Delhi

Mere hours ago the last firework exploded into the Delhi sky at the closing ceremony of the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

The Delhi games has been dogged by a range of problems, including poor attendances, unsanitary conditions in the athletes village, talk of the ‘best’ athletes “pulling out” of their events, and fears over the endemic Dengue fever. Not exactly a glowing start, especially in terms of PR!

Despite all of this, events on track and field have meant that external opinions of the event have gradually become more favourable, and organisers should be praised for putting on a successful games, which hopefully will allow India the opportunity to build upon the hard work of current athletes - especially the womens 4x400m gold medal-winning relay team, the event which became the "Cathy Freeman moment" of the 2010 Delhi games (Image from AP Photo).

Now that the country has world class facilities, and a nation who have been eagerly watching (even if it was at home, not in the stadia) India has definite potential for future greatness, but the next big test will take place in less than two years in London.

I was at the Manchester Commonwealth Games in 2002; my parents have always been avid athletics fans, and had saved up for over a year to get tickets to the majority of the athletics at the City of Manchester Stadium, the entirety of the Rugby 7’s tournament and some of the early fixtures in the Badminton tournament.

At the time I was almost passive about athletics, but being in the crowd watching as England (as well as the rest of the well-supported home nations) won a glut of gold medals is still an incredibly powerful experience, and the thought of 38,000 plus people proudly singing ‘Land of Hope and Glory’ (not Jerusalem as it is nowadays) a prominent memory that is giving me ‘goose bumps’ as I type.

In a similar way to what must be occurring in India now, it inspired me to show more of an interest in athletics – and whilst I’m nowhere near the required standard to be competing in London in 2012, I still want to play a part – which is why I have volunteered to be a “Games Maker” volunteer.

Ideally I would love the experience of working as a PR ‘specialist’ after finishing my degree next year, but even a ‘general’ role would be something to be cherished, as I want to be part of the legacy left by having the Olympics in Britain.

For more details about how to apply for volunteering at the London 2012 games head to the London 2012 Volunteering website. (Deadline is October 27)

Paul