(ATR) The chief executive of London 2012 tells Around the Rings the new velodrome is "hopping" with the buzz of an enthusiastic crowd on the opening night of track cycling.
"We saw this at the test event and we knew what to expect, world records in the first few races," Paul Deighton told ATR at the 6,000-seat venue widely regarded as the most beautiful venue on the Olympic Park.
"It’s incredibly alive, full up with people standing… just absolutely electric."
"It’s what gives the athletes a real ability to perform at their highest level."
Prince William and his wife, the Duchess of Cambridge, along with Prince Harry swept into the venue’s VIP section meters from your correspondent at 5.15pm. Kate Middleton wore a Team GB jersey and was soon caught up in conversation with Andy Hunt, CEO of the British Olympic Association, once seated. British prime minister David Cameron also attended.
Other figures from the Olympic Movement watching on included IOC member from Great Britain Princess Anne, IOC Olympic Games executive director Gilbert Felli, new IOC Athletes’ Commission chair Claudia Bokel and International Ski Federation secretary general Sarah Lewis.
Security was tight at the entrance to the VIP seating area with Metropolitan Police officers and the royal family’s protection unit, earpieces the giveaway, keeping a beady eye on their charges.
But Deighton insisted that venue security for the royals in particular and spectators in general during the Games so far had not been over the top in any way or detracted from the overall experience of sports fans. "It hasn’t been an issue we have had to attend to at all; it’s been incredibly smooth," he said.
The royal guests had come to see Great Britain’s men and women go for gold in the team sprints. But minutes prior to their arrival, GB's Victoria Pendleton and Jess Varnish were left devastated when they were relegated in their race and not able to contest the gold medal race because of changing over in the wrong part of the track. The news was accompanied by loud boos and whistles from the mostly British crowd.
"That’s sport," Deighton said with a wince at the mention of the devastated pair of riders.
But it didn’t take long to get the crowd jumping again. At every corner, a massive cheer egged on, as it it was needed, by the "Make a noise" words flashed on the scoreboard.
GB’s men proceeded to set two world records in the men’s team sprint and 4000m team pursuit – 3.52.499.
The crowd went bonkers, with the low ceiling of the velodrome making this Olympic facility the pick of London 2012 venues for a pressure-cooker atmosphere. The kisscam at breaks in the action also serves to keep the crowd in high spirits.
It was Claudia Bokel’s first ever visit to a velodrome – and the former Olympic fencer from Germany told ATR she was mightily impressed.
"It’s a great venue fromthe outside and on the inside. I really love the venue," she said, a reference to the award-winning architecture. Dubbed 'The Pringle' after the saddle-shaped crisp, the venue is clad in 5,000 square meters of western red cedar.
"What I like is that you see athletes preparing in the middle. You get to feel close to them."
She watched her compatriots win gold in the women’s team sprint after China were relegated for an irregular changeover. IOC vice president Thomas Bach, an Olympic fencing champion himself, presented the medals for the women’s team sprint.
The icing on the cake for the partisan crowd was gold for GB in the men’s team sprint. What a stunning series of heats and a final to remember.
Chris Hoy won his fifth Olympic gold medal to equal Steve Redgrave's record in rowing. The Scotsman and his fellow riders Philip Hindes and Jason Kenny were treated to a standing ovation as the emotional trio did their victory lap. Not only that, they shattered the world record. It was spine-tingling stuff, tears of joy for Hoy and his team-mates as they blew kisses to the crowd.
And it was only fitting that Princess Anne presented the gold medals to the GB team to the roars of the packed velodrome. The opening night of track cycling could not have got off to a better start.
Reported by Mark Bisson
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