Jane Ross Team GB Olympic Blog Week 1 
Glasgow City striker Jane Ross provides us with the first of her weekly blogs about life at Olympic camp GB as part of the GB Olympic Women's squad.
So far my Olympic experience has been great, and it’s only been week one! Team GB met up together as a squad for the first time last Sunday at Loughborough University. I was really looking forward to meeting up with the squad and was excited about what lay ahead in the next 4-5 weeks. The first thing on our schedule was the kitting out process which every GB athlete competing in this year’s Olympic Games has to undergo. The process took around 3 hours in total to complete for each person and involved going upstairs to the Next department to be fitted for formal wear before heading back downstairs to the adidas department to be fitted for casual clothes, training kit, playing kit, footwear, hats, sunglasses, podium wear the lot! This event alone was an experience in itself and involved us all having our own personal assistant bringing us different clothes to try on and taking note of our selected sizes. All of the kit is really nice and fitted well and I think everyone in the squad was a bit overwhelmed by the whole experience of the day. I was just amazed by it all to be honest and I felt so fortunate to be there having the opportunity to experience it all. After the kitting out process it was off to Champney Springs, our hotel for the next week, to begin our pre-tournament preparation camp. The GB men’s football team were based in the same hotel as us before they flew out to Spain for their own training camp, and on the first morning we had the opportunity to watch one of their training sessions and had a group photo taken along with them for the media. That afternoon we had cardiac screenings and then our first training session, which was a lighter more relaxed/fun session which was good for team bonding.
On the Wednesday afternoon we had a team activity in which we went to something called Tank Mania. This involved us all getting dressed in camouflage overalls and putting face paint on and then we got driven around various routes firstly in an off-road tank and then in an on-road tank. The day was 
enjoyable and yet again good for team bonding. It’s something I probably would never have done if I hadn’t been with the squad so on a personal note it was another new experience to add to the already growing list so far.
Throughout the first week we’ve trained hard and it’s been great to get together as a squad and start building and preparing for the tournament ahead. So far since we’ve been together we’ve trained at least once a day, every day. I’ve really enjoyed the training sessions and with the training pitch situated on site at the hotel, it’s been even more amazing! I could get used to this lifestyle on a daily basis I tell ya! :P
During any free time we’ve had so far I have either just chilled out in my bed (no change there then) or spent some time in the games room, which seems to be a popular place amongst the girls. I’ve so far found out that I am a terrible standard at both pool and table tennis, although my table tennis skills are gradually improving each day! I’m determined that I am going to be a pro at both by the end of the tournament… haha but we’ll just have to wait and see about this!
All in all I am really enjoying my Olympic experience so far and as a team we can’t wait for the actual competition to get started. Next up we head off to the Olympic village for the first time, to familiarize ourselves with the place, before heading up to Middlesborough to prepare for and play our friendly match against Sweden on Friday 20th July. So hopefully I can fill you in on both of these experiences along with more in my next blog.
Pictures thanks to Jane. Top - Jane kits out Team GB style. Middle - Tank Mania. Bottom - Adidas Team GB Olympic Kit Room
19.07.12
