The London 2012 Olympics at the ExCel Centre: A Cleaner's Story

After four years of waiting, an astronomical amount of anticipation and excitement, a fair bit of British criticism and scepticism, the greatest sporting spectacle on the planet finally arrived.
204 nations united under one Olympic banner, where all quarrels, grievances and troubles are put aside for almost three weeks to enjoy this beautiful spectacle in a sea of colour, vibrancy and unrelenting gleeful support encapsulates just how magical every aspect of the Olympics are.

Thanks in no small part to Director Danny Boyle's explosive, quirky and eccentrically British opening ceremony, the London 2012 Olympics started with a feverish bang!

The Olympics returned to London after a 64 year absence in which a total of 29 different stadia were used but the venue we shall focus on in particular was the ExCel Centre in London, Royal Victoria. The site would play host to Olympic events such as Boxing to Table tennis, Judo to Fencing, Weightlifting to Wrestling and finally Taekwondo.
You may ask why I chose this venue and not the more eye-catching, headline grabbing facility of the Olympic stadium, the Velodrome or the Aquatics Centre. Well, ultimately I may have done just that..... if I had worked there.

For the games 16 day entirety, the only arena to do so, the ExCel Centre was rammed to the rafters from dawn on the 28th of July until dusk on the 12th of August.
Everyday, from 3pm-11pm, I was entrusted with the highly coveted role of 'Day housekeeper' or perhaps more succinctly put, a toilet cleaner! I can just imagine how jealous you all are. In all honesty I could not care less, well except when having to clean 'human spillages' - which fell under the category of someone's sick, blood or faeces - for I was a part of the London 2012 Olympics. This monumental phenomenon is a once in a lifetime event, especially as it was in our own backyard, and though it may not have been the most glamorous or appreciated post, and rightly so compared to the brilliant volunteers, I was still making my mark on the Olympics one toilet role at a time.

So perhaps you are wondering what a typical day for a typical worker was like in the life of a cleaner at the ExCel. Well I cannot answer that, as I wasn't a typical worker, far from it!
After yo-yoing back and forth between my Aunt and Uncle's house in Hornsey and my humble abode in St.Albans for the 15 days I was working, journey duration differed from approximately 50 minutes for the former and 1 hour 45 for the latter, I was well and truly exhausted but, as I have said before, I wasn't complaining. Nonetheless, naturally I was extremely grateful to have the opportunity to stay for over a week in London, allowing me that extra precious privilege of life, sleep!
After said journeys, I would head for the station, 'Custom House for ExCel' on the Dockland's Light Railway line, head up the escalators, show my accreditation pass to the two security men, walk the short walk to the security check-in vicinity, sign in using my job card, collect my uniform and dinner voucher, and away I would go.

From 3pm-11pm I was the master of three male toilets, no easy task as many men when they go to the toilet are incapable of emptying their bladders into the allotted urinal and cubicle areas; thank God for rubber gloves! A general sweep of each toilet involved checking if each toilet cubicle had sufficient amounts of toilet roll, adequate amounts of soap for each sink - which involved me lying under the desk plumber style and twisting large pink bottles into place - sweaty work - shining the mirrors and attempting to keep the place in immaculate condition.
This is a relatively simple task; however when thousands of spectators hurl themselves towards the nearest toilet after the end of an events session, which happened to be part of the three toilets I was responsible for, it became extremely hectic, overcrowded and anything but clean.
I was able to earn £4.50 in tips for my work of ushering spectators to unused cubicles, which many greatly appreciated whilst some engaged me in polite conversation as they waited. Many thought I was a volunteer and from time to time I did not correct them and simply smiled and shrugged. It was nice to be thought of as the most unlucky of volunteers, if only for a short while.
I must reiterate, however, that the money I did receive was due to me running around most of the centre trying to find a key to open the disabled toilet, single-handedly taking the litter away from 20 rather inebriated and exuberant British fans to save them the trip of 10 yards to the nearest waste disposal and finally helping a young aspergers sufferer out of a locked toilet. I may be coming across as somewhat pretentious and egotistical, but I don't care I thought I was a damn good day-housekeeper.... even if that isn't saying much!

