Last Wednesday we organised the Devon Ability Games to Inspire in Barnstaple. There were twice as many kids as last year and more schools involved. 252 kids and 7 schools plus teachers and helpers, 40 volunteers and 4 RELAYS staff. Controlled mayhem.
The kids could choose up to three sports from tennis, badminton, boccia, rowing, football and frisbee golf and two things to try fencing and racing wheelchairs. The fencing was very popular as they all wanted to be pirates. All the kids had a marvellous time.
Two special guests were Ryan Scott a sprinter and Keryn Seal a Paralympian footballer in blind football. They were great with the kids, signing autographs, chatting to them, encouraging them and posing for photos.
The kids were very well behaved with only a couple throwing wobblies. The young volunteers from Petroc were great. Good humoured, friendly and reliable. They were also about 16 and had to get themselves organised as there were too few of us to do that.
The coaches recommend the people who tried hardest for medals and those called forward were so delighted. The joy on their faces was fantastic. We had also got last minute Mandeville's to give out to each school and they seemed pretty happy to receive them.
One particularly good sport teacher dressed as a Kangaroo and went around hugging kids. He did complain that they thought he was a dog! I think it was the big ears. Well done Matt for getting into a smelly costume and making the kids laugh.
I am still shattered, but it was unforgettable.
Saturday, 22 October 2011
Thursday, 20 October 2011
Velodrome scaletrix
It's here. The Velodrome scaletrix I mentioned in an earlier post.
I have just seen it advertised on the www.London2012.com website on the shopping pages. It is expensive at £70, but if only my baby nephews were a bit older I would be thinking seriously about it.
As it is I have sent the link to my brother the keen cyclist. I think he will be able to come up with a reason as to why he should get one
I have just seen it advertised on the www.London2012.com website on the shopping pages. It is expensive at £70, but if only my baby nephews were a bit older I would be thinking seriously about it.
As it is I have sent the link to my brother the keen cyclist. I think he will be able to come up with a reason as to why he should get one
Saturday, 24 September 2011
Wheels on fire
Last week the Tour of Britain cycle race came to Devon for a day. A sunny day after some of the other stages. I was there on the side of the road watching and waiting for the information car to come through.
When I saw the helicopter overhead I knew they were close, even though it was earlier than expected. Then there are the police and support motorcycles coming through and their sirens blaring at the kids from the primary school. The kids were literally jumping up and down and cheering and laughing.
Suddenly two riders came through. Was this a breakaway? I didn't even clap them, though the kids did. They were ahead of the information and I never did find out who they were.
People in the villages nearby where the race also passed through were out on their picnic chairs. Cars were grabbing spots in local laybys. Flags had been put out along main streets and welcome banners. It could have been France!
Crediton High Street was a sprint location and I can tell you that those guys go very fast. About a dozen of them in a line four minutes or so ahead of the main peleton, so more motorcycles and support vehicles with bikes on top. It's not just the cyclists to watch, all the support vehicles join in tooting and flashing their lights at the kids. The ambulance with its siren too. It is really exciting.
For kids in rural Devon to see this and meet riders ,as Devon County Council had organised, must be tremendous. Something you will never forget.
Mark Cavendish and his teammate were first and second for that stage and a local lad from Plymouth won the King of the Mountain stages on Dartmoor. I think he almost killed himself.
I love the people writing 'Come on Cav' on the road into Crediton, the men in cycling gear riding parts of the route, the family with Norwegian and Devon flags. We are told it brings in money to the local economy, but frankly I am pleased to see so many folk smiling and laughing and clapping.
The French use the Tour to promote French tourism, food and culture. We are catching on fast!
You can see some great photos of the Devon and other stages at www.BritishCycling.com/
When I saw the helicopter overhead I knew they were close, even though it was earlier than expected. Then there are the police and support motorcycles coming through and their sirens blaring at the kids from the primary school. The kids were literally jumping up and down and cheering and laughing.
Suddenly two riders came through. Was this a breakaway? I didn't even clap them, though the kids did. They were ahead of the information and I never did find out who they were.
People in the villages nearby where the race also passed through were out on their picnic chairs. Cars were grabbing spots in local laybys. Flags had been put out along main streets and welcome banners. It could have been France!
