Embassies and the Olympic Games

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.

Since yesterday, sports delegations have begun to arrive inLondonand all Embassies are filling up with visitors and small problems  to iron out.

All diplomatic missions work hard to celebrate and support their delegations, organising meetings and coordinating with other missions, supporting more joined up working and contributing to the success of the London 2012 Olympic Games

The traffic restrictions and  tightened security are starting to be felt.  It is the logical inconvenience that we have to face to support the success of the Olympic Games.  The most important thing is that the Olympic Games run as they should.

The Peruvian delegation is small, 17 athletes, but they join the competition with lots of enthusiasm and dedication.  We have athletes in the disciplines of athletics, swimming, tae kwon do, judo, badminton, weight lifting, rowing, sports shooting and sailing.  Most of the athletes come fromLima, but some of them come from other places, where they train.

ForPeru,Londonholds a dear memory, as in the 1948 Olympic Games Edwin Vásquez won the Sports shooting gold medal, the only Olympic Gold thatPeruhas achieved so far.  Hopefully London 2012 will see this repeated.

In conclusion, we are living important times.  We want the Olympic Games to be a great celebration and that everything goes according to plan.  We all have to play our part in this.