London 2012 Medal Table – we’re doing so well, I just have to keep a track – 3rd at time of writing.

London 2012 Medal table

Medal Table

I suppose today is the day when my olympic journey really started – I’ve got a ticket for the Badminton quarter finals. I was wondering what the standard might be after four of the top seeds (Korea, China & Indonesia) were disqualified for ‘not trying hard enough’. I’ve got mixed emotions about that. Some say they did nothing wrong – after all they were trying to win the Gold medal, others think they should have done their best – even if only to give the spectators the opportunity to see the top class sport they had paid for.

Anyway, I set off bright and early, well 10am, carrying my British flag – I know we’re not playing, but must always fly the flag, and wearing my Union Flag earrings (thanks Penny). The advice is to try to arrive 90 minutes early to get through the ‘airport style’ security screening. The expected travel time from Lewisham to Wembley is an hour and 5 minutes, however I was sure it would take much longer, but no, it took an hour and 5 minutes. I expected to be near the front of the queue with ages to wait but the queue was already enormous. Everyone else obviously thought like me and it would take longer.

My session started at 1230 and I arrived at 1105 – never mind it gave me the chance to do what I love to do, chat. I engaged in conversation with whoever would listen. One lady who was there with her grandchildren had flown back from Cyprus – couldnt trump me! Another group had come down from Newcastle for the week and managed to get a couple more tickets online while they were here. Luck of the draw – I had tried but nothing yet.
Once the doors opened, we got in quite quickly and were able to bask in the sunshine or go in and find our seats, use the ladies room, buy a drink or snacks or fill up our empty water bottles. All quite pleasant. It was my first olympic event ever, and I was a little excited and looking forward to chatting to my neighbours about the game, or the journey or how good it is to have the games in London. I found my seat, a little bit to the right of the courts, not too bad, though I would rather have been face on, it is the olympics, so I have to turn my head, its the olympics, I could cope. What wasnt so good was the fact that the seat was the middle seat in a row of seven. Hummm, ok, I may get another single person either side. No such luck. The first group came along and sat on my left, three young boys – they would probably call themselves men – but at my age they’re boys. I smiled and tried to engage – nothing! Oh well, will have better luck with the next group. Not a chance. Just before it started 3 more men – this time a man and two boys came and plonked themselves down. The one sitting next to me though definitely a boy was massive, and sat forward with his arms up, elbows resting on his knees. Well couldnt see a thing, I moved so I could see through his gi-normous hands, but when he applauded the view was worse. I did – very politely ask him to put his hands down, and he was so apologetic. Great sorted. Now I could enjoy the match – mixed doubles quarter finals between the Chinese (number 1 seeds) and the Danish who were the number 4 seeds. The Danes, Joachim Fischer and Christinna Pedersen, had tons of support in the arena and took the first set.

Unfortunately although they played really well, they lost the next two sets. It was a great match and I enjoyed it much more than the women’s singles that followed.

It wasn’t until I was on the tube travelling home that I found out (by overhearing somebody else), that we had won more medals. It was great to see the Badminton live, but that meant missing out on the C2 slalom, Rowing and the Double Trap Shooting on TV and the Cycling – Well done Sir Chris Hoy, Jason Kenny and Phil Hines. Luckily, the BBC are keen on showing everything a dozen times, so I got to see it after all.

Can’t wait until tomorrow – going to the Olympic Park to watch the Athletics and will see inside the Olympic Stadium!  I’m so excited I hope I can get to sleep!