2012 Olympics a perfect landing?

Transcription

1 London 2012 Olympics a London 2012 Olympics a perfect landing? perfect landby Ben Murphy ing? After nearly two years of planning with the Olympic Games organising Committee (LOCOG), Ben Murphy Artistic Gymnastics Manager (and London Gymnastics Marketing Officer) takes a

2 WOMEN S UNEVEN BARS: 6 AUG 2012 Beth Tweddle s bronze medal was a fitting reward for such a great servant to British sport. I think she s been slightly undervalued in terms of how good and how consistent she has been over the years. She has also probably given as much time to the London 2012 project, quietly and in unsung ways, as almost anybody. She was absolutely key in carrying the Olympic message to the North West. Lord Sebastian Coe, Chairman - London 2012

3 London 2012 Olympics a perfect landing? After nearly two years of planning with the Olympic Games Organising Committee (LOCOG), Ben Murphy Artistic Gymnastics Manager (and London Gymnastics Marketing Officer) takes a look back at his time at LOCOG and whether the Olympic Games was a success for gymnastics in London. Gymnastics landed in London s O2 arena (known as NGA for the Games) with a bang and unrivalled success for British Gymnasts. Nearly six months on, the banners are all but gone and Olympic gymnasts at the O2 are replaced by pop stars. Having spent nearly two years with LOCOG as the Artistic Gymnastics Manager, I am sat on the train on my way into London (having returned to my long-term employer with renewed enthusiasm and a few more tools in my tool kit to draw on) I thought I would share my perception of the legacy left by a summer many of us will never forget. As many have already said, legacy will be as much a measure of the success of the London 2012 Games as the event itself. Inspire a Generation was much more than a good PR phrase; it was a vision that our leader Lord Coe instilled throughout the organising committee. He asked every one of LOCOG s employees to do the best work of their lives, put on amazing events and to make a difference. My work in events before the Games was largely on a voluntary basis for Gymnastics; although I did run events during my full time employment at GfK. Following the 2009 World Championships at the O2, Matthew Greenwood (Gymnastics Manager) approached me about an opportunity to apply to be part of his team at LOCOG. He had one vision - to deliver the best Gymnastics event the World had ever seen. You would have thought I would have jumped at the opportunity. But perhaps strangely there was a lot to consider. My family, friends and job security. When the financial world was crashing and jobs were in short supply, I was considering leaving my job at GfK where I had worked for over 15 years. After many sleepless nights, and support from family and friends I plucked up the courage to go and speak to my Managing Director about the opportunity. I didn t get much past the first five minutes of conversation before he said "we are a London company, you will gain experience and bring back something fresh to our company and I want our staff to know that we will support them to follow their dreams". This was perhaps my first touch on what a difference it was perceived I could make, but more importantly a feeling that my own legacy would be to return to GfK as stronger person and with an improved set of skills which I could apply to the business. I returned to GfK in September last year (after only a couple of weeks break from the Games) and was immediately asked to head up an event of over 150 top clients at an impressive venue in London. The result - one of the best ever attended events, which had more class and stage production than we had previously had and clients giving feedback that the event had done much to improve their perception of GfK. Indeed my MD said shortly after "that is the best event plan we have ever had, it was executed perfectly - that is the reason we wanted you back". But whilst GfK afforded me the opportunity to go off and chase my dream, I should stop here for a second to mention some other people who helped me along my LOCOG journey. From the Test Event (in Jan 2012) through until the end of the Games, the hours and stress levels were pretty horrendous. During these times it can put a strain on the relationship with family I got to see very little of any of mine for the best part of the three months leading up to and including the Games. I am grateful for the support

4 Projects - started 5 new facilities, 3 clubs have secured funding to improve their facilities Europa Centre - opened with 1.24m Lottery funding, and 600,000 from British Gymnastics facility fund Role Models - 14 Leadership academies created in London Funding secured - 2 new BG/GLL full time Gymnastics Development Coaches Opportunity - more London Boroughs prioritising Gymnastics as a sport to invest in Resource Level 1 and 72 Level 2 coaches qualified across a range of disciplines Membership - in London clubs grew by over 10% Expansion - Club Bursary scheme assisted 9 clubs in growing their capacity Development - over 185,000 of funding was secured through the Mayor s Legacy Fund

