My Games Maker journey started when Volleyball england advertised sport specific games maker roles through their website. I started playing Volleyball in the Essex Volleyball League and as well as playing in the London League and National League for London Lynx VC.
I still play in the Essex League with Amity VC. Out of all of the sports and opportunities that the Olympic Games brought to London, Volleyball was immediately the sport I wanted to get involved with.
After going through the interview process and all of the training I was given a role in the field of Play Sports equipment team. We were basically in charge of distributing, maintaining and keeping track of all of LOCOGs sport specific assets. This was literally anything and everything you would need to put on the “Best Volleyball competition the Olympic Games had ever seen” for example all of the nets, posts, ball carts and all of the 500 london 2012 Olympic Volleyballs for the matches and warm up courts. (all of which had to be inflated, pressure checked and weighed by our team)
Our team was based in-between the teams warm up courts and the entrance of the players tunnel to the main show court. Perfect position to see the teams lining up and checking each other out before they walked out to a 15000 strong crowd and played some of the most high profile Volleyball games of their lives!
I was one of three team leaders for responsible for 5 Games Makers in the equipment team. We worked closely with the Field of Play Team helping each other through the long days. We were all aiming towards the same outcome, an amazing event that lead up to the the Gold Medal Match’s!
London 2012 was an amazing experience it surpassed all expectations I ever had. I have made friends and shared experiences with all of them. I have met players like Dante, Giba, Gamova, Lizzie Reed and Dami Bakare. I was lucky enough to sit court side to watch some of the games but also unlucky enough to take in deliveries of tons of ice, bag up all of the players dirty towels to go off to the laundry and leave so late that I missed my last train! but all of it was worth it!
Being asked “what was the main highlight of my games?” is one of the hardest questions to answer. It could be the kid I saw on the way to the station shouting “I saw you on TV at the Volleyball last night” or the random people on the train starting conversations with me. It could have been carrying the podium for the medal ceremony on to court and not falling flat on my face!! But I’m sure not many people can say they have been hit square in the face by a wild spike from Dante as I walked through the door on to the Brazilian teams warm up court!!!
A massive thank you to Jen and all of the Sport Equipment Team for making my Games!
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