30th July 2012
Windhoek, Namibia
Not many people know that the Olympics was historically a period of peace in ancient Greece, when warring factions put down their arms and focussed on competing rather than attacking each other. This ancient Greek tradition of “ekecheiria”: ‘truce’ helped encourage a special environment for the early Games, and ensured safe passage and participation of […]
Read more on Tributes and tribulations to mark opening of Olympic Games and Olympic Truce in Namibia | Reply
27th July 2012
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
After all the waiting, we’re here at last – the day of the London 2012 Opening Ceremony. And even the cynics seem to be getting excited. This morning, I assisted Miruts Yifter to raise the London 2012 flag at the entrance to our Embassy compound, where it will fly throughout the Games. Unusually, for the […]
Read more on "Yifter the Shifter" | Reply (1)
23rd July 2012
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
There is no Vatican Olympic team, at least not this year (though I recommend that you see the recent film “Cento metri dal Paradiso” to see what could happen if the Vatican decided to enter…). But the Holy See and the Catholic Church have been fully involved in the preparations for the 2012 London Olympics […]
Read more on Pope Benedict prays for the London Olympics | Reply
23rd July 2012
Windhoek, Namibia
It has been a whirl of Olympic activities this week in Windhoek – as we enter the final countdown to the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games this Friday – now only 4 days away! I joined members of Team Namibia, made up of the remarkable ‘qualified’ young Namibian sportsmen and women and representatives […]
Read more on Team Namibia Olympic send off to mark the final countdown to London 2012 | Reply (1)
19th July 2012
Lima, Peru
By Julio Muñoz-Deacon, Peruvian Ambassador to the United Kingdom With only a few days to go until the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games,hopes are rising, excitement mounts and everyone is crossing their fingers hoping for good weather again after so many days of rain and cold. Today is sunny and without rain. A good sign. […]
Read more on Embassies and the Olympic Games | Reply (1)
11th July 2012
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Watching the Wimbledon tennis championships last week reminded me of the old Scouts motto: “Be Prepared”. It demonstrates yet again that preparation is the key to success. We not only saw the players thrashing the ball at each other on Centre Court, but also saw snippets of their painstaking preparations, spending hours every day honing […]
Read more on Be Prepared! | Reply (1)
1st June 2012
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
How will beach volleyball affect the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London this summer? What are the parallels, and differences, between London 2012 and Euro 2012 in Ukraine? You can find answers to these and other questions about the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics, and about the Euro 2012 football championship, in a short TV […]
Read more on Beach volleyball, the Foreign Office and Euro 2012 | Reply
28th May 2012
Bucharest, Romania
As part of our preparations for the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics, we have another guest blogger today. Rhys Osborne, Head of Registry at the British Embassy in Bucharest, kindly shared his impressions about a recent event supported by the Embassy. Last week I took part in an event hosted by Fundatia Inocenti. Established in […]
Read more on Olympics for the Innocents | Reply (1)
23rd May 2012
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
21st May marked 100 days to go to the start of the London 2012 Paralympic Games. I’m here at the HQ of the Ukrainian National Paralympics Committee (NPC) in Kyiv for a press conference to mark the event, together with NPC President Valeriy Sushkevych; Simon Minty, a UK specialist on diversity and inclusivity; Sergiy Glushchenko, […]
Read more on Coming soon – Ukrainian Paralympic glory | Reply
22nd May 2012
Warsaw, Poland
Just hours after BA 2012 landed in Cornwall marking the official 70 day countdown and the start of the Olympic Torch relay round the UK the British Embassy was in action in one of Warsaw’s most prestigious parks. Teaming up with the British Council at the Warsaw Samsung Run we enjoyed a superb opportunity to […]
Read more on The GREAT British Olympics – Off to a GREAT start in Warsaw | Reply
