Sunday, September 09, 2012

Exiting the Park, here endeth the Games. Back to life, back to reality.

A jubilant firework finale to the Games as athletes flood the pitch and the crowd queues to exit. Looked much better without the ad breaks.

It's a bit breezy up here. If you're a West Ham fan, try not to get a season ticket in the back row.

Sitting where the net curtain factory used to be, watching Coldplay perform Yellow on the site of the waste disposal warehouse

In the very back row of the stadium, behind the flags, looking down on two stages and a bubbly white pool, as the athletes enter.

Thank you LOCOG, blessed be the water fountains.

Walking up Stratford High St, past the banners, metal barriers and stadium roar, it's hard to believe that in 12 hours this will all be over

 Saturday, September 08, 2012

As Oscar bounds round his victory lap, that was the last track event of the London 2012 Games. Anyone want to buy a football stadium?

That moment where you discover the man sitting behind you has spilt a particularly vinegary white wine all over the space beneath your seat

The stadium DJ drops Just Can't Get Enough by Depeche Mode, and the crowd claps along (or they may have been clapping the high jump run-up)

Even second time around, the false ending to the Mexican national anthem catches everyone in the stadium out.

The ethnic/social mix of the Olympic Park is more Bromley/Bexley than Newham/Hackney

Thank you to everyone who came to my tenth anniversary party at the top of the Orbit. The cake was delicious.

My blog is ten years old today. http://t.co/7Zi6XjIo How did that happen?

 Friday, September 07, 2012

Sitting Volleyball: a gradual decline in euphoria as the crowd slowly deduces that British talent falls well short of lofty expectations

Table Tennis: four tables of simultaneous whiff-waff - it's v hard to follow the scores in each match. Storming sidespin & backhand rallies.

Wheelchair Fencing: fixed-base jousting, more set-up than play, attempting to jab your opponent's white apron. GB women trounced by HK.

Boccia: it's wheelchair petanque for those who can, and bowls aimed down a long tube for those who can't. Serious disability sport.

 Thursday, September 06, 2012

Thanks to my £5 London 2012 Commentary Radio, I can listen to events in the Olympic Stadium while sat at home. Should've bought one earlier.

I like exiting the Olympic Park via the Victoria Gate, it gives ten people an unexpected surprise.

Enduring Victory Ceremony fatigue at the pool tonight. 10 down, 5 to go. No cabinet minister has risked presenting yet, only the local MP.

Once again Ticketmaster have given me an excellent view of the Aquatic Centre diving pool. Sadly this is Swimming

 Wednesday, September 05, 2012

Wheelchair Rugby: the thuggish thwack of metal on metal, like angry dodgems

Wheelchair tennis: two hands on the wheels, one hand on the racket... how *do* they do that?

Goalball: hurling a ball they can only hear towards a goal you can't see. Ears over eyes.

A perfect blueskygorgeoustastic day in the Olympic Park

 Monday, September 03, 2012

Dinner beside the Pool of London as the sun goes down. The Japanese boccia team have turned up for a meal too.

 Sunday, September 02, 2012

@antimega loud, isn't it?

Inside the Tellytubby cuboid on the common, watching the wheelchair rifle shooting. It's all about the decimal places.

Eric the one-armed archer shoots his first arrow using his mouth, and scores 10. The crowd are hugely impressed.

At the Archery in Woolwich, just before firing begins, volunteers are attempting to rub the seats dry with towels.

 Saturday, September 01, 2012

Also visible from the heights of the equestrian arena: Shard, Gherkin, Cutty Sark, Queen's House, Docklands, Olympic Stadium, Orbit, Essex

Dressage is essentially an extremely polite horse walking around a paddock for five minutes in silence. Repeatedly.

The DLR doesn't look a day over 25

Apologies, Your Majesty, but the new second verse of the National Anthem appears to be Heroes by David Bowie

The Velodrome really has the wow factor. It's also unexpectedly deliberately hot. I have dressed badly.

9am and the Olympic Park is already packed. It's the Great British Family Day Out.

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