The Olympics at the ExCel were almost faultless except for one small piece of the jigsaw that just didn't quite fit. Before I embark on this rant I must apologise for this scathing attack on one particular part of this Olympic working experience. Obviously caterers cater for the famished public, cleaners clean to keep the premises spic and span but the so called 'security' company of Knights and Sons' (I use the term security extremely loosely and perhaps wrongly) purpose was unknown to many. K&S staff were apparently unhelpful, aimlessly stood around and took the brunt of spectators' criticisms for their unaccommodating demeanor.

The one and only volunteers!

Almost at the other end of the spectrum were the magnificent, amiable, ever smiling volunteers, who took on the task with incredible gusto and enthusiasm, much to the delight of those lucky enough to have tickets but also just the staff in general. One person in particular who epitomised this incredible spirit and unbridled joy was a volunteer by the name of Anna Sichler, a young, soon to be Language Teacher - best of luck to her! - who I don't think ever, and I mean EVER, stopped smiling, an impressive feat (she must have strong cheek bones). Their warmth, kindness and unwavering assistance have made these Olympics even better than anyone could have imagined.

Again contrasting these wonderful people with the inconsequential Knights and Sons staff who actually did far less than the volunteers and yet were paid handsomely, it made me ponder whether money actually is 'the route of all evil'. These layabouts will probably return for the Paralympics in a couple of weeks time but I really hope they do not!

I digress from my argument that I did not fall under the 'typical cleaner' category. On day seven of the games I had the slightly odd but exciting opportunity to mop up a coffee spillage, normally nobody ever says this but this was under unusual circumstances, in front of two NBA players!
As I approached the area where the spillage had occurred I politely asked, straining my neck upwards whilst doing so, 'Excuse me, sorry but please can I clean up this spillage where you are standing?'. I tend to get rather timid and over the top polite. They didn't pay me much attention but nonetheless I strongly felt it was a memorable and blog worthy experience.
Further 'celebrity' encounters included a  thankful nod from comedian Jimmy Carr, another comedian Lee Mack, exhibiting a strong resemblance to Tom Hank's character in the film 'Cast Away' before ending my celebrity experiences on day 10 and saving the best till last by directing television presenter Rick Edwards to an unoccupied urinal.... character building stuff eh!

As my time at the ExCel Centre drew to a close I was once again struck down by illness. For anyone who knows me well, I do not have an immune system. I think I missed that window at birth where all newborns were given that immune system voucher that would prevent them getting ill once a month, maybe I was asleep or in the restroom or something. Had it not been for the events that played out on Day 13, I may not have got through that day but what transpired in front of my eyes was the most incredible support I have ever witnessed.

The pride of Ireland Katie Taylor

The pride of Ireland Katie Taylor, current Irish, European, World and now Olympic Champion in the 60kg women's division carried the hopes and aspirations of over four million Republic of Ireland citizens and she didn't disappoint by winning the gold in the inaugural boxing event for women at the Olympics.
What followed was the most breathtaking support I have ever witnessed as a sea of Irish support enveloped the entire boulevard bellowing out songs of 'Fields of Athenry', 'You'll never beat the Irish' and 'Walking in a Taylor wonderland'.
Eventually after hours of drinking, cheering, songs and delirious fanatical support the hordes of Irishmen, which had swelled tenfold as it appeared every fan in the stadium bar the Russian boxer and her supporters had become Irish that day and I was certainly one of them. I shall never forget it, just magical scenes.

So that is about it for now. For a few short weeks I will hang up my mop and brush and prepare for part two of a cleaners story.
That tail will continue in less than a fortnight from now with the Paralympics which should be just as magnificent as the Olympics have been if not better, go Team GB!
London let's do it all again and I for one cannot wait!