On Our Way

Somehow, no matter how much you prepare and how many times you've done it, the feeling of entering the stadium for the first time in the tournament fills you with a sense of awe and wonder at the unique opportunity to participate in soccer at the highest level.  We arrived in Cardiff two nights ago and after dinner, we were given a chance to walk to the stadium and see the field.  Looking up from the field, there it was "London 2012" written all over the the stands.  How wonderful and humbling it is to be given the honor to officiate the first match of the first sport to start the London 2012 Olympics.

We were staying at the same hotel as some of the teams in Cardiff.  So, on the day of the match, we climbed into our cars and followed the team bus to the stadium.  Looking out the windows, the streets were lined with people there to support Great Britain.  So many people had their faces painted and were wearing shirts supporting their team.  It was pretty awesome.  The only sport being played in Cardiff is soccer, so right next to the castle we passed by (they have a castle in town, isn't that cool?), they had a statue of a soccer player scoring a goal made entirely of flowers and plants. 

Soccer player scoring a goal in front of the Cardiff castle

As we proceeded through the city on the way to the stadium, we discovered that we were being led in by mounted police.  Not even Kari with all her experience at FIFA tournaments had seen this before, so you know it's special.  I'll let her tell you about the match itself.  Thanks for all the great support so far!

Mounted police in front of the team bus