First Shift of the Games

So first shift today and I had to head to the North Paris Arena for the Sitting Volleyball. It was a role that was added extra to my roster after a plea went out for help in one of the volunteer groups. I was to be part of the Athlete Services Team. (Didn't have a clue what it involved so this could be fun - fingers crossed)

Chose my socks carefully 😉 I've 3 more pairs like this...

 The hotel I'd booked was near to the Gare du Nord as I knew the journey would be straightforward to get to shift on the RER B line. With a little bit of walking to and from the stations it took about 45 minutes.

On arrival, checked in on the online portal so I could get my lunch later. Nothing else to do and no water bottle to use, so I need to check that.

Found out that I was part of the team working Back of House. Our role to make sure the Changing Rooms and Warm-Up courts had enough water and towels for the teams. Plus water etc to go out onto Field of Play.

We also had the mascot changing room near us so the Phryge was walking around from time to time.

We set up for our first match... Brazil vs Romania, Women.

It was over in around an hour with Brazil winning all 3 games, by some margins.

Watching a couple of bits of games on TV while waiting for the next teams to arrive we discovered the wheelchair rugby and who should pop up but Aaron Phipps, a Totton athlete playing for Team GB. Go GB!!

Then came time to set up for the next match. Men's preliminary (group game) between Egypt and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Ines, the Back of House manager, asked if anyone wanted to step in as team liaison and as no-one else seemed keen I put my hand up and, having listened to Ines talking through the role for the womens match, I was set for looking after the Egypt men's team.

The timings were all written down as to when we needed to get the teams out for their on court experience. It was a little dodgy on getting the teams to line up on time, but they all made it out on court, sadly the Egyptian team lost after a very close game which lasted nearly 2 hours before Bosnia were declared the winners.

By now it was nearly 4pm and I hadn't yet had lunch. So off I went with Marine (the liaison for the Bosnian team), for some food and we discussed languages over a

 bowl of not so hot pasta.

Then it was time to head back to the hotel on a packed RER after a challenge discussed of only speaking French tomorrow. Um...

Didn't get much else done after getting back. Not even managing a trip to the hotel "fridge' for a beer.

Still there's always tomorrow.