RICK MARTIN: Heaven is a seat on the Team GB bus

PAIGNTON'S Rick Martin is a Games Maker, one of the army of volunteers whose jobs are to make the London 2012 Olympiad run smoothly.

Rick has been posted to Cardiff during the Games, making sure the men and women taking part in the Olympic football tournament have everything they need.

Today, in his final blog for us, he talks about putting the Great back into Great Britain.

Day Seven

I was based at the Millennium Stadium this afternoon in preparation for the men's Team GB v Uruguay match.

I had to be in the International Players' Lounge, which for the Olympics is now called the Olympic Family Lounge, where the Olympic committee and FIFA dignitaries relax before the game starts.

Also, invited footballers can be seen there.

When the game started myself along with other Games Makers were allowed to watch the action sitting in the press and outside broadcasting box.

I was sitting right behind Garth Crooks, the TV football pundit. The match finished Team GB 1-0 Uruguay.

Day Eight

I was working today at the training grounds. There were a fair few teams training today, including Team GB men's, Brazil ladies, Japan and Korea. Lots of running around again getting ice water, etc.

I had one important job to do today and that was along with two other Games Makers, to escort Ryan Giggs and Craig Bellamy to the doping suite. I do have to say all was clear.

Went back to the Marriott hotel to walk the FIFA referees over to the stadium for familiarisation ahead of the next game.

Day Nine

Well, it's the ladies' quarter finals day between the world champions Japan and the lovely ladies of Brazil.

One interesting fact is that the Japanese brought with them an 87-strong media/press team and their own chef.

The GB men's team along with Korea were at the training ground again today. All around the hotel and the training grounds it is getting very tense as the competition draws closer to the final.

Went to watch the Japan v Brazil game, this time from a corporate box. Living the high life, eh? Looking forward to my last shift tomorrow with sadness.

Day Ten

This starts the last day of my Olympic journey with the footballers in Cardiff,

After Japan's victory last night in the quarter finals over Brazil Samsung, one of the official sponsors of the Games, gave all the Japanese team and staff a Samsung Galaxy Note mobile phone each.

Goodness only knows what they may get if they win the final!

A big game tonight, the quarter final between Team GB and South Korea. Three hours before the game I had to escort the ref and linesmen over to the stadium, then get back to the hotel.

Because it was my last shift I was given the opportunity to travel with a police escort to the game on the Team GB coach. I was in heaven.

It was now time for me to say my goodbyes to the rest of the team.

I have to say it was a wonderful experience - something I will never get to do again, to be part of something great, which has put the GREAT back in Great Britain.

One last thing before I sign off, I would just like to say a big thank you to my wife Jane for putting up with me being away for so much over the last three weeks.