An athletic Sunday

It being Sunday, the chaplain I was on duty with in our hotel's Oasis and I decided to have a service rather than a simple devotional time, so part of the morning was spent preparing for this as I was doing a Bible reflection. Very few came, partly maybe as we were competing timewise with athletics events that people were watching, but the few that did come appreciated it. It was also good that we'd invited one of our chaplains who's a former international athlete herself to give a short testimony about how she combined her faith and her athletics and it fitted in very well with the athlete who was there.

I went to the stadium later for various admin things re the chapel there and for a meeting with someone who wanted a chat. Afterwards I stayed on for the athletics and what a night it was. It was a privilege to be there for Jessica Ennis's final events in the Heptathlon and to see her win Team GB's first gold medal (chaplains aren't always able to be totally impartial!), and then be there for Usain Bolt's gold medal and World Record. The noise in the stadium was deafening! I was sitting in the athlete's and team seating area, and it was amazing to be sitting behind numerous members of the Jamaican delegation with their flags whistles etc etc. There'd been a similar scene just before as we were near the shot putt area whilst the women's event was going on and the German coach was sitting in front of us´- surrounded by media watching his every move as his athletes competed - it's not just the athletes that feel the pressure of competition!