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London 2012 Olympics, but…it really DID live up to the hype…

North Greenwich Arena before the London 2012 Olympics Mews Gymnastics Qualifying Rounds

North Greenwich Arena before the London 2012 Olympics Mews Gymnastics Qualifying Rounds

I admit it, I got it wrong.

I wasn’t getting that excited by the Olympics. The Olympic Torch Relay did get me going a bit, even when Stuntboy announced he needed a wee at the crucial moment.

But all the other Olympic stuff just seemed all a bit un-real. Even though we actually had tickets, it just didn’t feel all that exciting. I think I got a touch of the Scrooge after all the build up. Perhaps it was also because I am not actually that into some of the sports involved; I know very little about anything that’s a bit out of the ordinary. Football, and cricket; their my games – and a bit of Rugby, but that’s mainly coz of Jonny Wilkinson…

I had even taken a bit of a British media attitude that it was going to all go wrong somehow, and we would end up looking like right narners. We didn’t have a good day with the Korean flag fiasco in the woman’s football, and I suspected that may be the first of many things that didn’t quite go to plan. We’d all end up showing just how great the British are at apologising for everything.

But, when the day came to go to the Dome, now re-named North Greenwich Arena, we got up bright and early. And it was all a bit of a breeze:

  • We got through security
  • Olympic helpers actually helped and were rather pleasant
  • Not a traffic jam in sight
  • We found our seats straight away
  • Stuntboy and Chatterbox didn’t get bored, even though we were watching Men’s Gymnastics for nearly 2 hours, and most importantly,
  • Team GB actually won the qualifying.

Amazing. Astounding. Astonishing. And lots of other cool “A” words that I can’t quite think of at the moment as I am a tad tired due to the early start…

I will now hold my hands up and admit that it was a wonderful experience, and one to remember for a lifetime; which is what its all about, isn’t it?

We choose to apply for the Gymnastics because both our kids actually do it. They love doing it. So we thought it would mean a little bit more to them to see the best in the world doing it too. And hopefully loving it was well.

We were right. They were both entranced by the whole session. The little information videos that the organisers showed in between the rotations made it all the more real to them. We did our best, but I have to admit that though I watch Gymnastics on TV, I have never been to an event before so am I little ignorant on the finer points. Now, the kids know what a Flare on the Pommel actually is.

The Olympics is all about legacy, and I suspect that both my two children will continue to be interested in gymnastics because of what they saw this week. And I am sure that Mr. Coe would be happy with that.

They went to their gym class today; and it was all the more exciting because their teacher KNOWS Louis Smith, and he won a Bronze medal; the Silver cruelly snatched away from him and his team-mates. Though it was wonderfully refreshing to see that Louis Smith, Kristian Thomas (Mr Strong as Stuntboy calls him), Sam Oldham, Max Whitlock, and Daniel Purvis were just happy to have done as well as they did. There was no talk of disappointment.

I am actually rather surprised that I managed to have a proper conversation with him myself given his connections. The kids were hanging off his every word. Hopefully, Stuntboy might actually stop bouncing all the time and start listening. He’s going up to the big class after the summer with his sister, so he better had otherwise perhaps he’ll set Louis on to him!

We are lucky enough to be going to further events later this week; to the Basketball and the VolleyBall.

And this time, we can’t wait, and we are ALL VERY excited.

London 2012 Olympics Mens Gymnastics at the North Greenwich Area

London 2012 Olympics Mens Gymnastics at the North Greenwich Area; Fabulous venue, fabulous atmosphere; Louis Smith and Kristian Thomas show us all why they went on to win a bronze medal at London 2012

Helen is a mum to two, social media consultant, and website editor; and this site is (we think) the only Social Enterprise parenting magazine! Since giving up being a business analyst when juggling travel, work and kids proved too complicated, she founded KiddyCharts so she could be with her kids, and use those grey cells at the same time. KiddyCharts has reach of over 1.1million across social and the site. The blog works with big family brands (including travel) to help promote their services, as well as offering free resources to parents of kids under 10. It gives 51%+ profits to Reverence for Life, who fund a number of important initiatives in Africa, including bringing running water and basic equipment to a school in Tanzania. Helen has worked as a digital marketing consultant (IDM qualified) with various organisations, including Channel Mum, Truprint, Talk to Mums, and Micro Scooters. She loves to be creative in the brand campaigns she works on. Get in touch TODAY!

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Vi

Friday 10th of August 2012

I loved my Olympic experience too. I wish I could get more tickets :)

Sarah

Monday 6th of August 2012

Wow, it sounds amazing! I'm very jealous! How fantastic that your kids can relate to it so well. Great post, thanks for sharing your experiences.

Helen

Monday 6th of August 2012

Glad you liked it, Sarah. We definitely got the bug - son just blubbed again coz Beth Tweddle didn't win a gold!

Helen

Monday 6th of August 2012

Hi again! You did comment, it landed in my Spam and I just pulled it out again :-) Hope ur still enjoying the Olympics, its fever pitch in our house!

Maria

Monday 6th of August 2012

How dare it send me to the spam folder???

Maria

Sunday 5th of August 2012

We started the Olympics with a rather grand lack of excitement but the swimming soon got us going and we have been really enjoying them. Feel free to pinch my post for the Britmums blog, I actually thought I had commented on the post about your Working Mums endeavours for Britmums with that link but it may not have gone through. Thank you!

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