Crediton High Street was a sprint location and I can tell you that those guys go very fast. About a dozen of them in a line four minutes or so ahead of the main peleton, so more motorcycles and support vehicles with bikes on top. It's not just the cyclists to watch, all the support vehicles join in tooting and flashing their lights at the kids. The ambulance with its siren too. It is really exciting.
For kids in rural Devon to see this and meet riders ,as Devon County Council had organised, must be tremendous. Something you will never forget.
Mark Cavendish and his teammate were first and second for that stage and a local lad from Plymouth won the King of the Mountain stages on Dartmoor. I think he almost killed himself.
I love the people writing 'Come on Cav' on the road into Crediton, the men in cycling gear riding parts of the route, the family with Norwegian and Devon flags. We are told it brings in money to the local economy, but frankly I am pleased to see so many folk smiling and laughing and clapping.
The French use the Tour to promote French tourism, food and culture. We are catching on fast!
You can see some great photos of the Devon and other stages at www.BritishCycling.com/
Friday, 9 September 2011
Look and Learn
I used to get a magazine called Look and Learn which was a general knowledge full colour magazine for kids with intellectual pretensions. I did not realise the last part at that time!
Watching the World Athletics from South Korea last week I realised just how much I have learnt about sport, and athletics in particular, in the last two years. I now understand some of the tactics and listen to the commentators in order to learn more. And it does help my enjoyment to understand and appreciate what is going on! Colin Jackson talking about the hurdler Sally Pearson made me watch what she was doing really carefully. Well, the slo-mo repeats.
I know, how nerdy am I?
Last night I watched a Diamond League evening of athletics from Zurich with some of the same athletes. Not all the big stars were there, but there were ones who didn't do well last week or who were left out of their teams and came along to show what they can do. So the British Relay men got around the track and didn't false start or drop the baton or bump into anyone or trip over and came 2nd. Hooray! It is like Michael Johnson says, "Get in the Final and anything can happen"
That's my mantra for life now.
I thought the Brits would win, but a Jamaican ran like he was on fire and took the race for his team. And that team was described as a scratch team-so not even the B team! Those folk are fantastic. They also seem to enjoy winning so much and they are fun to watch. As Mark Lewis-Francis said:
"I got run down by a Jamaican. But I can't complain about that."
The crowd last night were really supporting the athletes as the noise was noticeable even on tv. They were clapping and banging the barriers. The atmosphere must have been wonderful. I ended up exhausted on the sofa!
Watching the World Athletics from South Korea last week I realised just how much I have learnt about sport, and athletics in particular, in the last two years. I now understand some of the tactics and listen to the commentators in order to learn more. And it does help my enjoyment to understand and appreciate what is going on! Colin Jackson talking about the hurdler Sally Pearson made me watch what she was doing really carefully. Well, the slo-mo repeats.
I know, how nerdy am I?
Last night I watched a Diamond League evening of athletics from Zurich with some of the same athletes. Not all the big stars were there, but there were ones who didn't do well last week or who were left out of their teams and came along to show what they can do. So the British Relay men got around the track and didn't false start or drop the baton or bump into anyone or trip over and came 2nd. Hooray! It is like Michael Johnson says, "Get in the Final and anything can happen"
That's my mantra for life now.
I thought the Brits would win, but a Jamaican ran like he was on fire and took the race for his team. And that team was described as a scratch team-so not even the B team! Those folk are fantastic. They also seem to enjoy winning so much and they are fun to watch. As Mark Lewis-Francis said:
"I got run down by a Jamaican. But I can't complain about that."
The crowd last night were really supporting the athletes as the noise was noticeable even on tv. They were clapping and banging the barriers. The atmosphere must have been wonderful. I ended up exhausted on the sofa!
Friday, 26 August 2011
Tickets, Tickets
I know I have a job related to promoting London 2012, but I don't have a special way of getting tickets for events. No, truly I don't. Even athletes have to go online.
The Paralympic tickets will go on sale soon so you might like to check on www.london2012.com/tickets for the latest information, timings etc to plan what you want to see. I don't know how popular these will be, but judging by the initial phase and the fact that they are far cheaper I'd guess pretty popular!
The Day tickets may also include a way of getting to an event, but I wasn't entirely clear about that from the website.
Two other current options are to look at the Thomas Cook website as they have an allocation of tickets or use any contacts overseas to buy them via their IOC. Later on there will be a website for people to sell their allocated tickets they don't want and any that come back from overseas.
Or go in for competitions for them. Lloyds Bank customers can do that.
