Dancing Giraffe contributor Teresa Alvarez recently got the chance to visit the Olympic Village in Stratford, London
Teresa Alvarez’s Mum (Stella) was the winner of a Waltham Forest News competition for a tour of the Olympic Athletes Village, courtesy of the Australian Olympic Committee. As she was unable to choose who to take with her, kind-hearted Stella gave the prize to her two grown up children and spouses.
The two hour tour included a behind-the-scenes look at where the athletes live during the London 2012 Games, and the chance to have lunch and rub shoulders with Olympians from all the competing nations.
After the various security checks the group arrived in the Village Plaza and were then taken on a tour of the main village by their friendly and welcoming Australian hosts. They were able to see some of the accommodation blocks where the athletes stayed (including inside the Australian team block), plus they managed to sneek a glimpse into Team GB headquarters, and visit exclusive shops, the alcohol-free pub, the Faith and Media Centre and much, much more.
Speaking about the exciting day, Teresa said:
“Our group had lunch at the giant athlete’s dining hall, which is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week throughout the Olympic and Paralympic Games. It is the largest peacetime dining hall ever constructed. The hall offers athletes unlimited choice of everything from vegan and macrobiotic food to traditional British, Mediterranean and even a MacDonald’s where Usain Bolt reputedly gets his chicken nuggets.”
While having lunch (including the famous nuggets) Teresa and her family also managed to spot Great Britain’s medal winning distance runner, Mo Farah, who kindly stopped and had a photograph taken with the group.
Teresa continued: “Not many people get the chance to have their photo with an Olympic Champion the day after they’ve won a gold medal so it really made our day. On our way out of the Athlete’s Village we saw all four of the Great Britain men’s coxless four team, who were wearing their gold medals so we got some more pictures. It was really exciting.”
“It was an excellent day and really wonderful to see a part of the Olympics that most people won’t experience”
The Olympics may be over, but the Paralympics will start on the 29th of August and promise to be just as exciting and mesmerizing.
