Team GB sculpture
To build the excitement for Rio 2016, Team GB asked us to come down to the Olympic park to make a sculpture as part of a press event. So for my first solo sand sculpture adventure, I headed to London where they have created an urban beach with 1000 tonnes of sand, an ideal spot to work, only issue was that it needed to be finished for 6am!
The Olympic Stadium
We all arrived after a few delays around 7pm, I met up with Leah, Sam and Charlotte from Team GB who helped with getting set up and then we got cracking with the compaction.
The Tiki Bar in the background
By 9pm we had done most of the heavy digging and I was left to sculpt during the night. It was an unusual experience having the whole Beach East area to myself with the stadium in the background but it was very relaxed and listening to some music helped me keep going until the sun came up.
Compaction done!
I welcomed Laura from Team GB at 5am with the finished sculpture as the film crews, photographers and presenters started to arrive on site. Seeing the sculpture when the sun came up made a real difference and it was great to sit back and have a coffee as Ore Oduba filmed for BBC Breakfast.
Ore Oduba filming for the BBC
Some of our up and coming athletes came down to talk about their preparations for next years Olympics and had a few shots taken by my handywork.
The hopeful Olympians posing for the camera. Team GB Twitter
Having finally finished and packed up by 8am, I thanked the guys from The Mellor Group who kindly plied me with coffee and sorted out the lighting, then headed for breakfast.
Team GB sculpture
Still feeling good, I took the chance to catch up with my friend Laura and little Reuben in Balham and ended back in the sand pit at the park to show him a few tricks of the trade! We had a tasty burger then I began my trip back up north.
Having fun in the park with Laura and Reuben
It was fantastic to help out Team GB and to work in such an amazing location. Here’s to many more medals in 2016!
Pride the Lion taking all my credit! Team GB Twitter
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- Team GB sculpture
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- All finished!
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- 5am and it’s done!
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- Just in case I got lost
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- Getting ready to carve
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- Aquatics centre
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- Relaxing in Covent Garden
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- Beach East park
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- Anish Kapoor’s folly
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- Team GB sculpture
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- Compaction done!
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- The Tiki Bar in the background
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- A fantastic backdrop
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- Team GB logo
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- Nearly finished now
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- Having fun in the park with Laura and Reuben
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- Later in the day and it’s still standing
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- Team GB sculpture
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- Team GB
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- Team GB sculpture
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- Pride the Lion taking all my credit!
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- The hopeful Olympians posing for the camera
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- All ready for the press shoot
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- Team GB sculpture
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- Ore Oduba filming for the BBC
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- The Olympic Stadium
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- Anish Kapoor’s follly
Comments
Great work Tom! Xx
Aye, he did a fantastic job and now adds ‘Tom the Brave’ to his title ‘Captain Coach’
Jamie
Been to my first sand festival in Weston-Super-mare this month so impressed, nice to read your blog about some of the committment behind what you see. Look forward to seeing more.