Saturday 16^th August, must have been one of my best days since I have been here in Beijing. At the workers’ indoor stadium I was about to leave, but my friend Laura and I noticed a BBC crew had turned up and we heard that they were filming a feature about the rules of Boxing with Adrian Chiles! It was so good to see behind the scenes and meet the BBC crew.

To top it off, the group of us had the chance to go to the the National Stadium, it was immense. I witnessed the Men’s 100m final with Jamaican Usain Bolt to win a gold medal and setting a world record of 9.69 seconds. Absolutely amazing, especially with the stadium seating 91,000 people, the noise intensity from the crowd, it was so surreal.

Saturday 23^rd August was the finals for Boxing and our main man James Degale wins Gold for Great Britain. It was such a great moment to hear our national anthem. Great Britain have done so well this year at the Games, apparently this is the best they have done in the medals table for a century.

Sunday 24^th the last day of the Olympics, I can’t believe it’s all over! Many years of planning and it just comes down to these two weeks. I have to remind myself that I am part of the Olympics and, in a way, part of history. I saw countries winning medals for the first time and I saw how the Olympics is performed from behind the scenes.

There is so much hard work that Beijing has put in and to be fair they have done a brilliant job. I have had an amazing experience that I have even signed up to cover the Winter Olympics in Vancouver 2010.

I still had a few days left, so I went to the Temple of Heaven. It was so peaceful and tranquil. It made me reflect on what I had learnt over the last 8 weeks. Not just working for the Olympics, but what I have learnt about cultures and other people. It has really inspired me to go travelling and learn more about the world.

I have really enjoyed writing for Skills Active, as it has given me the chance to reflect on my journey and to share my experiences with you guys. I know that David will keep you entertained for the Paralympics for another 3 weeks, so until next time, bring on London 2012!

Zàijiàn

Unfortunately the sun has set on my Olympic adventure but my Paralympics adventure begins very shortly.

It seems very strange that only in January I applied for a volunteer slot at the games and now the games are a growing memory. 

However I have to reiterate the friendships I have made out here are unbreakable and I have made friends from all over the world which has opened up more and more possibilities for me.

The Olympics are the greatest sporting spectacle in the world and to have worked here in Beijing makes me feel very honoured but even more determined to work in London for 2012. 

At the games as a volunteer it not only allows you to watch the greatest sportsmen and women in the world compete. You enter the Olympic community where everyone helps each other and works together which is incredible with the mix of international volunteers that were here in Beijing.

I have now been invited to go visit friends in Australia; something I thought I would never say. But whilst being at the games it opens your eyes and a whole new world is at your feet. 

The confidence I have gained is incredible and I really now want to work in Sports Journalism and have my eyes fixed on doing the best I can like the Olympic athletes in my chosen specialism.

I hope to carry this blog on for everyone during the Paralympics because at times these games are too easily cast aside whereas people should embrace them the same way they do the Olympics. 

I will work at the “Birdsnest” for the Paralympics while covering the athletics. I hope to speak to you all soon, and everyone prepare for a
great games in London 2012!

Hello all, 

I can’t believe I have been sat in the same stadium as the great Diego Maradona!  

I know that he is only a shadow of his former self now but when working at the Olympic men’s semi-final Brazil v Argentina he was also in attendance.

In a match that has seen Argentina progress to the final Gold medal match against Nigeria the 1996 Olympic champions. Argentina who are the reigning champions want to retain their coveted gold medal position.

During this match there was as in all sports at the Olympics unbelievable quality on the pitch with players such as Messi, Ronaldinho, Aguero and Mascherano who fascinated the capacity crowd at the Workers stadium with their incredible agility, skill and athleticism.

What I will say as a volunteer at the Games here is that I may never get a chance to see top level sport like this up close again. I sincerely hope this is not the case. But working here at the Olympics illustrates how privileged a position we hold as volunteers during the worlds largest sporting spectacle.

Not only do I get to see some of the greatest sports stars on the planet but I also have the opportunity to interview the players and for a young aspiring journalist this experience is not only life and career changing but it makes you realise this is the profession you wish to follow.

I now know that when I graduate I want to further my career in the field of sports journalism as well as other areas of the journalistic spectrum. At twenty I have stood in mixed zones, flash quote areas and have attended both pre and post match conferences at a major sports event. This experience has been second to none and for anyone wanting to further themselves in sports journalism perhaps being a volunteer at London in 2012 wouldn’t be a bad idea!

I hope personally that by 2012 I will be working in some form of sports media and would perhaps be employed to work during the London Games but if not, I may do the same voluntary work again if the opportunity arises.

What I will leave this short extract with is that a player such as Maradona who attended the Argentina game made 64,000 people roar with excitement when he was on the screen. I was fortunate to be here to see, feel and be part of this environment. I hope that all the volunteers for London only have the same if not a better experience than I have had. But one thing is that when you leave the Olympics you have memories and meet friends that will last a lifetime.

David Stevenson

Hi everyone,

It seems very strange that we are nearly at the halfway stage of the Games. For so long I have been out here training for the event and felt like it would never come. However as always good things always seem to come and go so fast but leave an everlasting impression in your mind.

For me so far these Olympic Games have taught me lessons not only about my trade as an aspiring journalist but have given me more independence because I am in a foreign country for so long which has also boosted my confidence.

Also being a volunteer is a great role and is an experience everyone should try. In fact I am that impressed I want to apply for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and then the London Games.

I will do another blog soon to tell you more about the experience but until then it is back to the office for me and I am so happy to say it.

Couldn’t wait for my first day working at the Workers Stadium for boxing, but even before I got to see my first Olympic event, I could hear cheering outside and found that the route for road cycling was right outside my window. I really am in the Olympic spirit now! It is so surreal being part of a major sporting event, especially when people back at home can only enjoy the experience through their television. When I did eventually arrive to work, for boxing it looked bleak, as Frankie Gavin, the lightweight world amateur boxing champion was one of Britain’s medal hopes in Beijing but was withdrawn after failing to make his weight. The second blow was that several of the British boxers have tough opening bouts. So it could be hard competition. I can’t wait!