please empty your brain below
Having been a bit sceptical about the whole London 2012 thing to begin with we did go to the Paralympics - brilliant, an amazing experience from the time we got on the train in the Midlands to getting back home at 0130 the following morning. London was simply "joyous"

Rob Gullen | 28.07.22 - 7:45 a.m. | #

Like Rob, I was sceptical about how 2012 would be, figuring it would be a lot more annoyance than value. But in the couple weeks before it started, I got pretty excited about it, and was able to get tickets for boxing at the Excel and Beach Volleyball in Horse Guards Parade, as well as watching the marathon (free of charge). Also got to see both swimming and cycling during the Paralympics. So glad I got into the spirit and managed to get some tickets to see it all.

Greg | 28.07.22 - 8:10 a.m. | #

A fantastic post it’s personal without losing the sense of thee event.
I for one look forward to more post about London Olympics 2012.

Michael | 28.07.22 - 8:12 a.m. | #

It wasn’t just the Olympics - although it was the epitome - it was the whole of the time up to and including 2012 that was superb.

The following year, the slide started and it’s never been the same since.

I would also dearly love to go back for one more day, and although I really tried I can’t help but think I still didn’t do enough to immerse myself in it at the time. Wondrous times. Incredible memories. We’ll probably not experience anything like it again in our home country again in our lifetime.

Geofftech | 28.07.22 - 8:13 a.m. | #

Old news

MKIan | 28.07.22 - 8:28 a.m. | #

Amazingly similar to my experience of the day.

bblb | 28.07.22 - 8:35 a.m. | #

When I saw the RUN the first Wednesday I was totally underwhelmed. It transformed in darkness.

scrumpy | 28.07.22 - 8:36 a.m. | #

Good times. I went to the cycling on that day, thrilled to be at an Olympic games for the first time. Richmond Park was abuzz, then after they whooshed by I went on to Esher to catch the latter part of the race in something of a party atmosphere family gathering with bubbly and waving flags at the kerbside.

And yes - it's been a thorough trashing ever since.

NickW | 28.07.22 - 8:44 a.m. | #

Lovely write-up, I often wonder who has the better experience of any event covered live on TV, sometimes those involved are uncertain what happened and decisions are made by officials based on reviewing videos.

Still Anon | 28.07.22 - 8:53 a.m. | #

I was at the park that day as well, for the evening women's basketball, so had plenty of time to explore the park beforehand. A VERY late finish, we were the last event to finish that day, but the Javelins were still running.

I also went to see the Handball!

Looking back, I loved the whole Olympic experience, and am so pleased with my 2012 self for making the most of what was truly a once in a lifetime experience.

Mikey C | 28.07.22 - 9:10 a.m. | #

I took the whole two weeks off and managed to get to over 20 events for the Olympics, saw 7 British golds and loved every second. Best summer of my life.

David | 28.07.22 - 9:26 a.m. | #

I’m out walking the same route round the park this morning. Thank goodness it rained in July 2012.

diamond geezer | Homepage | 28.07.22 - 10:50 a.m. | #

"... once back in the flat sat down and watched the Olympics on TV because we had no idea what had been going on because we were actually there."

I did the same with the Diamond Jubilee a couple of months earlier!

Try as I might I was unable to get tickets for any of the events, but on reading this there is no way I could have sat for 4 hours watching 'sport'!
4 minutes is generally my limit!

Cornish Cockney | 28.07.22 - 11:06 a.m. | #

Thinking back, I missed the main events of "Super Saturday" as I was watching Freestyle Wrestling in ExCel LOL

Mikey C | 28.07.22 - 11:18 a.m. | #

I spent hours for days trying to get tickets for the Olympics. They were all sold out to the corporate sponsors & the seats remained empty most days. We managed to get tickets for the 100m Semi finals Track Rack where we saw Oscar P run. Given that London residents were told it was out games & we had to pay a levy to fund it we felt cheated. I could hear the opening ceremony from our garden in Forest Gate. As locals we were priced out of most events. At least we have the park as a legacy,

Andrew Jarman | 28.07.22 - 1:53 p.m. | #

I'm sorry Andrew, but getting tickets for the Games was piss-easy so long as you didn't over-reach your ambitions. I got to attend sessions in the Olympic Park 13 times.

And it sounds like all you got were tickets to the Paralympics, which were even easier to get into. Sorry you missed the rest.

diamond geezer | Homepage | 28.07.22 - 2:51 p.m. | #

What a lovely write up. I absolutely loved everything about London 2012. It was great spending time in London that summer, the place just buzzed.

Us Brits can be a sceptical lot but when we put on a show my god we do it well!

Hadders | 28.07.22 - 6:59 p.m. | #

Agreed DG, if people just went for the 100m final, then yes you'd be outbid, but there were loads of different sports to go for, and plenty of tickets available.

Mikey C | 28.07.22 - 11:07 p.m. | #

We got fab tickets for two days of thd Paralympics.

Cornish Monkey | 28.07.22 - 11:31 p.m. | #

DG: Oscar Pistorius made it to the semi-finals of both the 400m and 400m relay in the Olympics, so Andrew may well have been there and not the Paras.

My shift in the broadcast centre during the games was 5am-3pm, but I made decent use of my accreditation letting me have a wander about the park. I spent a couple of afternoons in the resale queues and got to see some basketball and water polo qualifiers; and thanks to a blag (and a not insubstantial charity donation) some medal events at the cycling.

I only have two minor regrets: not snaffling a copy of the media guide to the Opening Ceremony before a colleague told a cleaner it was OK to bin them; and failing to notice Serena Williams at a pin badge trading event in the Press Centre's bar - she was apparently lovely and happy to chat with everyone. (Especially if you had a good pin badge to give her.)

martin | 30.07.22 - 6:46 a.m. | #

I was a reader then, and from memory there were complaints that the order lottery meant that buyers wouldn't know how much they may have deducted from thier Global Olympic Partner credit card. So those that could afford potentially winning a lot, could risk putting in more orders.

Apart from the cheap seats in the big events, I put orders in for heats of various smaller sports. I 'won' tickets for Hockey and Synchronised Swimming, sometime later I had a call from the ticket agency telling me unfortunately too many tickets had been sold for the swimming and would I be happy to exchange them for another sport for no charge? When she said athletics including the 200m final was available I nearly bit her hand off. We were near the front of the middle tier and on the corner leading to the start of the 100m. Of the accrual athletic events, I can only remember Bolt winning the 200m, but I have very clear memories of arriving at the park in the day, walking round, waving at Jake and leaving at dusk. Brilliant.

I didn't miss out on the aquatics centre though, we got tickets during the Paralympics and cheered on Ellie Simmonds.

James | 02.08.22 - 12:08 a.m. | #











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