Team Kennet member Helen Preedy looks back at the Olympics

I had been lucky enough to go and watch five days of athletics in Athens in 2004, and well remembered what an amazing experience that was.
I completed an application form and waited to see if I would be lucky enough to get an interview and did in October 2011. The interviews were at the Excel, which would be one of the venues, and the process was a mix of finding out about the role we were going for and having a one-to-one interview to test our suitability for the role.
In December 2011, I was chosen to be a stage member in the victory ceremonies team for the weightlifting at the Excel, and for the BMX at the Olympic Park.
I was delighted, as it would be very close to the action, and I quite liked the idea of finding out about two sports I wasn’t that familiar with.
As well as those two sports I was also asked to help at the boxing (also at the Excel) which was very exciting as it would be the first time they were including women’s boxing in the Olympics.
We were invited to generic training, and then specific training for our team at some TV studios.
I was selected for the team which put up the podium, before the other front of house part of the team assisted in the giving out of the medals at the end of each competition.
As part of the training, we had to show different Olympic VIPs that everything was in order and that we were able to complete the task in a set time to fit in with TV schedules etc. As part of this, I worked in a team of six, with people from all over the UK.
I was really pleased with the team I was in as everyone had the same positive attitude. They were all great, and they are definitely people I would like to stay in touch with in the future.
In preparation for the Games we had to get our kit, which we would need to travel in each day.
During my time travelling up to London, I have met a number of people from other teams, which has been really interesting.
I’ve also been asked a lot of questions by members of the general public, and it has been great to be able to answer any queries they have, to support their trip to the Olympics, and make it a positive experience.
Nothing prepared me for the first time we set up the podium in front of an audience! I have never heard a crowd like it and it then, all of a sudden, felt very real.
With my role being in the athlete areas, I was lucky enough to see the reaction of coaches and athletes when they won medals, and how everything comes together behind the scenes.
I tried to visit as many things as I could while in London, including going on the cable car from Royal Victoria to North Greenwich, which was a fantastic experience.
I have also seen a lot of athletes around the park, which really adds to the experience.
In the final week, I moved on to BMX and boxing shifts and continued to love it.
For the Paralympics, I am in the same team, but we move to Brands Hatch for Paralympics cycling, which should be a lot of fun.
The whole experience has been amazing and I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.
*Team Kennet also included Dennis Tucker and Codie Burnett from Park House School.