Colchester man sparks Games Makers 'parade' (From Essex County Standard)

Colchester man sparks Games Makers 'parade'

5:00pm Tuesday 18th September 2012 in News

 

A COLCHESTER Olympic volunteer was so fed up Games Makers were not getting the thanks they deserved that he gathered a crowd to join the back of the athletes’ parade.

So annoyed was Terry Lloyd that he distributed hundreds of leaflets to his colleagues encouraging them to gather behind the main athletes’ parade.

But when thousands of his colleagues jumped barriers and joined the celebrations, police formed a barrier in front of them, instructing them to stay put as the rest of the parade carried on.

“We lost our moment,” said Mr Lloyd, 59, of Hythe Hill, Colchester.

“It was not for our own gratification, the crowd wanted us to be part of it, but the police treated us like rioters.”

Mr Lloyd also volunteered at the Sydney Olympics, in 2000, in the Manchester Commonwealth Games, in 2002, and Melbourne, in 2006.

During the London Games, the St John Ambulance-trained volunteer was part of the immediate medical response team, based trackside.

“I remember at the other Games I was at, we had our own celebration and we loved it. It was such a shame we didn’t get the chance at our homes Games.”

The parade was held through London on Monday, September 10, to celebrate medal-winning athletes’ achievements.

Mr Lloyd added: “Fortunately it hasn’t overshadowed the previous two months but nonetheless it was a shame nothing was organised for us.”

In a Locog statement released at the end of the Games, it said golden tickets to sit along the parade route from the Mall to Buckingham Palace, were given out to Games Makers through a ballot as a thank-you.

Makers could sit alongside armed service members and emergency services workers.