Friday 12th

Another day another dress rehearsal for all the volunteers. But a much shorter day as today was the Opening Ceremony. Today I got to give newbies the guided tour including the super posh upper levels of the arena with amazing views over the arena, where the heads of state and special invited guests will be catered for as well as meeting rooms for judges and technical officials. The whole arena is a maze of offices and rooms.
In the evening, us international volunteers headed out for a lovely meal and to catch the opening ceremony on the big screen on the boulevard in Baku. A beautiful setting - and amazing to be part of the crowd that went wild when Azerbaijan walked in but when Lady Gaga walked in, I walked out.
Got lost trying to find the metro station but a series of lovely people helped us including a great wee lady who gave us a guided tour of the Ancient City to get to the metro even though she lived on the opposite side of the city.
Last night of frivolity as podium training starts tomorrow.

The Azerbaijan clock - all time in Azerbaijan is set by this clock.

The University

The old city

Part of Maiden Tower - a UNESCO Heritage site

Me at Maiden Tower

The entrance to Maiden Tower

Fountains abound in Baku

Random lovely building

Us at opening ceremony big screen

Me at the opening ceremony party

Ceremony on the big screen

The flame towers lit up with Azerbaijan flag

The flame on the flames

Baku boulevard

On the boulevard

The gymnastics arena

Gymnastics arena

View of the flames from my hotel terrace

More Medal Ceremony Pics

Thursday 11th

A fabulous 12 hour sleep. And my first experience of Azeri breakfast - literally anything goes. I had honey on my bread from a massive honeycomb that sits in the middle of a table. Meats and cheeses and fruits by the tonne - I love olives but not for breakfast!!!!!
Straight off on the metro after breakfast for first full day on shift.
The day started quietly with a wee wander into training to catch up with the GB boys and girls, ( who look great, relaxed, and enjoying the experience.
Then a crazy full on day of constant rehearsals on the field of play - firstly with our Azeri volunteers, some carrying out the roles they will have during competition and others fulfilling the role of gymnasts. Then on the afternoon, a full technical dress rehearsal with all the noise and razzmatazz of the actual competition. Long, tough day but exciting too - not long to go until competition. One of the final tasks of the day was to rehearse the medal ceremony, and as most of the Azeri volunteers had left it was down to the flame keepers equivalent of a Team GB to lead the way. We walked up to podium, congratulated bronze and silver, took to gold podium and milked it for all it was worth. Even turning to the flags and (not quite) singing the national anthem - well it was Turkey's flag that was flying in gold position!!!
The heat was still crazy intense when we left the arena tonight. Took a trip to the local supermarket and now whiz zing about the metro like we know what we're doing. A wee dip in the pool and then bedtime as it's getting on now and another early start tomorrow and tomorrow night - OPENING CEREMONY This gig is on like Donkey Kong.

How's this for a KFC?

Winners!

First medals of the 2015 European Games

My view from my judging table at Rings. With the lovely Karen

Wednesday 10th

Arrived in Baku into blazing hot sunshine very early on Wednesday morning with one hour's sleep! All the volunteers were very helpful and got us all on a bus from the airport to the (wrong) hotel. From there a taxi to our rather lovely 5 star hotel and then straight back out in a taxi to UAC - the Uniform & Accreditation Centre. I had a few problems with accreditation as they had the wrong passport no. on my accreditation pass but we got there in the end. Picked up my official flame keepers uniform, hat and smashing purple bumbag. The lovely people at UAC popped us in a taxi to the very swish BEGOC HQ (Baku European Games Organising Committee) those lovely people popped us on yet another shuttle bus and 4.5 hours after landing we were on our way to the NGA - National Gymnastics Arena. A gorgeous massive arena with the equally enormous mind boggling training venue right next door. A structure with no steel frame, seemingly inflated from the inside to house a MASSIVE training centre for all 5 European Games disciplines. We found our way to the Competition Management office and introduced ourselves to the rest of the team.
No sooner had I walked in the door but I was nabbed for a meeting with the NTOs (National Technical Officials) where I learned that my role is to be a liaison between the Judging panel and the rest of field of play - no pressure! Then we went to field of play for a quick rehearsal and the rest of the day whiz zed past with many and varied meetings with broadcast, timing officials, training with NTOs and timing, field of play team. Eventually, I managed to drag my exhausted self away and scooted home on the metro system.
After 39 hours with 1 hours sleep I fell into bed to get myself ready for the next day.

The National Gymnastics Arena

Finally, my accreditation.

Natty baseball cap - not!

GOODBYE IRVINE, HELLO AZERBAIJAN

I'm off to Baku today. I'll be on the Field Of Play for Gymnastics at the inaugural 2015 European Games. At the European Games medals will be contested in Acro, Aerobic, Rhythmic, Trampolining and Men's And Women's Artistic. Exciting and terrifying all at once. I'll keep you updated with all my adventures.