By Selwyn Wright

Last updated at 09:38, Tuesday, 31 July 2012

I DIDN’T get to see much of the opening ceremony – I was again checking tickets on the gate and have now got a severe case of ‘scanners thumb’!

SELWYN WRIGHT

We had George (Austerity) Osborne through our gate along with David Hemery – a senior moment for me as I called him Alan Pascoe!

Once the spectators were in place we had the job of securing the area into which the ‘Queen’ and ‘Daniel Craig’ parachuted, and then, until 1.30am I was back on the ‘Workforce Entry’.

I did manage to sneak into the stadium a couple of times during the evening and found myself in tears when the Chariots of Fire sequence began. I think it’s because I was playing my very small part in the largest, most complex and most creative enterprise – possibly in our entire history. I knew it was going to go well – how could it not do against the sheer force of will of 10,000 cast members and 2,000 volunteers?

But when it became clear that nothing was going to go wrong it all became a bit too much for me.

Just been to the men’s cycling road race and I should have realised that it couldn’t last. When the two leaders flashed past my fence-top perch outside the Dubai Embassy in Knightsbridge about a mile from the finish with Cavendish and Co. nowhere in sight I was brought down to earth with a bump.

We need to realise that this is not going to be a three-week victory procession for Team GB. It’s bucket loads of hard work and coaching expertise added to a little bit of luck that brings success, and we Brits don’t have a monopoly on those qualities. Very sad for Cav – everyone knows he’s the fastest man in the world and Olympic Gold is the only prize he has yet to win!

Back in Furness, I coach Broughton Runners and UVHS Orienteers and my message is the same: “Whatever you choose to do, whether it’s sport, or music or something academic, just give it your maximum effort all the time, and you can succeed. TRY YOUR BEST!”

It’s so rewarding helping kids towards achieving their dreams so I have a message for the grown-ups too. Every sporting activity, and everything else that happens for kids, can only happen if there are adult volunteers to help.

So if you’ve been inspired by the Olympics and you’d like to help – then make contact with your local club, be it athletics or swimming, football, rugby league or dancing; Scouts or Brownies. LEND A HAND! You’ll never regret it.

First published at 16:11, Monday, 30 July 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk