First times are part and parcel of life as a journalist. You'll have your first story, first byline, first headline. But this was a special first, my first visit to a sporting event as a bona fida media representative.

You sit in the stadium and you feel a sense of liberation, it is not merely the kudos that comes with the role. The freedom to see the behind-the-scenes goings on, spy the athletes away from the track is quite thrilling. Here you catch a glimpse of them away from their professional environment, when they show they are just ordinary people like you and me.

In the age of media secrecy, there was something refreshing about this freedom. The athletes talked with unguarded freedom, walked with the people-some even got the train home with me. It was like the lords of the land came to stand with the ordinary citizens, it was truly an experience.

As for highlights, there are many.

On the track, watching Usain Bolt in full flow was joyous and electrifying. You realised you were in the presence of greatness. Mo Farah shone and Carmelita Jeter flew.  Off it, Tyson Gay was a modicum of restraint and calm, Lisa Dobriskey was infectuously enthusiastic, Yelena Isinbeyeva (right) was as delightful to speak as she is normally to watch and Craig Pickering's manful disappointment was a true expression of how much defeat can hurt.

So rarely can I have hoped to have experienced such a thrill. Hard work rarely seemed so easy.
All in all, I lived the little boys dream. I walked among the stars for a brief but brilliant time. Would I do it again? Just you try and stop me!

Article by Alex Stamp