OK, no more requests for me to get you tickets please. I am thinking of the Beatles song Ticket to Ride for some reason...
The Paralympic tickets will go on sale soon so you might like to check on www.london2012.com/tickets for the latest information, timings etc to plan what you want to see. I don't know how popular these will be, but judging by the initial phase and the fact that they are far cheaper I'd guess pretty popular!
The Day tickets may also include a way of getting to an event, but I wasn't entirely clear about that from the website.
Two other current options are to look at the Thomas Cook website as they have an allocation of tickets or use any contacts overseas to buy them via their IOC. Later on there will be a website for people to sell their allocated tickets they don't want and any that come back from overseas.
Or go in for competitions for them. Lloyds Bank customers can do that.
OK, no more requests for me to get you tickets please. I am thinking of the Beatles song Ticket to Ride for some reason...
Tuesday, 23 August 2011
Games Makers
I was invited along to the Games Maker selection event in Plymouth last week. I was interested to see how it was organised.
I handed over my passsport and had a photo taken. I was given a white wristband, but forgot to ask what the white meant...I assume it was for a general volunteer. There were plenty of Cadbury's heros around to munch as Cadbury's, now Kraft, is a sponsor.
There was some information to read and a couple of videos playing showing the Olympic Park and giving information about The Games. Then we were all ushered into a space to see a film about the interview. This was hosted by Eddie Izzard and basically told us to relax and tell the interviewer how great we were.
The interviewers were all local people and I can confirm that as I knew two of them whom I saw when I was leaving. Just shows you how small a place Devon is!
What I said was written down and I guess will be reviewed in London and we will hear about December. Plymouth was the last place they visited and they were there for ten days. A good thing was they had chosen the time of the Firework Championships on the Hoe so they were all looking forward to going out in the evening and watching the displays.
People did look tired and I was on the penultimate day. The staff I met were all friendly and pleasant and obviously understood that they were marketing LOCOG. Well apart from the young man on the shop counter who looked at the floor and never smiled. I doubt he sold much!
The people who were being interviewed all seemed really keen to be involved and I hope that they get the chance to be part of London 2012. I now wear my wristband and impress my colleagues. I wonder how many Exeter students have been interviewed? I will know soon!
I handed over my passsport and had a photo taken. I was given a white wristband, but forgot to ask what the white meant...I assume it was for a general volunteer. There were plenty of Cadbury's heros around to munch as Cadbury's, now Kraft, is a sponsor.
There was some information to read and a couple of videos playing showing the Olympic Park and giving information about The Games. Then we were all ushered into a space to see a film about the interview. This was hosted by Eddie Izzard and basically told us to relax and tell the interviewer how great we were.
The interviewers were all local people and I can confirm that as I knew two of them whom I saw when I was leaving. Just shows you how small a place Devon is!
What I said was written down and I guess will be reviewed in London and we will hear about December. Plymouth was the last place they visited and they were there for ten days. A good thing was they had chosen the time of the Firework Championships on the Hoe so they were all looking forward to going out in the evening and watching the displays.
People did look tired and I was on the penultimate day. The staff I met were all friendly and pleasant and obviously understood that they were marketing LOCOG. Well apart from the young man on the shop counter who looked at the floor and never smiled. I doubt he sold much!
The people who were being interviewed all seemed really keen to be involved and I hope that they get the chance to be part of London 2012. I now wear my wristband and impress my colleagues. I wonder how many Exeter students have been interviewed? I will know soon!
Thursday, 28 July 2011
DASH Games
It was the hottest day so far this summer and the venue at St Luke's school in Exeter was great. The coaches worked hard to give everyone a good time; and it was everyone. The kids, aged from 3 to 15, and the carers who joined in.
I have enjoyed all the days I have attended, but I was so moved on Monday. Kids who have had difficult lives were being given a special day. The organisers ran themselves ragged making sure everyone was having fun and joining in.
London 2012 is being used to encourage more people to get active. I would like the naysayers to come along to the next DASH event and to take part in the many local activities that are being organised.
I have enjoyed all the days I have attended, but I was so moved on Monday. Kids who have had difficult lives were being given a special day. The organisers ran themselves ragged making sure everyone was having fun and joining in.
London 2012 is being used to encourage more people to get active. I would like the naysayers to come along to the next DASH event and to take part in the many local activities that are being organised.
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