Hi everyone,

The Paralympics have just begun today and I start work tomorrow. As you all probably know by now I will be working at the national stadium (Birdsnest) on Paralympic Athletics. 

This weekend I finally received my Paralympics accreditation and with it I thought a free ticket to the opening ceremony, maybe not. Unfortunately for me and my four fellow British colleagues our accreditation hadn’t been given the official stamp for the opening ceremony.

So like many Chinese, British and everyone else around the world I settled for watching it in my hotel room and enjoyed every minute of it. I can’t wait to start interviewing the athletes, the sooner the better!

Today I paid a visit along with colleagues to the Birdsnest to pick up our Paralympics uniform, which was quite amusing. Originally on my uniform request form I asked for a large shirt size and large trousers because the Chinese sizes are smaller than western clothing. Today I was surprised to find one medium, one large and one extra large shirt in my uniform bag and again similar problems with my trousers. The best though was my Jacket. I got a whopping 3XL which could fit me and at least one more person in, it was quite funny at the time.

I don’t mind though I am working eight days at these games and it doesn’t matter what I am wearing so long as I am down at the field of play or in the mixed zone.

Until this afternoon my mood for the Paralympics was somewhat lessoned because of my Olympic experience being so good. But now with new colleagues, new challenges such as new sports to report on, my ambition and my journalistic juices are working overtime.

 Really looking forward to working, watching and being part of these Paralympic games but when they finish I have only one day left in Beijing. I will miss this place when I’m home but I will take away so many memories, life experiences and so many new friends who I will know for years to come. Again I reiterate these Olympics have given me so many new horizons and I recommend it for many people come 2012.

I’ll speak to you all soon.

David

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!