Nigel Gilding – Olympic Games Maker

I secured a role as a National Olympic Assistant for the Jamaican Team based at the Olympic Village. I applied for the role some 3 years ago to see where it might lead. Last year I was offered the role, and training commenced in January 2012 attending a number of training courses including driver training to enable me to drive the sponsors’ BMW cars during the games. In May I was advised the team I would be supporting was Jamaica which is the most high profile team at the games so you can imagine my excitement.

My duties commenced on Sunday 22 July with the arrival of the Chef de Mission. I met all the team including the big guns Usain Bolt, Johan Blake (in photo), Asafa Powell, Shelly-Anne Fraser-Pryce, Veronica Campbell-Brown together with the Jamaican Prime Minster and Princess Anne.

I was also fortunate enough to go to the Stadium on four occasions including the Men’s 100 metre final, the closing ceremony, and I witnessed Team GB success at boxing.

I really enjoyed the role and it was an experience of a life time; I guess something I will never get the opportunity to do again. During my three weeks with the team there were a number of highs, lows and long days. I made a number of new friends and I have a number of souvenirs together with Jamaican Puma sportswear – you might see me running around Wendover in my new kit!!