Tag: London 2012

1st August 2016 London, UK

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by Boris Johnson

Secretary of State for Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs

From London to Rio

Four years ago tonight I watched in awe as Danny Boyle’s opening ceremony in Stratford launched the start of what would become the most amazing Olympic Games the world had ever seen. London 2012 proved a defining moment for our country. The inevitable pre Games gloom – problems with the M4 corridor from Heathrow into […]

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21st January 2014

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by Paul Madden

British Ambassador to Japan

London Paralympics heroes in Australia

Last night I had dinner with a group of British wheelchair athletes, in Australia for a series of races this week at Canberra stadium, culminating in the “GIO Oz Day 10k” around Sydney’s historic Rocks district on Australia Day. They were a hugely impressive bunch and it was fun talking to them about their experiences […]

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28th October 2013

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by Greg Dorey

Diplomat

Voluntarism and Happiness

Describing happiness is difficult and attaining it is elusive. But I tend to agree with Albert Schweitzer, who once commented to a group of volunteers that “The only ones among you who will really be happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.” Every 6 months or so, I meet a new […]

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30th July 2013 Washington DC, USA

Maeve Atkins

by Maeve Atkins

Communications Officer

Nostalgic for 2012: The Olympic Legacy

Nostalgia is defined as “a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past, typically for a period of place with happy personal associations.” With this weekend marking one year on, was I feeling nostalgic about the London 2012 games, which I experienced from more than 3,000 miles away? I most definitely was. While I couldn’t […]

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30th July 2013

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by Greg Dorey

Diplomat

Greening Ethiopia – the road from London to Rio

This morning it was pouring with rain when I first looked out of the window. So I was pleased that it had cleared a couple of hours later when my Brazilian colleague Isabel and I stood on a hillside overlooking Addis Ababa in our wellington boots. Actually, it was perfect conditions for tree-planting, and we […]

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26th July 2013 New York, USA

by Nick Astbury

Deputy Consul-General and Deputy Head of Mission, New York

The lasting Olympic impression

Exactly a year ago tomorrow, I sat down with my twelve-year-old son in the Olympic Stadium to watch the Opening Ceremony. Extra tickets had become available about a month or so beforehand – they weren’t cheap, but as a Londoner the chance to be there was too good to miss. We’d got there early, long […]

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19th December 2012

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by Paul Johnston

Ambassador to Ireland

2012: 12 Highlights

This is my last blog of the year. Many thanks to all of you for taking the time to read my ramblings. Herewith twelve personal highlights from a fascinating, fun and fast-moving year in Sweden: January saw the first of many Ministerial visits this year. Lord Green, our Business Minister came for a big meeting […]

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14th December 2012 Washington DC, USA

James Barbour

by James Barbour

Press Secretary and Head of Communications

GREAT British boxer Amir Khan in Los Angeles

The following is a guest post by Dame Barbara Hay, British Consul-General in Los Angeles. They used to say Amir Khan was the best thing to happen to race relations in Britain. The son of Pakistani immigrants and a practising Muslim, he made all of Britain proud by winning silver at the 2004 Olympics and […]

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12th December 2012 Washington DC, USA

Maeve Atkins

by Maeve Atkins

Communications Officer

From London to Rio

As the American daughter of a Northern Irishwoman working at the British Embassy, I didn’t find it easy to decide whom to cheer for during the London Olympics and Paralympics. But I had no difficulty in cheering on the Games themselves. I started working at the Embassy in July, weeks before the exciting London 2012 […]

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