One of the odd things I did over the years was the UK School Games, a multi-sport Olympics for school-children which travelled round the UK for a number of years. It started under Labour, was cut down and eventually abolished by the coalition mostly because it was a Labour initiative. There were a painful couple of years where the corporate sponsorship dried up, then it died a sad death.
In the meantime, it was a great opportunity for up-and-coming sports stars to represent their countries (England, Wales, Scotland and either NI or Ireland depending on whether the individual sport was cross-border or not) and experience the pressures and joys of a properly-organised event. I did a number of roles - welfare officer, team manager and a few other things. It always meant a few trips to different areas of these islands in the planning stages, wearing truly hideous polyester fr days on end, sleeplesss nights, sporting, emotional and physical trauma and triumphs, intense friendships and always good photo opportunities.
I might dig out some of the sporting shots later, but today it's just a few from Newcastle and Gateshead, where the 2011 Games were held. I'd never been there, and was stunned by the architectural grace of Newcastle, the geography of the twin cities and the brutal charms of Gateshead. I took these on the way to a meeting to check out venues a few months beforehand.
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| Detail from a hotel doorway |
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| Classical-style ironwork |
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| Demolition of the Gateshead car park Michael Caine throws someone off in Get Carter! |
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| The Sage through a bridge |
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| The Tyne Bridge |
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