A day of celebrations at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park for Wiltshire’s Shinning light winner – Margaret Nightingale. This is Margaret’s experience: We arrived at Stratford at the same time as thousands, making their way to the Anniversary Games. It really felt like 2012 all over again! Especially as we were all guided by cheerful volunteers with large foam hands & loud halers! The copper Box is very impressive - standing on higher ground with very large free standing letters - saying RUN. As our invitation coincided with the re-opening of the Copper Box, young people were playing a selection of ball and racket games in the sports hall, which I understand will be the future home for Basketball. Many of the Shining lights, had been volunteering on their own for years running community games with a selection of sports & activities. I didn't meet any other cycling volunteers although the one that stood out to me, was an elderly lady who inspired & ran table tennis in her supported housing scheme! We were offered drinks & food & then the event started with a short film showing a selection of community events & Devizes featured first with Devizes Town Band! We were then welcomed to London & thanked for our efforts & reminded that we were the 70 chosen to represent the 35,500 volunteers across the country who helped to promote healthy activities of all ages. Then Lord Seb Coe arrived with great energy & our enthusiastic clapping. He thanked us with much praise & two of the points he made were: how on his travels to other countries, they were always so complimentary about the value of our volunteers, both during 2012 & for the future, to encourage & inspire young people with sporting opportunities. Seb Coe also talked about his own experience of the essential part volunteers played for him, when he was young & training, by giving their time & skills to make things happen. We all then had a group photo taken with Seb Coe, before he rushed off to the Olympic Stadium. He is such an inspirational man who looked so relaxed and happy in his role. Barry Wigan the retired boxer, who now runs a boxing academy then made a surprise presentation of a plaque to all Shining Lights.
A day of celebrations at the queen elizabeth olympic park for wiltshire
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