These new recruits have just a few days to learn where everything is. Good luck.While this blog will be predominately about the work that the IBM team does during the Wimbledon Championships, it's not just about them - it will also cover some of the more general behind-the-scenes views at SW19.
With this in mind, I travelled to the site yesterday and was struck by the increasing feeling of frenetic activity. From dead-heading flowers and cleaning windows to painting lines and building concession stands, there is an army of workers and contractors swarming over the site. Everyone has a job to do - and do it they must, come rain or shine. For if they haven't finished by Monday morning... tough. The Championships aren't going to be delayed just because a net hasn't been strung correctly or if bench hasn't been thoroughly cleaned. So all around, this swarming army of workers single-mindedly strives to complete one task after another, like a colony of ants, each doing their job ceaselessly, all for the greater good...
...or so you would think...
As I walked around amongst the hub-bub and activity, there were moments when it struck me that not everyone was frantically running around like headless chickens. Yes, the (huge) man cleaning the benches was so busy he didn't have time to take his roll-up out of his mouth (hence dropping ash all over the bench he was cleaning, rendering his task akin to painting the Forth Bridge) and yes, the newly recruited stewards-cum-security guards were being escorted at break-neck speed from venue to venue under instruction of their Masters...but what about the crowd of contractors who downed-tools to watch a game of tennis being played on one of the side courts (which - not un-coincidentally I am sure - involved one particularly attractive young lady. And as she returned the ball back over the net, none of the spectators moved their heads to watch the ball sail back to her opponent; their gaze was firmly fixed elsewhere)? And what of the two builders, who, despite being surrounded by sacks of cement, decided to slope-off for a quick smoke. Cement? This close to the start? I hope it's quick-drying...
But then there were moments of silent solitude; like the security guard who, while guarding No. 1 Court, appeared to slowly sink into a 'power-nap' - impressively, while still standing up. Next to him, two starlings stuffed themselves on fresh worms on the court itself...oblivious to the impossibility of such an act in just a few days time. Or perhaps they knew well-enough what the days ahead will bring and hence gorged themselves while they still could?
Meanwhile, back in the world of IBM, the team were busy at their screens, testing and retesting all manner of statistical information, others were unloading huge, sarcophagus-esque trunks of highly specialist equipment. The walls of the internet rooms are adorned with impressive statistics from last year (more of which anon) and the more 'official' signs are firmly in place. And as for the team...they looked relaxed but focused, attentive but good-humoured. The excitement and anticipation is building as time ticks away, but there's no sign of frenetic running around, no desperation, no panic.
Not yet.
But then again, it's only Thursday.
With this in mind, I travelled to the site yesterday and was struck by the increasing feeling of frenetic activity. From dead-heading flowers and cleaning windows to painting lines and building concession stands, there is an army of workers and contractors swarming over the site. Everyone has a job to do - and do it they must, come rain or shine. For if they haven't finished by Monday morning... tough. The Championships aren't going to be delayed just because a net hasn't been strung correctly or if bench hasn't been thoroughly cleaned. So all around, this swarming army of workers single-mindedly strives to complete one task after another, like a colony of ants, each doing their job ceaselessly, all for the greater good...
...or so you would think...
As I walked around amongst the hub-bub and activity, there were moments when it struck me that not everyone was frantically running around like headless chickens. Yes, the (huge) man cleaning the benches was so busy he didn't have time to take his roll-up out of his mouth (hence dropping ash all over the bench he was cleaning, rendering his task akin to painting the Forth Bridge) and yes, the newly recruited stewards-cum-security guards were being escorted at break-neck speed from venue to venue under instruction of their Masters...but what about the crowd of contractors who downed-tools to watch a game of tennis being played on one of the side courts (which - not un-coincidentally I am sure - involved one particularly attractive young lady. And as she returned the ball back over the net, none of the spectators moved their heads to watch the ball sail back to her opponent; their gaze was firmly fixed elsewhere)? And what of the two builders, who, despite being surrounded by sacks of cement, decided to slope-off for a quick smoke. Cement? This close to the start? I hope it's quick-drying...
But then there were moments of silent solitude; like the security guard who, while guarding No. 1 Court, appeared to slowly sink into a 'power-nap' - impressively, while still standing up. Next to him, two starlings stuffed themselves on fresh worms on the court itself...oblivious to the impossibility of such an act in just a few days time. Or perhaps they knew well-enough what the days ahead will bring and hence gorged themselves while they still could?
Meanwhile, back in the world of IBM, the team were busy at their screens, testing and retesting all manner of statistical information, others were unloading huge, sarcophagus-esque trunks of highly specialist equipment. The walls of the internet rooms are adorned with impressive statistics from last year (more of which anon) and the more 'official' signs are firmly in place. And as for the team...they looked relaxed but focused, attentive but good-humoured. The excitement and anticipation is building as time ticks away, but there's no sign of frenetic running around, no desperation, no panic.
Not yet.
But then again, it's only Thursday.
Smoking over the bench you are cleaning = eternal cycle of work
Yes, very subtle lads...she's already hit the ball.
Four days to go and things still need building...proper building, with things like (hopefully) quick-drying cement.
Going...going...gone
"This place has delicious worms...we must eat here again next week"
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