My four-year old nephew, Big Al, loves the Olympics. Though he hasn’t the foggiest idea what they are about.
What he does know, with all the zeal of a preschool boy, is that the Olympics means a lot of exercise and joyful bellowing.
He knows this, because he has practiced joyful Olympian bellowing long in advance of the beginning of the London 2012 Olympics, set to begin on July 25th.
His dress rehearsal helpfully presented itself when the school, attended by his family, put every single pupil on luxury coaches and bussed them up to tour the Olympic site in Newham.
If you asked Al where his sisters and cousin were during the day, he would say: “At the Olympics.”
At collection time, Al stepped outside his front door brandishing a laminated picture of the two Olympic mascots. I have never warmed to Wenlock and Mandeville, but Al has. He asked for a picture to welcome back the coach; and his mother cleverly printed one out and made it waterproof.
Al was beside himself. He was limbering up for the bellowing. He knew the coaches would be back soon and he wanted to show them all Wenlock and Mandeville.
I expected tired, grumpy children. But when the four coaches rolled majestically onto the playground the children who greeted us were energised. They were full of a day in the Olympic Village. Al was beside himself, bawling happily “I hope you enjoyed the Olympics!” and waving Wenlock and Mandeville as if they were the standard of a Roman legion.
Felix charged towards me with a wide grin on his face and an empty packed lunch bag.
His day had been peerless. He was part of the Olympics at last.
He had brought back intelligence about the Olympic site. Highlights included a picnic in Greenwich park, taking copious pictures of friends and the class teacher, and a picture of the queen constructed entirely out of jellybeans.
Accompanied by official guides they went everywhere except inside the stadia. The swimming venue has a vast pool constructed in a V shape, Felix tells us; with one leg 250 metres, and the other 100. The equestrian sports arena has a regal raised balcony overlooking it. He saw the open air hockey venue, the BMX venue- an edgy design with a track held up by a pile of scaffolding – indoor cycling, and the stadium itself.
He marvelled at an Olympic sculpture which looks like something out of Mad Max, or a rebel command centre from the Star Wars Trilogy. Take a look here. He noted that the new walkway they have constructed over the O2 arena especially for the occasion costs a whopping £22 for an adult to ascend.
A futuristic skyway – a cable car – traverses the site held up by huge columns remeniscent of Springfield’s monorail.
But the best moments were courtesy of two retail giants. For it was on the third floor of the John Lewis Department Store that the chattering schoolchildren got their best view of the whole site. The store has set up an observation deck with binoculars and gym equipment.
And then, there was the Olympic torch.
It comes courtesy of a Swedish corporation: IKEA has built a 40-foot high sculpture modelled on the torch. Part of a new development in Stratford, it will be festooned with LED lights and light up the Olympic skyline.
Not much seemed finished yet, Felix noted. The chairs are still being fitted in the stadia.
But the countdown is on.
Kate Shrewsday 
How exciting for the children! I would have loved to tag along and get a birds eye view! I do love the Olympics and look forward to them each time. This year I’ll be even more tuned in because I will know that you and my other UK friends are so intimately connected. 🙂 Debra
Lovely to hear you enjoy the Olympics, Debra. I’m not a fan, but hey, it’s history, and you’ve got to document that….The children’s enthusiasm is infectious…I even find myself warming to those two strange mascots…
The mascots are machines, and he olympics should be about human achievement. How very odd the decision was.
Indeed: they were supposed to be forged from two drops of the steel used to make the stadium, Sideview. Something very Stakhanov about the whole business.
I think its moved away from human achievement to something else. sad really
Your post is getting me in the mood for the Olympics. The image of the Anish Kapoor sculpture really shows its scale. I am not attracted by it but that is probably unfair when I haven’t seen it in the flesh.
Thinking of Al, reminds me of how innocent we are at that age. I was considered by my school to be too young to visit the Festival of Britain. Off they went and I thought that they had gone to another country. I lived in England and Britain was an unknown place to me.
🙂 What a lovely thought…I wonder, if I asked Al what the Olympics were, whether he would be able to have a stab at it?
Anish Kapoor mentioned the Eiffel Tower in the same breath as his sculpture…I wonder..
Such a cool thing for the kids to get to do, really looking forward to the Olympics and to the “British touch” that I am sure will be apparent.
I am sure you are right, though last minute tweaks have us all on the edge of our seats. Take a look at the riding arena, Lou 🙂 I’ve posted Felix’s photos….that is some stand. Talk about the British touch!
He doesn’t have my jaundiced view. Hurrah for youth and all their enthusiasm.
Quite. If someone has to bawl patriotically and uncontrollably I’m quite glad it’s not me, too, Roger.
A trip they will always remember. It certainly sounds like it made an impression.
It did. They all slept very well that night, Andra 🙂
My tickets have turned up! I work 2 days a week near the site – amazing to watch it spring up. Have a fiver on Chrisitne Ohurugu for the women’s 400 metres!
Sounds like you are all primed and ready to go, Jim 🙂 It must have been something watching al these different buildings constructed!
What a fabulous field trip! I can just imagine the chatter as they alit from the buses and won’t it be fun to catch their excitement as they view the Olympics when they have already seen some of the structures? Kudos to the powers that be who arranged this, Kate.
They are amazing, Penny: I don’t know another school which has done this. And for all of them to disappear for a day: an extraordinary and bold event. As you say: kudos!
Crazy when nations can spend this for an event but the needy still remain needy. Well it is like that in the US for sure.
Yes, and here, Carl: though the borough in which it has all been sited has been a traditionally deprived area and the Olympics has been used as an attempt to create jobs and prosperity there. Time will tell if they have succeeded.
In the heart of Big Al, from the sounds of his enthusiasm, the whole site was completely satisfactory. Unfinished? Didn’t notice! 😀
What a great preview for the youngun’s. Terrific camera work, Felix!! I especially like the photo of the jellybean Queen. Looking forward to seeing some of the televised proceedings in July, but as much for the views of London as for the actual Games. 🙂
What an exciting time for the kids! And Felix did manage to click some really good shots… 🙂
Leave it to London to be whimsical and practical and far-reaching when the world turns it’s eye to Britain. And Al! Fantastic.
What an exciting outing that must have been 🙂
those mascots are rather disturbing. Awful, actually, IMHO!
Dear Kate, thanks for sharing Al’s enthusiasm with us. The French poet Peguy wrote a poem about “Innocence” that I’m reminded of when you write about Al and Felix also.
I am a fan of the Olympics–winter more than summer. But I’ll surely be watching because I’m sure that I’ll learn a lot about Britain?/England? from the commentators.
Peace.
Well done on the photos, Felix. I love the jelly-bean Queen. Unlike QE, she won’t last long. (PS Kate, the link to the Olympic sculpture throws up something more akin to “The Matrix” – I think it’s broken)