What A Lot of 'Games'!

17 days, ten medal races and nine reporters producing over 600 quotes. Wow it was a hectic time in Portland recently, but so well worth it. I could complain about the long days but I won't because for me it was just like being at the boat shows but better because I got to work outside.

Having done the test event last year (2011) I felt I was prepared and almost knew what I was coming in to, however so many others didn't have a clue. I was hugely impressed with the media centre and as our base, our home for the weeks that contained the Games it was a great place to be and work and served us well.

The classic British summer-time weather was in full force during the first week and we were doing all we could to stay warm, adding an extra layer under our Games Makers shirts became a necessary. However the sun did come out and by the middle of medal race week we were changing thermals for suncream and rolling up our sleeves embracing the sun.

"Grab this opportunity" I was told before I left and that is definitely what I did. It was so great to see and work with people I know but the bonus was to meet new people and make new contacts. The Metro blogging continued and further writing came my way in the form of the daily Weymouth & Portland Games Maker newsletter. This was all on top of the reporting and quoting we were tasked with.

Given that everyone was working hard and having to produce results and great quotes we worked well as a team and had fun. One of the highlights for me was getting to work in among the broadcast area and helping the various international teams with results and backgrounds. I worked my way in to some great positions in this area to achieve some good quotes while listening in on the BBC, ESPN, OB, Fox, Channel 9.

I enjoyed it more than I thought I would even though we had to wear 'that' uniform and the truly hideous one-size-fits-all, dinnerlady-like, Olympic News Service (ONS) bibs. But it didn't matter as the sailors came through to speak to us and the job got done.

There are many great memories I have taken from this experience, ones that I will remember forever. It has really inspired me to do more, be more and to follow what I want to do. More on that soon.

Now for the Paralympic Games, or as I heard one kid say recently: the Powerlympics. Brilliant!