today, coped with the demands of modern day family life, I think they can move the ‘rest day’ to the Monday after, and play on the middle Sunday, so more people have the chance to attend without having to take a day off work, taking their little ones along too. It would also, probably, mean higher TV audiences around the world; and, incidentally, more revenues from match day for the All England Lawn Tennis Club from those expensive food, drink and merchandising stores. But the latter is probably not something that really worries them!

For a highly traditional and conservative tournament that has adapted itself very well to modern technologies, introducing the use of hawk-eye technology or building a see-through roof on Centre Court which can be ready within twenty minutes, it seems to me moving the rest day to the Monday would work quite well too. If they are seriously considering starting the tournament one week later so the players can rest more after Roland Garros and transition better from clay-court onto grass, why not move the rest day by one day and make it a full tennis weekend? Just a thought.

One extra challenge: This year, in addition, those very same courts will be hosting the Olympic Tennis Event... in just over two weeks after the Final is played next Sunday. Thankfully there will be fewer players, about half those of the Grand Slam, but still, one can only imagine the amount of work the keepers and gardeners will have in their hands between the two events. To those men and women, and to the grass itself, best of luck guys and remember, thankfully this doesn’t happen every year!

A different type of challenge altogether building the new Centre Court Roof; back in... April 2008!! Yes that is a big snowfall!

What do I do then? Well, there is no tennis but it is not the end of the world. As you may remember, one week ago I wrote about the Euros saying that Spain and Italy had a good chance to win the thing. Well, if you haven't heard and have no plans this evening yet the Final is today and those two are playing it. With all my heart I hope Spain wins, but even if we don’t, what a great generation of players we have had. To them I say “UN MILLON DE GRACIAS” for having made us dream so many times. And good luck Champions. VAMOOOOOSSSS!!!

Unas buenas JUDIAS CON CHORIZO para animar a la Roja - VAMOS!!!

SUMMER OF SPORTS - THE BEGINNERS GUIDE

Today’s post opens a new editorial line in our blog. After reviewing thoroughly my adventures around South East Asia between March and April, it is time now to shift onto one of my biggest passions: the world of sport, and how that affects the lives of millions. In a light-hearted way, don’t you worry.

I will not try to be a so-called ‘pundit’, trying to provide an expert technical analysis on a particular game, a race or an event. No. For that you have other sources. These will be my views on how sporting events have, are having and will have an impact in many people’s lives.

For now I will focus on two main events this summer, the Euros and the Olympics.

1. EUROPEAN FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS – AKA “THE EUROS”

I assume that, by now, you are aware that there is this football championship taking place in Poland and Ukraine. In the rare event that you are not, I can tell you that it is a BIG deal in world sport.

It is not as important as the financial troubles that all our so-called political leaders are trying to fix, but it is very important for a lot of people. Here is why:

What is it:    The best national football teams in Europe are playing to decide which team, which country, is the best of them all.

We are now in what they call the ‘knock out stages’ and by 1^st

July we will know who the new best one is.

The current holders are Spain. From the remaining teams Germany are looking quite strong, as they always do, then Spain, France and Portugal have a good chance too; with England and Italy maybe a little less.

In short, all the big European countries are heavily involved.

But even if you have not heard any of this, you surely must have heard of Cristiano Ronaldo or his girlfriend, the top model Irina Something. He’s taking part in this tournament, and she is with him. 
And Shakira, she is too. No, she is not playing, her boyfriend Gerard Pique of Spain is (and no, he is not a king, he plays for Spain). Basically everyone is involved.

Memories from watching the Euros 2008 in London

How BIG:     Just so you picture how big a deal this tournament is, every game televised in Germany of their national team is being watched by over 20 million people. That is roughly one in every four Germans, and about 3 in every 4 people watching television in Germany at that time or 75%... And that is only Germany!! Then in the United Kingdom, the England team matches are watched by around 15 million people, which also is about one in every four Brits but only about 1 in 3 watching telly at that time. It is a similar picture across the continent. While the rest of the world also watches en mass.

                   Then you have all the other TV channels, websites, newspapers, online forums, betting homes, travel agents, hotels, restaurants, pubs, airlines, apparel companies, beer and soft drinks manufacturers, technology providers, sponsors, ticket and hospitality sellers (and re-sellers), public institutions, politicians, etc, etc, etc... following this three-week tournament to get an idea of how BIG it is.

The outcome of a single game can have huge implications for all those listed above, and many more. It generates billions of Euros of money for a lot of people and industries not only in Europe but around the world.

That is what I call BIG.

Why me:      Whether you follow football or not, this tournament is affecting most people’s lives in more ways than they think, for example:

                   A guy, Antonio, watching the game alone, with family or friends, at home or in a pub has to arrange how, where to do so.

                   Antonio's girlfriend, wife, mum or sister, Jane, having to arrange their days based on the match schedule.

