An Olympic Lunch, London 2012

An invitation to lunch in the House of Lords, on the eve of the Opening Ceremony of London 2012, to celebrate the XXX Olympiad with friends of Lord Moynihan, all of whom, he said, had helped in some way to develop sport and make the event happen.

A guided tour of the houses of Parliament, then lunch in the Barry Room. Five tables, each decorated with a circle of flowers in the colours of the Olympic rings. Janez Kocijancic, Slovenian IOC Member and member of the FIS Council on my left, and on my right, Hugh Robertson, Minister of Sport. David Hemery on our table, also Sarah Lewis, sec general of FIS, and the IOC members for SUI and ROM, along with their wives. We dined on Scottish smoked salmon, roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, followed by strawberries.

Talk was about the Opening Ceremony the following day...
The Minister acknowledged that he would be the man held responsible if the GBR athletes don't succeed at London 2012. Then a long chat with him about skiing, about the new BSS Constitution and about the Scots. Some fascinating insights into his ways of dealing with these things at EU committees! He listened, and I talked so much that I realised he'd eaten his entire main course and I'd taken barely a mouthful. I had to apologise for talking too much!

Colin's speech included an extraordinary mention of me, by name, in connection with BSS, very honoured indeed to be singled out. He also insisted on introducing me to all and sundry as 'Jenny Shute, recently honoured by Her Majesty the Queen'.

Sat afterwards with Sarah, David Hemery, Colin, and the Heads of British Rowing (Di) and British Canoeing (Albert Woods) and guesstimated the medals we will win!

I didn't want the day to end, so had coffee outside the House of Lords, watching the Thames go by, and then took a river cruise to Tower Bridge. London looking wonderful for the Olympics, Tower Bridge hung splendidly with the Olympic rings. I returned just in time to walk part way up Whitehall, queue for a very welcome beer, and watch the Olympic Torch pass by for the second time - last seen in Oxford 10 days earlier. This time I was closer, front row, and there was a changeover right in front of me. Wow. I can't explain the emotion, but it was huge.

London 2012 - bring it on!!!