On Sunday morning I suddenly thought… why not go up to Stratford to see some of the
Paralympic events – or just get into the Park if I could? I had a free day, I could wear my new
Paralympic uniform, and I could try to get through with my Paralympic accreditation, although it
was likely to be invalid now.
I hurried down to Leatherhead station. I bought my ticket just as the train for Waterloo pulled in,
and in a great hurry I dashed through the barrier onto the platform just as the train doors closed
and a whistle went. I thought….’Oh No, I’ve missed this train’ but still went towards the door.
The guard must have recognized my brightly coloured uniform because he saw my desperate
look and kindly held the train for a moment longer, beckoning me to get on and I literally
staggered through the door into the carriage.
“Well done and Congratulations!” a loud voice greeted me as the train got under way.
A young man on the bench seat opposite grinned at me. He thought I was a Volunteer, so I had
to explain that I had been employed for the main London 2012 Olympics but was no longer
under Contract, just going up to Stratford for the day, wearing my uniform as I still wanted to be
part of it. We got talking and it turned out that he was a National Trust Ranger employed at Box
Hill and had been a marshal for the Olympic Road Cycle Race. Almost everybody I have met
since the end of the Olympics has made very favourable comments on the organization of the
Games, and the efficiency and politeness of the volunteers and staff. At Raynes Park a family
got on who turned out to have a daughter participating in the T46 400meters and had won a
silver medal the night before. The family were going up to see her receive her medal at an
11.00am ceremony.
Once at Waterloo I quickly went down to the Jubilee line for a direct connection to Stratford. I
knew this journey very well. I felt proud to be wearing the uniform and I received looks and
smiles of appreciation from fellow travelers. When I arrived at Stratford I walked up to the huge
Westfield Centre and looked for the Team GB shop, where I bought a few pin badges which I
wanted to trade for other badges later on. I then made my way hopefully towards the entrance
gates and security tents. I soon found out that my Paralympic accreditation was no longer valid,
having resigned from my workplace just after the main London Olympics ended. The only way I
could get in was if I had a ticket, but I didn’t have one. I walked disconsolately back towards the
Westfield Centre exit, and just as I was about to leave I talked to a cheerful young volunteer and
explained that I had to leave, but asked her if she knew where I could buy a ticket. As it
happened, her colleague had been give some tickets earlier in the day, and he very kindly gave
me a Day Ticket for Wheelchair Tennis at Eton Manor and a Ground Pass for the Olympic Park
and other venues such as Copper Box and Basketball arena, valid up until 8.00pm.
I was very grateful for their kindness and we had a little group picture taken, which was nice.
I made my way through the security tents into the Olympic Park. I took some photos as I
realized this would probably be my only chance of seeing the Park while the Games were taking
place. I had plenty of time. I visited the Coca Cola pin trading centre, near the Orbit steel tower,
where I bought many pins including a special BMW official partner badge and a BP sponsorship
badge.
After a McDonalds lunch I walked back across the Park towards the 2012 Mega Store, where
there was another opportunity to buy some pins not available elsewhere. I then walked up
towards Eton Manor where the Wheelchair Tennis was being held. I went onto the Centre Court
where I was fortunate enough to see Peter Norfolk from Team GB, the reigning World Champion, beat the Japanese Mitsuteru Moroishi 6-0, 6-0. It was very entertaining. After this match, I walked a short distance down to the Basketball stadium, and here in this large and very noisy venue I saw Germany versus Canada in the wheelchair basketball Gold Medal event.
Canada won by a fairly good margin, approximately 67 points to 57. I was impressed by the
warm-up cheer-leader who got the crowd dancing, waving and cheering!
After this match the afternoon was beginning to draw on and it was becoming rather dark.
However I still had a ticket valid till 8.00pm so I did not want to waste it. I decided to head
towards the Copper Box. I did not know for sure what event would be taking place here. I found
myself in a long queue, just behind a lady who had asked for a wheelchair. We did not have to
wait too long as the gates suddenly opened and there was a rush forwards. I helped push her
towards the entrance as the queue rapidly shortened, and we went through into the arena itself
with no difficulty.
It turned out that this venue was to be for GoalBall. I had never seen this before. It is for visually
impaired people. It is played with a wide goal mouth 1.5 meters high. There are two opposing
teams of 3 people (sometimes mixed gender), whose eyes are bandaged and masked so that
no-one has any sight advantage… The object is to throw a heavy ball with bells inside, along the
ground and into the opponent’s goal. Play is carried out in as much silence from the crowd as
possible, to allow the players to hear the direction of the ball. If the ball travels substantially
above the ground, there is a penalty to the other side, where one player faces just one defender
and consequently has far more chance of scoring. The teams defend their goals by lying
horizontally so that their whole body length can stop the ball travelling into the net. However, if
the ball is thrown with sufficient weight the ball can and does bounce over the body and often
into the net. The match lasts 12 minutes each half, but there are frequent Time-Outs for
refreshment, team talks and team replacements so the games can be quite long.
The teams I saw were Team GB against Team Finland. Despite the best efforts of the very
vociferous and partisan crowd and cheerleaders, Team Finland won by 7 goals to 3. It was
thoroughly entertaining.
When this match ended it was time to return to Waterloo to catch a train back to Leatherhead.
As I settled into my seat, a lady with her young son said “Look at that man with all his medals!”
She meant the pins I had put on my accreditation lanyard around my neck. I thought… “Yes, in a
way, they are ‘medals’ to indicate the involvement I have had with the London 2012 Olympic
Games this summer”.
C. Tim Taylor 2012