                   A taxi driver, Peter, taking Antonio to the pub, and taking later Jane to a friend’s house, Mary, for a DVD marathon of Desperate Housewives.

The pub bartender, Jurgen, serving the pints of beers for Antonio and his friends, or the friend of the wife, Julia, arranging snacks for the evening.

                   Jurgen deciding with the pub chef, Sven, the extra meals for the evening, or Julia going to the local supermarket ran by Mrs Mollie to buy the snacks and cakes.

                   The pub landlord, Tomas, ordering extra beer from local supplier, Ashton, for the weeks ahead, or Mrs Mollie ordering extra posh snacks for the weeks ahead from her supplier Yvonne.

You get the picture by now...

What next:   Once the winner is decided, that country will go mad for a period that can vary between two years (like in Portugal or England) and one month (like in Germany; simply because they are so efficient they only allow distractions to last for that long before focusing on the next goal).

                   And in four years time we do it all over again. Fun!

Meantime:   There is the World Cup in the summer of 2014 in Brazil. I know, nice, isn’t it?

This is like the Euros but with Brazil and Argentina, too and the rest of the world is also given a chance.

Spain also happens to be current holder. Which confirms that, as you must be guessing by now, our economic power is, indeed, inversely proportional to our football talent. Oh well, one of those things.

2. LONDON OLYMPIC GAMES – July 27 to August 12

Also this summer the Olympic Games take place. If the Euros are big, this is HUGE, really is.

What is it:    This is like the Euros and the World Cup, put together, multiplied by 100 and squeezed together into a two-week sporting extravaganza, mostly in one city, with hundreds of daily world-class competitions covering lots of sports from athletics to swimming, from gymnastics to table tennis or hockey, and plenty of festivals and celebrations happening around them.

How BIG:     In an effort to have a number in your head and as a rule of thumb, we can safely assume that the Olympic Games coming to London will have generated by the time they finish, directly of indirectly, a whooping £25+ billion worth of business - and that is just a very general estimation. 
                   That is what I call HUGE in my world.
                   To put things into perspective, and according to Wikipedia, a global giant like The Walt Disney Company generates roughly the same amount of total revenue IN AN ENTIRE YEAR around the world. Apple Inc, who have brought us the iPhone and the iPad generate about just over double that; I mean we are talking about Apple, right?
                   
                   It is the largest sporting event happening in the world, by all accounts:

10,000+ athletes taking part, roughly split 50/50 men and women.

10,000+ performers in the Opening Ceremony.

200+ countries represented.

25+ different sports, with many events within each sport.

                   8,500,000+ tickets for sale, with average prices varying from £20 to £200 – you make the numbers...

                   14,000,000+ meals served on site to all attending the events, including athletes, officials, spectators etc.

                   900+ Gold, Silver and Bronze medals.

                   And that is before we look at all the international coverage, or the Paralympics taking place later this summer, etc, etc, etc.

The Olympic rings welcome arrivals at St Pancras International Eurostar 

Why me:      Because we all like to dream. And to dream, if possible, that our team wins. As a spectator, this is the one time every four years where you follow table tennis, archery, diving, handball or wrestling with the same passion as you follow your football every week during the year, or Desperate Housewives for that matter.

                   Taking part is all that should really matter. But deep inside us, we know that what we want is to say that “our country has won another medal”. It feels good to know that and to say it and to share it, and to rub it off some of your friends too – yes you know it. Unemployment may be at an all time high, but hey at least "we've won a gold medal in archery".

                   Great thing being, IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE A GOLD MEDAL. As long as it is a medal we are generally happy. Gold is definitely  a bonus.

Now, that doesn’t happen many times in life generally speaking. When going for a job interview and they tell you “sorry but you came second best” or “I am afraid that was the last chocolate cake”.

                   Of course, in life like in sports, there are ways around issues and it is about getting over them what counts. There are more jobs, and more cakes. In sport the are more Games too.

                   In addition, your boyfriend, your husband or your dad will definitely be watching some or most of the Games at home, at work, in the pub or on his phone (or all of the above). It is like a lockout for two weeks where sport is all that matters to us – so why not try to join at times to spend some time together.

                   And hey, who knows, you may even get a medal too!

What next:   We do it all over again in 2016, in Rio de Janeiro...

I KNOW!!!!! Brazil again!!!! How kind from them, eh?!?! Let’s get those bookings sorted!!!!

Meantime:   It is back to reality for most of those 10,000+ athletes, and for most of us too. Table tennis or wrestling will not be as exciting again; we may keep an eye on the odd 100 metres race or a basketball world championship final. But in reality, we’ll go back to focus on our football, or formula one, or golf, tennis or rugby, or cricket. Or Desperate Housewives for that matter.

And of course there is also the tennis at Wimbledon, the European Athletics Championships, Formula One or Moto GP motor racing, the Tour de France cycling and many, many more taking place this summer... But we’ll take care of those in due course.

For now, sort out your agenda for the summer and enjoy!