2012 Olympic dream recedes for one young east London hopeful

As a talented east London schoolgirl basketball player, Amber Charles, from East Ham, was one of the 30 children of the Olympic bid who travelled to Singapore in 2005 to woo votes. Today she does not yet know whether she will get to be inside the Olympic stadium – either as competitor or ticket-holder. "I am hoping to get to try out for the GB team," said Charles, now 21, who is studying in America to improve her game. "That would be amazing. So, if all goes well, I may be competing in it." Otherwise, having heard little from the Olympic organisers in the past 18 months, and her family having failed to get tickets, she will be watching it on television. "I was really honoured when I was asked to go to Singapore. I remember when they said we'd won. The atmosphere was crazy. Everyone was jumping around, climbing over chairs and stuff. I'll never forget it," said Charles, who went on to do some modelling work. "It's shame they [the organisers] don't really keep in touch. I think it's because a lot of staff have changed. But I think people are probably going to ask about where the 'kids' are." Now studying psychology at Tennessee Temple University, Charles, a former pupil at St Angela's convent school in Forest Gate, played for the England under-16 team and for Haringey Angels in the national championships. But at 18 she felt she needed to leave Britain for the US where the competitive standard is higher. "Being recognised for my sport, that was an amazing confidence booster for me. I was really proud of that. It is something that will stay with me for the rest of my life. "I am really proud of what we did for the Olympics. It's something I will always have," she said. "I've kept everything, even the clothes they had us wear. Also, I know if I don't get to the Olympics, I feel I've played a really massive part in bringing it to London. "I guess, I'll be that old lady saying 'Oh, I was involved in that', with everyone else saying 'no, you weren't'. "So, regardless of whether I get to be in the stadium, I'll still get to watch it, and I will always know I had a part to play in it."