Angie Smit: The excitement is building

Angie Smit. Photo / File.

Opinion

It was incredible arriving in Glasgow this week.

We were welcomed by volunteers and some NZ staff at the train station as well as some dressed-up entertainers. It felt amazing to be finally here after the huge build-up and the fact I've been dreaming of the Commonwealth Games since I was little.

We then got a taxi with a friendly, if difficult to understand, local to the village. We put our bags through the metal detector and were escorted to the dining hall. My oh my it was big and there was so much selection - but I will stay disciplined with my eating until after the racing - and real coffee whenever we want.

It was so awesome to see all of the different countries uniforms and flags on their apartments as we walked through the village. The first night we had the team function at Kelvingrove Art Gallery, where we had a team photo, some amazing speeches, an inspiring video, some comedy and then, most excitingly, Valerie Adams was announced flag bearer.

I have been blessed to have gotten to know her more over the last year since being in the world champs team with her and she is such an amazing person - an incredible athlete but also such a lovely person.

The track we use for training isn't too far away from the village and the facilities are amazing with a recovery area on site. There are also bikes we can use and game rooms, which is pretty cool. I have a few more track sessions left and some runs and then it will be time to race - the excitement is building.

The Opening Ceremony was one of the most special moments of my life. We left the village with each country behind their team sign and walked down to Celtic Park for the incredible evening.

The NZ uniform was such an honour to wear: us girls had the white blouse and black skirt as well as the elegant merino jacket on, the guys had the black trousers. It was amazing walking into a packed stadium and knowing millions were watching on TV.

It was so noisy and there were so many cameras flashing. Words cannot sum it up, but it certainly was one of the most special moments of my life after all those hard trainings and races over the years, I am so grateful to God.

I tried to find my parents in the crowd as they had said where they were sitting but I couldn't find them.

The whole ceremony was amazing and Scotland's entry (last team to walk in) with all the confetti coming down was surreal.

I took lots of photos and was beaming the whole time. Seeing Rod Stewart sing, and the other performers was really amazing, and then of course the baton and the Queen opening the Games was phenomenal.

We saw the Queen at the dining hall the following day - a definite tick on the bucket list.
Now I look forward to cheering on the Kiwis as well as making sure I stay well rested between my last few training sessions and preparing for next week's 800m heat, and hopefully the next rounds also.

I am so happy that my fiancé Sam, my parents, Sam's parents, my uncle and auntie and my good friend Tina and her fiancé will be here watching me next week and am so grateful for all the support I am receiving from everyone, including those back in New Zealand.

Angie smit is a middle distance runner who will be competing in the 800m at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

Angie Smitt is part of the Sky Next team. Sky Next supports talented Kiwis athletes.