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August 27, 2006
What to do with Inverdale
Up one way, down the other. Post it notes are always useful when reminding people what to do
Broadcast Centre
The view from the top of the Media Grandstand
Dorney Lake Radio
Here's the radio receiver for Dorney lke radio, your inside guide to what is happening on the course
Protecting heels
Some of the medal presenters yesterday were wearing heels...and were sinking into the grass. Today, carpet is laid out to try and prevent this happening.
Australian Prep
Yesterday the Dutch grabbed these seats. Today, 90 min before racing starts, the Australians are there, wrapping tape around their block, hanging flags and saving all the seats they need
Morning Coffee
A morning briefing of the IT team, not quite awake yet. But all the networks are still running
Into the sun
More athletes take to the water
Perfect
Sunday Morning
Surprising weather for 7am, blue skies and the sun is shining with a slight tailwind. The first rowers are going out to practice
Bike
BBC tent closed for the night
The chairs get stacked, everything gets piled together and the tent gets out back on top to protect from rain.
Vacuum cleaners waiting
Three vacuum's sit forlornly waiting to be used at the end of the day on Saturday. All the tents and marquees get cleaned out every evening.
Empty Racks
As the finals finish, the racks empty and the boats are put back on the trailers.
IT Team Meeting
The IT team have their penultimate team meeting on Saturday at shift change time. Not too many problems, with only an odd PC dropping off the net. And somwone forgetting to turn on a switch ;-)
August 26, 2006
GBR 4- awarded medal
Cheering after the anthem
waiting for the ceremony
The medals have been given out
Watching the race with the BBC
During the interview they have to talk their way through the last part of the race and see how they did
interviewing
They all get interviewed for the telly
Off the water
The crew disembark, past the press and move down towards the BBC interview station
Sarah, taking photos
One slight advantage of working in a team that is based in the finsh tower is that we can see some racing from a very good position..here's Sarah, one of the IT team leads, taking photos of the 4- race.
The GB 4- crosses the line in first place
The GB 4- winning their race, the last medal race of the day.
GBR Team Manager, looking a little nervous
David Tanner, team manager of the GB team, gets a little nervous during the race of the M4-. The GB crew have not lost in 23 races and were favourites to win here, but you never know with racing and even with such a pedigree, the manager still has time to be nervous.
Zac on the BBC
Interview with Zac Purchase, winner of a gold medal here
Handing out numbers
Joan (I think, I need to check) is handing out the boat numbers for the crews that are racing. Another lifelong supporter, her son and grandchildren are also volunteering at the regatta. She started working behind the scenes with rowing when her son started rowing at Latymer.
Mahe on the BBC
Filming for Grandstand is taking place in this outdoor studio. The tent that was there the other day has been removed for the filming.
New Zealand fans
The New Zealand fans celebrate a vicotry by Mahe Drysdale in the M1x. One of the many 'clubs' in the stands. It looks like each team's supporters try and sit in the same area, cheering the same chant and getting each other all excited. The Dutch had got here early as well and taped off a part of the stands.
ML1X - Zac Purchase winner
The Lightweight Men's winners celebrate for the photographers after their medal ceremony
The first GB flag of the day
The flags go up the pole and the National Anthem plays for Zac Purchase, winner of the LM1x.
ML8+ one of the closest races
ML8+ goes by with about 100m to go. One of the closest races, with all the crews overlapping.
Linda
Linda and husband are working here after may years supporting their son Stephen in his international career. They feel they are putting somethign back into the sport by volunteering at the championships. This is a common motivating factor for many of the volunteers, who have children who have rowed for their country and you can wander round the event spotting the 'famous' names.
US flag gets stuck at the bottom
The first medal ceremony of the day, the W4- won by Australia, the flag for the 3rd placed US team won't move any further up the flagpole. It's all sorted for the next ceremony, but very embarassing for the Sea Scouts in charge of the flags.
Norwegian flags
Flags of all types are slowly taking over the stands
Guarding the media centre
They're strictly enforcing the badge restrictions this weekend. I've not been asked for my media badge at all until today.
