Time flies isn’t it? 4 years ago I was in London for the first time and to be a Steward in the Paralympic Games 2012. First of all I want to thank Chris Porterfield for including me in this show that is the dream of any person and also the Mexican Para-Equestrian Committee for the support to go.
I’m sorry for the quality for some photos but I wanted to show you guys the full picture.
Olympic Village
A city inside another city. The officials of all the sports were housed in several buildings, at the beginning I was sharing a room with a vet and a judge, but because the other rooms in the apartment were not occupied each one ended up with their own room, me with a bathroom and a beautiful view.
The uniforms: Given by world famous brands. You had to send in advance your measurements and sizes but regardless of that they made sizing test of each article to ensure a good fit.
The cafeteria can only be described with a wooooowwwww. With space for 5,000 people and aprox a block if you didn’t watch your self you could roll out of there . Everything you want to eat 24/7. They had food from all over the world + McDonald’s obviously.
Very close to the cafeteria was the bus station to go to the venues, a really nice one.
I had no idea that there was a game room and a beauty salon otherwise I would had gone.
View from my balcony
Opening Ceremony
Ufffffff …… What can I say, it was better than the Olympics. But I must say that these types of events are made for TV. In the stadium we were 80,000 and the officials were in a designated area near the front.
Before the show
Greenwich Park
The engineering to make this park has my respect. Design specially for this event, built on stilts to preserve the grass and to be taken down after. Here you can see a video of the construction. The venue had 4 rings – one covered- and the competition arena in the stadium. The stadium had a capacity for 23,000 people and was packed on the finals. The stables were divided into blocks. Behind them was a grazing area, and in front an area to hack. Security was super strict with the british army at every entrance of the park and an extra one at the gate of the stables. For certain areas like the stables or the competition arena an extra pass for each one was needed besides the accreditation.
We ate -with another special pass- in a hotel – The Devonport- that ended up inside the park. Like in the village food, sodas and chocolate -Cadbury and Coca-Cola were official sponsors- came in unlimited quantities. There was also a souvenir shop that I spent way to much money in there haha.
The steward rotation was really good because the tasks were different every day with different partners. I was in stables, tack check and chasing grooms for award ceremonies.
Something that I don’t think everyone knows is that the centerline for the Dressage arena was exactly aligned with the Greenwich meridian!!
Before the show
People
The people that I meet during this event was incredible. From the 5 continents. The competitors are true role models in every single way. The Paralympics shouldn’t have less coverage than the Olympics, they are athletes in their prime. End of discussion. I meet stewards that I truly admire and made friendships for life.
Just outside the park was a pub that was rename the Gold & Saddle that everyone: riders, officials, trainers, etc ended up going at the end of the day to have a drink and mingle.
The super stewards
It was a truly unique experience that I want to repeat -Tokyo I’m looking at you :p – and also it changes how you look at things.
You can see the results here.
What is your dream show go as a rider, official or as a spectator?
