For most people the Olympics have only been relevant in the last few months, but for those of us involved it has been a journey of many years.

It was in 2009 that I first applied to be a London 2012 gamesmaker and it wasn't until 2010 that I was interviewed.

Since then we have all weathered through several types of training and piles of paper work running up to the start of last week.

I was lucky enough to be one of the 60,000 dress rehearsal attendees at the Olympic Opening Ceremony run-up; all gamesmakers were invited as thanks for the work we have all put in. Many of us had either started or were just about to start our shifts and the atmosphere was one of camaraderie and excitement.

This is something we had all worked towards for, what felt like, an age and it was finally about to begin.

Now, in all honesty, I've never been massively patriotic but I shed tears of pride for my country, and for all of the volunteers who have made it happen, that night.

For many of us it was a chance we would never have otherwise had and to be there was incredible.

It will be something to remember, to be proud of and to inspire people for generations to come.

With four days to go we all felt that London 2012 was finally here.