A horde of photographers
Photographers line the bank waiting for the perfect shot
Siemens Radio tower
There's an on-site radio station, providing race commentary, interviews and traffic news. You can buy a reciever on site or tune in your radio device (phone, mp3 player or whatever)
Mary and Ian
Mary and Ian discuss Commonwealth meetings and lunches
Chairs
Mary
Leander Guard
Leander have a tent on the course for members, serving tea, coffee and sometimes something stronger (they have now replaced their barrell that was stolen earlier in the week. Tickets are checked before you're allowed to grab a drink.
Line of flags
The flags line the side of the course in the regatta enclosure. First thing this morning, every single flagpole had orange streamers tied to the top. The Dutch had been out again. They were gone by the time th racing started.
Margaret
August 25, 2006
John and Shorts
John, one of the Organising Committee, gets into the spirit of the party with flowers and shorts.
Peter Too
Peter
Shirts
Party Hat
Cabelling
Paul
Paul is down from Glasgow, working with the Protocol team. He's looking forward to seeing Lyndsey Dick race in the LW4x. Lyndsey got involved in rowing 8 years ago, as part of Glasgow Council Women in Sport initiative. You paid your money and over 6 weeks got to try out a number of different sports. Paul was the liaison for the scheme with Glasgow Rowing Club and after the tryouts. Lyndsey decided to stay around and continue with the sport.
She's continued to row out of Glasgow RC; in 2004 she won W1x at the Nat Champs, the saem year her boyfriend won the M1x. Her inclusion in the team was pretty much last minute; she ended up geting a call late one Thursday calling her down to Dorney to attend trials, after the management had decided to enter a LW4x. Her crew have now made the final on Sunday.
She's continued to row out of Glasgow RC; in 2004 she won W1x at the Nat Champs, the saem year her boyfriend won the M1x. Her inclusion in the team was pretty much last minute; she ended up geting a call late one Thursday calling her down to Dorney to attend trials, after the management had decided to enter a LW4x. Her crew have now made the final on Sunday.
August 23, 2006
BBC tent
Ray
Roy is in Security...or gate marshalling (I'm not too sure what this team is called). He's been moved about the site from checkpoint to checkpoint over the last few days. His job is to make sure that only accredited people get into the enclosed areas and to be able to spot a tall tale from mile away.
Like many of the volunteers, Ray has been involved in rowing for years. Some started out as rowers, others came into the sport as parents. His sone is part of the Organising team and asked him to take part. He'd like to be part of the Olympic volunteer team, if he is still around - as he says, he;s had his three score years and ten and then some - so he is getting in the practice now.
Like many of the volunteers, Ray has been involved in rowing for years. Some started out as rowers, others came into the sport as parents. His sone is part of the Organising team and asked him to take part. He'd like to be part of the Olympic volunteer team, if he is still around - as he says, he;s had his three score years and ten and then some - so he is getting in the practice now.
Gavin
Gavin is part of Volunteer Support and does a key job of driving round with the tea buggy, doling out tea, coffee, water and chocolate.
He was coerced by a friend into volunteering; his name was recognised by Stan, in charge of volunteer support as someone who was involved in the Indoor Rowing Champs and he got seconded into that team.
He was coerced by a friend into volunteering; his name was recognised by Stan, in charge of volunteer support as someone who was involved in the Indoor Rowing Champs and he got seconded into that team.
Kim and Katherine
Kim and Katherine work in the media team. Katherine rows at Stratford-upon-Avon and is down here for the second time, after volunteering for the World Cup last year. One of her reasons for being here is to compare the running of her local regatta with a big occasion like the Worlds..so far, she;s having fun
Although Kim (on the left) rowed at university her main sport is canoeing. She worked with Katherine last year at the World Cup, where they got to know the photocopier intimately and kept it up and running by keeping the engneer fed and watered. Kim is here to see how a big occasion is run; canoeing in the UK has not run a large championship for a while and needs build up to running the Olympics here in 2012.
Although Kim (on the left) rowed at university her main sport is canoeing. She worked with Katherine last year at the World Cup, where they got to know the photocopier intimately and kept it up and running by keeping the engneer fed and watered. Kim is here to see how a big occasion is run; canoeing in the UK has not run a large championship for a while and needs build up to running the Olympics here in 2012.
Racing suspended
With 6 races to go today, racing has been suspended apparently due to too high a cross wind at the start. We'll get the official re-orgnaisation later I guess