A basingstoke couple were toasting a money-can’t-buy day out last week as they enjoyed ringside seats for the London 2012 Olympics’ one-year-to-go celebrations.
After winning a Eurostar competition Lizzie and Lewis Yourdie rubbed shoulders with 2012 chairman Lord Sebastian Coe and Olympic silver medallist Colin Jackson in an action packed day in the capital.
While London was awash with countdown celebrations the Basingstoke duo – one of 20 Eurostar winners – saw firsthand how the 2012 venues are progressing before enjoying dinner overlooking the newly built £575m Olympic Stadium in Stratford, east London.
The 80,000-seater stadium will be the centrepiece for the Games, and the new home of West Ham United from 2012 onwards. And after being part of the celebrations last week Mrs Yourdie – who works at the Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital - admitted it had been a day never to forget.
“It was a great day,” she said. “We were whisked around London after having breakfast at St Pancras and then to get to see the Olympic Stadium was fantastic. It was nice to see it up close and have lunch overlooking it and all round it was a fun day.”
After a whistle-stop tour around the city and the Olympic site the couple were treated to an after-dinner speech from Jackson, regaling his Olympic Games memories.
And after getting up close and personal with the Games sites, Mr Yourdie’s thoughts turned to next year and the inspirational influence of a home Olympics.
“I am a sporty person myself and I remember being inspired as a youngster by the Olympics,” he said. “I have gone on to live a healthy and active lifestyle and I am sure that 2012 will have the same positive effect in terms of the legacy.”
Eurostar is opening the way to London 2012.
As the Official International Rail Services Provider to London 2012, Eurostar will bring hundreds of thousands of sports fans from the continent to London to soak up the atmosphere. Find out more at www.eurostar.com/london2012.
