ALISON WALKER

The former BBC television journalist is now a regular reporter at both Winter and Summer the Games for the Olympic Broadcasting Service. In Rio, she worked on hockey, mountain biking and BMX, producing features and profilesof athletes. That was my sixth Games, and each time you think the Olympics get any bigger, can’t it does. It’s a huge, logistical operation, so big that you can’t really compare it to the Commonwealt h Games. But compare one you can Olympic Games another, and I’d to have to say London was much better organised than terms of timings, Rio in transport and accommodatio n. We were living in a military zone, surrounded by soldiers, so we felt we were safe. certainly Having said that, there was a favela just outside, and people we met the were fantastic. I’d heard all the scare stories about security and the Zika virus. I didn’t see one mosquito all the time I was there. Zika was obviously the big talking point beforehand, particularly with withdrawal of top the golfers like Rory McIlroy. I think he and the others chose not to go who will regret it, because everyone who did go had a fantastic time. I know it’s a cliche, but it the Brazilians really seems do laugh and and dance all sing the time. And the was incredible too. food I wasn’t too worried about security. We had these issues in London with a big event too, but in a big city, you minor problems. expect I don’t know anybody who was robbed; like in any big you take precautions. city, There was the potential for some iffy moments, because at times the security was relaxed, but they quite got away with it. The venues were amazing, and people I was working the with really embraced the Games. I came exhausted. I would home say that the spectacular settings and the venues themselves were the best I’ve been to, and it was agreat experience overall.