It was with an huge sense of pride that I heard the loudest round of applause at the closing ceremony of London 2012 initiated by Lord Seb Coe when he thanked the 70,000 Games Makers.

As one of the many that woke at four in the morning to trek across the Olympic park for my shift, with no guarantee of seeing any of the action, simply to be a part of that once in a life time experience, it left me both humbled and proud.

Now back in the office and getting a reputation as an Olympic bore, I am questioning what it was that made the volunteering experience of the Games Makers so successful and what benefits the voluntary sector can gain from the Games. Read more »