Eni's Olympian dream
- Tuesday,
Team GB Women v New Zealand
Olympic Games, London 2012
Group E
4pm, Wednesday 25 July
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Team GB Women's star Eniola Aluko can't wait for Wednesday afternoon and the moment she will be able to refer to herself as an 'Olympian'.
The pacy forward and her squad-mates begin their London 2012 campaign with a match against New Zealand in Cardiff and it's a big opportunity for all of Hope Powell's group to take part in an event as big as the Olympics.
"I know it is a cliché but I cannot really put it into words to be honest," admitted the Birmingham City ace.
"All sorts of things came over me when I took the call telling me I was in squad. I felt privileged, lucky, emotional, all the words you can think of. There are only 18 players in the squad and to think that I’m one of them is quite humbling."
Aluko also had a bit of an idea coming into the Games about what Team GB would be facing, after playing football in the USA for three years, where the Olympics is considered a big event in football for their national side.
"They have won Gold three times and I have heard all the stories about how amazing it is," she revealed. "They liked the fact they were among other sports people and that made it about so much more than just the football. It was the whole experience they enjoyed and I’m looking forward to that, too.
"They said it was a huge event which was sometimes overwhelming and they had to remind themselves what they were there for. But they said it was a privilege to be involved and they just wanted to do their best."
With big crowds and a massive television audience for the Olympics worldwide, Aluko also knows that this is an opportunity to try and drive the profile of women's football, and indeed all sport, forward in Great Britain at grassroots level and beyond.
"Hopefully, it will help to increase participation levels like never before," added the 25-year-old.
"But I think every sport at the Olympic Games is hoping for the same. Whether it’s athletics, boxing or football, I’m sure having the Olympics in London will help to inspire a future generation of sports stars, and because women’s football is already growing quite quickly in Britain, the Olympics can only push that further and have a positive impact.
"It will be an exciting few weeks for the athletes involved and the spectators and I’m sure we will attract new players and fans as a result."