5 they gave me throughout this journey and hope I have made my three year old daughter very proud when she gets old enough to watch the DVD of what Daddy did in the summer of 2012! I was so pleased that my mum and dad had managed to get tickets and one of my memorable moments from the Games was seeing them in the bar at the end. I recall them telling me how proud of me they were - perhaps my way of repaying them for all those trips from Bromley to Sutton when I was training as a gymnast? Gymnastics landed in London s O2 arena (known as Myself NGA and for the the Games) rest of with the a Gymnastics bang and unrivalled Management success for Team British at LOCOG Gymnasts. (Matt, Nearly Mindy, six months Natalie, on Nicky, the banners Michelle are & all Claire) but gone have and all Olympic returned gymnasts to our daily at the lives O2 are with replaced new skills by and pop attributes stars. which could not have been gained if we hadn't been part of Organising committee. Having spent nearly two years with LOCOG as LOCOG was an organisation made up of 87 the Artistic Gymnastics Manager, I am sat on the different train on departments. my way into London There were having 1500 returned employees to my when old job I joined and thought in Jan I would 2010 and share my perception when I of left. the legacy There left were by employees a summer many from all of us over will the never world forget. and from every industry and skill set you can think of. All with As different many have skills already and experiences said, legacy combining will be as much them a with measure the passion of the success to bring of the London best ever 2012 Games Games to London. as the event This its was self. clear to see every time I walked into the office at Canary Wharf. Inspire a Generation was much more than a good PR phrase; it was a vision that our leader Lord Matthew Coe instilled Greenwood, throughout an event the organising genius in my committee. mind led He our asked team every with one that of same LOCOG s passion and with employees a unique to vision do the of best what work we of would their try lives, and achieve put on amazing partnership events with and to FIG. make Seconded a difference. from BG for the best part of 3 years, Matthew returns to BG as Head of Events and again can My take work back in fresh events thinking, before the ideas Games and was skills largely to on influence a voluntary the way basis BG for events Gymnastics (National although and I did run events during my full time employment International) are run in the future. Another of at GfK. Following the 2009 World Championships at the O2, Matthew Greenwood my colleagues, Claire Thompson, our (Gymnastics Trampoline Manager) Manager approached at LOCOG went me about from becoming being an International part of his team Brevet at LOCOG. Judge, He to had one becoming vision - a to fully-fledged deliver the best gymnastics Gymnastics event event the Manager. world had She ever organised seen. You the would very have successful thought trampoline I would element have of jumped the Games at the opportunity. taken But her perhaps skills strangely from London there was to Glasgow a lot to con- as and has now sider. she heads My family, up the my Gymnastics friends and my Team job for security. the When Commonwealth the financial Games world was in crashing and jobs were in short supply, I was considering leaving my job at GfK where I have worked for over 15 And there were some key people from years. London as well who were employed part time After as Gymnastics many sleepless Group nights, Leaders. and support Catherine from Bates family was a and key friends member I plucked of the up gymnastics the courage team to go and and was speak exposed to my (with Chief one Executive arm behind about the her back at times) to the intricacies of working within the Organising Committee. I would often send files; publications etc to Cat and ask for her help. I think Catherine would agree with me, that she gained an awful lot of experience from her time at LOCOG and I firmly believe is now establishing herself as one of the best competition organisers in the country (second only to me of course!) Another of our Team Leaders from London was Len Arnold OBE. I don t think anyone could top Len s 2012, but for a man who was opportunity. busy picking I didn t up get Honours much from past the the first Queen, five carrying of the conversation Olympic Torch, before moving he said "we in to, are then minutes a London out of company, and then you back will in gain to a experience new gym and Len bring still back found something time with fresh Mark to our Hull company and a team and of I want volunteers our staff to to help know ensure that we all will of support the equipment them was to in follow the right their dreams". place at This the right was perhaps time and my looking first touch tip on top! what I guess a difference you can it was take perceived I could make, but more importantly a your pick of 2012 legacy items for Len Arnold OBE, but feeling that my own legacy would be to return to GfK probably as stronger that big person new and shiny with gym an improved is the one set that of skills he can which cherish I could the apply most. to the Len business. knows the legacy of the Europa gym will live on for many I returned decades to to GfK come. in September last year (after only a couple of weeks break from the Games) and Continuing was immediately on this asked theme to head of people up an power event of over perhaps 150 top one clients of the at biggest a top venue hidden in London. skills The gained result - by one the of the 250+ best volunteers ever attended who legacies is events, an event which had more class and ensured that our years of planning were stage production than we had done previously successfully delivered. We could only ensure and clients giving feedback that had done much to improve the plan their was perception brought to of life GfK. by Indeed putting my in place Chief the Executive correct team said shortly leaders after and "that ensuring is the they best gave event their plan teams we have of volunteers ever had, the the event necessary was training executed and perfectly information. - that is Many the reason of our we Team wanted Leaders you and back". volunteers were from London Clubs and I was immensely proud and grateful But for whilst the GfK support afforded you me gave. the opportunity to go off and chase my dream, I should stop here for a second to mention some other people who The GamesMakers have received significant helped me along my LOCOG journey. praise since the Games, but they were more From the Test Event (in Jan 2012) through until the than end of just the a Games, set of helpful, the hours smiley and stress people! levels 250+ were pretty team horrendous. were categorised During as these Sport times Specific Our it can Volunteers put a strain most on the had relationship been involved with family in I gymnastics got to see very before, little of some any had of mine not. for We the went best through part of months the three of months selection leading interviews, up to and including application the Games. forms, I skill am grateful mapping for etc the to support we they selected gave me the throughout right person this for journey every and single ensure hope position. I have made We then my three wrote year training old daughter materials, very proud when she gets old enough to watch gave presentations, invited them to feel good the DVD of what Daddy did in the summer of events. Some of you reading this will have 2012! This Page: Cleo bracelet, stone, $80 gone through the process. Our plan was to make the volunteer be ready to give their best at that moment in time. As a legacy of the Games, gymnastics now has a bigger, more

