Ben Feist: Games Maker
Published 8 August 2012
I am a First Responder for the Emergency Medical Services team who are part of the London 2012 Medical Services team. I will be working within the Basketball Arena which is one of the busiest and largest temporary arena hosting the Olympic basketball and handball.
A typical day for Ben:-
0400 - I wake up and begin my day, get dressed, washed and eat breakfast
0500 - I drive to Hatton Cross Underground Station from my home in Surrey
0520 - Catch the tube along the Piccadilly Line, changing at Holborn for the Central Line to Stratford
0710 - Arrive at the Olympic Park, make my way through security and walk across the Park to the Basketball Arena
0730 - Medical Services team briefing in the Arena's Medical Room
0800 - Quickly sign on with the Workforce Check-in before getting into position ready for spectators to enter the Basketball Arena
1300 - Lunchtime and my tummy is desperate for food. Lunch is provided at one of the huge Workforce break areas (fortunately the VBB precinct (Velodrome, BMX and Basketball) have their own)
1730 - Handover to next First Responder ready for the late shift and back to the Arena's Medical Room
1800 - Arrive at a busy Stratford Station to start my journey home
2000 - Arrive home, have dinner and shower
2230 - Get to bed ready for the next day starting at 0400 again.
Between 0800-1730 I am in one of four positions with another First Responder colleague within the Basketball Arena in which I stand there watching the basketball or handball game until we are either alerted to a medical incident or receive an internal emergency 999 call over our radio.
The Basketball Arena is very pink and the atmosphere, due to the sport, is incredible - especially when Team GB are playing! It can get really loud and exciting. It's great to see such support for Great Britain and other teams too, particularly those from further afield.
I have 11 Olympic Game shifts scheduled and nine Paralympic Game shifts scheduled, in which I'll be giving up over 250 hours of my own time.
It's great to be able to help people out within the Basketball Arena or on the Olympic Park, to help the people have a great Games, from offering to take a photograph to giving directions or travel advice. It's great to see so many people bringing young children along who'll certainly remember the Games and be able to tell the story of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games for years to come as well as perhaps inspiring them to take up an Olympic sport to keep fit and healthy - "inspire a generation".
You can also read about Ben Feist: Torchbearer.
Read more London2012 news...
Contact: Marketing and Communications, University of Brighton, 01273 643022
