THE Olympic torch recently visited Bournemouth. Just about everyone from my street gathered along the route to cheer the lucky torchbearer. It sent emotional shivers down my spine and it made London 2012, our ‘home’ Olympic Games, seem extra real and very close.

When I competed at Athens in 2004 and Beijing in 2008, one week before the Games was a significant milestone.

At this point, all the hard work is behind you. All the training to get to a physical and psychological peak is done. All that’s important is to hold yourself together for the big day. This is often easier said than done.

To compete on the biggest sporting stage is an amazing occasion in an athlete’s life and, for many, they will never experience anything like it again. Athletes’ emotions run high as the Games draw closer.

They will be excited, anxious, nervous, apprehensive and eager to get going all at the same time. It is a game of mental confidence.

This is where the athletes’ ‘holding camp’ comes into play. A holding camp is the place the national or event team goes to put in the final preparations to their training before the big day.

It allows athletes to escape the media pressure and the glare of expectation.

Athletes then travel directly to the Olympic Village on a schedule to fit with the Olympic Games competition programme. Once in the Olympic Village – typically two to four days before your event – the Games experience ramps up to a whole new level of pressure and it is really important to keep control, poise and focus.

For some, London 2012 will see them crowned champions but, for others, it will mean disappointment. Either way, participation in the Olympic Games is life changing. Although I’m not competing, I’m still super excited with a week to go.

There is so much chance to get involved, to be a spectator, to see non-ticketed events and to follow athletes on the internet and television.

The Games is coming. Let’s all be a part of it!