6 highly trained volunteer workforce and lots of those are London Region based. Perhaps the contribution of the volunteers was best summed up by Prof. Bruno Grandi, FIG President I would like to salute the veritable army of fantastic volunteers at London 2012, who continually impressed me with their efforts throughout the course of the Games Some of those volunteers may not be involved directly in gymnastics again and take their experience to other events, for most, I feel sure, they will use the skills and experience gained to make a difference at club, regional, national or international level and that for me is great legacy. Jessica Capelli our BG Area Manager took on the role of Personal Assistant to Prof. Bruno Grandi. This involved being his driver taking him shopping, visiting the park to look for squirrels and using her Italian language skills. It is testament to her professionalism that Bruno has remained in contact with her and is insistent that she be allocated to work with him in Glasgow The Games also afforded some gymnasts in the London Region a once in a lifetime opportunity. Many of our Disability gymnasts from Falcon Spartak were given the opportunity to test equipment for the Rhythmic competition at the Test Event in January. They were then given tickets to stay on and watch the competition. Our Men s Artistic London Regional Squad also had the opportunity to spend a few hours at the gymnastics Olympic training venue. As well as getting to be the first gymnasts to train on the same equipment as the Olympians would later in the week, gymnasts from clubs across London took part in a Regional Training session my thanks to Lorna Goddard (MTC Chair) who organised this at fairly short notice. Former and current gymnasts from the region performed in The Art of Gymnastics This Page: a beautiful Flora necklace, and gold ground-breaking with diamonds, performance $950; Vix bracelet, which gold, magically $150 introduced the audience to our sport before each competition. Our Heathrow Acro gymnasts more recognisable as Spelbound performed at the Rhythmic event and also in the Closing Ceremony. Many coaches and gymnasts from our London clubs were part of the Opening & Closing Ceremonies or carried a torch - an unforgettable moment of performance on one of the World s biggest stages. Another hidden legacy would be those clubs who benefited from having Olympic gymnasts in their gym leading up to and during the games. I know a number of International teams gave their gymnasts extra training at clubs across the London region. What great kudos and experience for the members of those clubs. It seems strange that it was only a year ago that I stood in front of you at the last BG London Club Conference and asked the question "are we ready?" One of the main themes of my presentation was whether you and your club would be ready for that golden moment. That moment when gymnastics gets the right result, gets the publicity it deserves and the demand for our sport goes through the roof. Well I hope you were ready because that is exactly what happened, the only difference being that our GB gymnasts gave us more than just one golden moment! I remember sitting in my temporary office at the O2 (NGA) the day after the Men's Team had won team Bronze. I had picked up the National papers on the way into work which showed pictures of the team (and their medals) on the front and back pages. On the TV and radio our success was being talked about on the news channels and on social media people wanted to have their say. As I sat with a colleague we talked about what this meant for our sport. Indeed that result didn t come overnight. That result came with years of lottery funding, years of hard work of personal and National coaches and a vision by the Technical Director, Eddie Van Hoof and many who paved the way before and around him. That moment and many after it have sparked a media frenzy in gymnastics which has never been seen before. Our profile could not be much

