Mixing and mingle

Yesterday’s sponsor event at the European Athletics Championships was fun, even though the weather could have been better. Showers on and off all day, but we were real lucky to not get wet at any time.

We met in the Sponsor Village where we tried some of the events in the People’s Heptathlon, which our companies were the proud sponsors of. I tried running in too big shoes, spitting gummy bears and pedal car race. Pedal car race was my best event, but I still think I’m going to keep my day job. Don’t see much of a future in pedal car racing…

After a mix and mingle lunch we all walked over to the stadium just in time to see the finish of the Women’s Marathon. The seats were some of the best seats in the whole arena, right in front of the prize ceremony area. When you watch athletics on TV you only see one event at the time. But in reality 3-4 events take place at the same time and you really don’t know where to look. When it was time for the men’s triple jump and Christian Olsson the whole stadium was just clapping and shouting. His second jump at 17,67 meters turned out to be the gold medal jump and by then all of us were just screaming. What a comeback after 21 months of injuries!

Dinner was supposed to be al fresco, but because of the pouring rain it was held at a newly opened gourmet restaurant. Delicious seafood as starter with a very nice Chardonnay. Main course was a perfect grilled sirloin steak with all the trimmings. To drink we where served a Chianti that went perfect with the grilled meat. Desert was homemade vanilla cream with Boudreaux marinated fresh strawberries. To this we had a glass of Sauterne that balanced off perfectly with the vanilla and fruit. During the dinner we also had our own prize ceremony where all of us got a prize - a hot air balloon ride. OMG! What an incredible prize for just having fun and play around! Coffee was served in another room were we once again mixed and mingled with loads of sponsors and other important people, including the mayor of Gothenburg.

Like I wrote in an earlier post I’m not very good at mixing and mingle. Or really I just don’t feel comfortable doing it. But after yesterday I think I’m as good as anybody else doing it. It felt a little bit awkward in the beginning, but after a while I just did it. Fake it until you make it!