Saturday 28 July 2012

Smooth As Silk

It was our first first-hand experience of the Olympics. Badminton it was to be which breaks my Olympic virginity. The stadium was packed, the crowds were bustling and busy, and the support staff right from the Tube (London's Metro) station to inside the playing arena helpful and pleasant. London has worked out of its skin to deliver "the friendly Games".

A 10 minute walk from the station goes right onto a huge ramp wrapped around part of football's most famous Wembley Stadium. Then we descend myriad steps to the badminton arena, Wembley Arena. My Daughter, Rati, and Niece, Divya, are chattering excitedly as we walk along but I am lost in my thoughts.....Zubin Dubash, may his tribe increase, and I are walking excitedly along the same path to reach the same Wembley Arena, except that it is 23 March 1980 and we are racing to watch Prakash Padukone play the singles final of the All England Badminton Championship against Indonesia's feared hitter, Liam Siew King. Prakash annihilates King to become King. Zubin and I shout ourselves hoarse and celebrate with Prakash, the All England trophy, champagne and all. But that was 32 years ago.....

Us spectators are lead in a most orderly, so very British way, to the security kiosks. So much has been said, and even more written, about the traffic chaos London would get into, the security ringers us spectators would be put through and the consequent delays before we sat oursevles down in our seats. None of this. So many X-ray machines, so many personnel to so nicely request you to take your belt off, keep the keys in the tray, and usher one through the process. International airport security thoroughness we were warned. Expect delays we were assured. None of this. Smooth As Silk we were through the whole caboodle. A mere 15 minutes it took us. If only the immigration and security procedures in airports around the world could learn from London 2012! If only.

The logistics and security checks at the Wembley Arena are superbly organised...Smooth As Silk!

Wembley Arena is a picture. Once inside the Arena our seats are easy to reach, comfortable and afford terrific views from our bay S7 vantage point. Three hours and more of top class badminton, perhaps the best English fish and chips I have ever eaten (thanks Rati for breaking off from the viewing to get it for me), and an increasingly warm stadium later it was time to go.
Badminton breaks my Olympic virginity. Inside Wembley Arena.....

Day one of the Games is done and dusted. 15 more days of Olympic action and 18 more events for us to go to. It's over to the Lords Cricket Ground tomorrow..... for archery!