7 higher than it is at present with our top sporting athletes having become overnight celebrities (Louis Smith MBE - Strictly Come Dancing Champion, Beth Tweddle MBE, Dancing on Ice). Gymnastics and its athletes are now newsworthy and more importantly - TRENDY! The legacy from the games is that excellent press coverage for our sport and the continued exposure which will help to promote gymnastics. All the time we are in the limelight, people will want to become the next Louis Smith MBE or the next Beth Tweddle MBE, that's the nature of the beast. Look as well at the knock on affect it has had with general public wanting to go and watch gymnastics. Recently the Glasgow World Cup was a sell-out (I believe 80% of tickets sold within days of the ticket office opening). I would fully expect the British Championships in Liverpool to be the same this year and other events up and down the country. At some point the publicity and momentum will slow, and that perhaps gives us a chance for a breather and to take stock. BG and GB now has a reputation for staging World Class events an annual Artistic World Cup, in 2014 we have the Commonwealth Games and 2015 the World Championships (qualification for the Rio Olympics) - all in Glasgow, Scotland, and we will feel the ripple effect as once again the Nation will begin to expect our gymnasts to perform well and momentum will once again grow as we move into 2016 and the Rio Olympics. The recent award of funding from Sport England and UK Sport is testament to how far our sport has come, and also to the great work the staff at BG have done in steering our sport in the right direction and with much admired governance. Our legacy should be to continue to grow as a sport the Games left us with more money to do the job, more children walking through the door, more clubs to provide the classes, more coaches able to teach them and more skilled volunteers to make a difference the legacy is only just beginning. I was thrilled to be a part of the London 2012 team and live that experience. I am now excited about the profile and opportunities this will give us. Say gymnastics and people think London. Rhythmic - A group & Individual competed in their first Olympics (courtesy of home nation place) Excellence - Beth Tweddle MBE, first British female to win individual apparatus Olympic medal Stability - Our Women s Artistic team finished in a record breaking 6th place Unbelievable - Our Men s Artistic Team took an historic Bronze medal, first Olympic team medal in 100 years. Legends - Louis Smith MBE (Silver Medal) and Max Whitlock (Bronze Medal) in GB Pommel Horse dominance Trampoline - Katherine Short ended qualification in 9th. Best female finish in British Trampoline history

8 I would like to thank Len and Yvonne for their foresight to do this. What you have created is an inspiration. I would have not been on the track was it not for the people who worked at Crystal Palace for the price of a rail ticket and a few sandwiches. There is the understanding that sport is the most acute targeted social worker there is. In 1992 they had a vision to do it and now they are looking after 2,000 members. That is quite something. They are an inspiration and they inspire people. As well as delivering new facilities for elite athletes, the centre will enable others inspired by the Games to develop their potential. Thank you for turning this into a reality Lord Sebastian Coe Written and designed by Ben Murphy (with a little help from his friends) for London Gymnastics and its members. Thanks to all those who contributed to the memories. Printing sponsored by GfK. Photos with thanks to FIG and Alan Edwards