It's an odd concept to comprehend- a 'sportsphobe' like me ever having an 'Olympic Moment'! For those who know me they will tell you that I have never actually kicked a football in my life. The only time I did any kind of sport was when forced to in school P.E lessons, which I loathed! Preferring instead to skive off and hide in the girls toilets with fellow rebellious bunkers - Happy days!
But years later these thoughts have changed somewhat, no doubt due to the Olympic Games being right here in the U.K. This is definitely without doubt something for us all to get excited about. As if you need reminding the world's biggest sports event- one that has been going on for hundreds of years - is happening on our doorstep in Stratford!
Even though I didn't bother with tickets to see any of the actual events, the prospect of getting a sneaky peek at the Opening Ceremony was far too exciting to dismiss. I'm sure I read somewhere in a newspaper or online that it promised to be the 'Spectacle of the Century' so this had to be good!
It was a spur of the moment decision, I reasoned with myself - the worst thing that could happen would be that all I got to see some of the extremely fit male athletes about to take part in the ceremony. The best would be to actually get to meet some of these extremely fit male athletes by any means necessary! I decided to risk it and go for gold!
The actual moment happened as I waited at the main entrance to the Olympic Park, I joined in with everyone else waiting to get in, some had tickets others were just there like me to enjoy the atmosphere. But absolutely everyone was having a good time! Smiles all around it was difficult to believe that anywhere in London could house that many people and be so calm at the same time!
There were people from practically everywhere; I made out American, Japanese, Italian accents among the crowds. People from the U.K were here and there was definitely a sense of quiet pride among them. A happy and joyous one that emanated from the thronging crowds! Ok, so I didn't get to salivate over lovely seven foot rowers or gymnasts (which I had hoped for) but being a part of this was a feeling that money just couldn't buy. I was right there in the place in which I grew up in, I thought about being a teenager in Stratford, Canning Town and East Ham. The very same places that had transformed- now the eyes of the world were on us! To say I felt incredibly proud would have been a gross understatement! This was my Olympic Moment and one that will stay with me for the rest of my life.
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