In July 2008, I was having lunch with a friend the day she was due to jet off to Macau for the holding camp for the Beijing Olympics. As we wandered through Marlow picking up things she needed, and chatting over lunch, I could feel myself becoming green with envy, thinking of how I would be sat watching from home.
2 weeks later, I landed at Beijing airport.
 | |
| Holland Heineken House 2008 |
The excitement, atmosphere, and unity of people in sport was immense. From talking to fellow travellers in Dubai on their way to the greatest show on earth, to celebrating successes with athletes and fans from all over the world - the Dutch in particular really know how to put on a party ...
EHB launched an Olympic programme, Hockey Nation earlier this year at a series of roadshows, aimed at making our sport accessible to all, providing people with great opportunities to get involved all over the country.
For those who havent seen it, watch this video -never fails put a smile on people's face, especially the moment Jacques Rogge announces "The City of London"
We have such a huge opportunity, Im not sure how many of us really understand what our country will be experiencing in 223 days from now. We are a sport with great values and great people, and to be able to open our doors to our communities both during and after the olympics makes us special. We know how hard clubs work, and have worked over the last few years in particular to make sure they are ready for 2012. We have 300 clubs with ClubsFirst accreditation ready to welcome youngsters who are inspired by the games and the great role models in our sport, we have over 900 clubs with an enthusiasm for the game and wanting to help it to grow, and we have over 150,000 ambassadors playing and volunteering in clubs already doing a huge amount to promote hockey.
Hundreds and hundreds of communities are readying themselves through various LOCOG inspired programmes, and hockey clubs are beginning to widen their community reach by working alongside others. I am hearing of many clubs taking part in festivals, olympic inspired events and club members who will be torchbearers.
Seeing the excitement and enthusiasm start to build is such an experience - Sonning Hockey Club were last seen en mass with Sally Munday at a Hockey Nation Roadshow quite some time after the event had ended (and not the first one they had attended) telling her about their plans. They have since had committee meetings about their own 2012 olympic programme. I'm looking forward to seeing how their plans progress, and seeing their local community embrace them.
I was hooked on our sport through playing at school, and was fortunate enough to grow up in a club with great facilities, great coaches and a great club school links - I was also hooked on the Olympics at a young age. There is something about it which I find almost magical. To go to Beijing was an experience I find difficult to put into words - you have to see it to believe it. I can only imagine what a home Olympics will be like, being able to work with clubs all over the country with such enthusiastic volunteers.
We all have a very exciting year ahead, I can hardly believe where the time has gone to between the announcement in 2005, to being on the eve of 2012. I hope to see many of you during 2012 at the Maxifuel Super Sixes, the London Cup, the Olympic test event, domestic finals and awards events, The Big Dribble, Hockey Houses and Five Week Frenzy, to find out how people are getting on in such an unique year.
