Londoners were both warned and cajoled into using alternate means of transport. Keep away from the Underground was the diktat. Get staff to work from home was a plea to corporate London. The transport systems will break down said the crystal ball gazers. Cannot take the strain of an additional million visitors the pundits assured. We've heard of the British understatements. Now we've just experienced this very nation's gross overstatement. The journey by tube to the Olympic Park was easy and efficient. The crowds were superbly managed and the rigorous security check smooth as silk. No transport hassles whatsoever. Too much ado about nothing!
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| The towering Arcelor Mittal Orbit at the Olympic Park with the Main Stadium in the background. Mittal's steel, no less! |
Today Rati and I for the first time went to the Olympic Park. a waste land in East London now transformed into a fabulous, sprawling sports enclave housing the stadia for athletics, cycling, swimming, water polo, BMX biking, hockey and basketball. India played the mighty Netherlands at hockey on artificial turf which is blue in colour and a ball which is yellow.
The blue and yellow ensure the day's hockey is of a different colour. India too is in different colours in the first half - off-colour! At 2-0 down at half time neither were the Indians playing nor those watching amused.
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| While the blue artificial turf needs watering during the half time break, the Indian players need much more than inspiration. |
To our delight the Indians change colour in the second half. They play out of their skins and thrill the packed stadium with fast flowing and attacking hockey to swiftly restore parity at 2-2. Plenty of occasions for Rati and me to proudly wave our India flags and for me to keep screaming, "Come on India".
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| India lay siege on the Dutch goal in the second half. This is a rare Holland attack. The packed stadium is enthralled by some dazzling Indian hockey. |
Although a penalty corner Dutch goal spoils the party at the end for us, nobody present at the Riverbank Arena is left in any doubt about our fighting spirit and skills. New Zealand, whom we next play on 1 August, must not be looking forward to their India game. Let our opponents beware.
Rati and I walk across to the swimming stadium just before the finals are due to begin. We don't have tickets but hang around near the ticket turnstiles in the forlorn hope some heavenly soul would appear with two spare tickets for us to buy. Alas, no such soul appears. We conclude it's ordained that swimming isn't ours to watch, at least at these Olympics!
We leave the Riverbank Arena and Olympic Park with our Indian hearts beating strongly and proudly. It's been a good day for India. Whilst watching India play superb hockey in the second half news filters in of our Gagan Narang rifling himself to India's first medal of the Games, all our tennis boys winning, all our badminton girls winning (hats off to Gutta and Ponappa in the doubles) and the boxers chipping in.