Mike's on track for the Olympic Games (From St Helens Star)

Mike's on track for the Olympic Games

4:00pm Friday 3rd August 2012 in News By Stephen Mather, Senior reporter

IT was just a few weeks ago that proud Mike Dooling had the honour of running with the Olympic Flame in Tatton Park.

But sporty Mike’s association with the greatest show on earth did not stop there... after he was asked to travel to London to officiate at the Games.

The 63-year-old from Rainhill will act as a track official at the athletics.

Mike is so steeped in the sport that he even appeared as an extra in the Oscar-winning film Chariots of Fire, scripted by Colin Wellands from Newton-le-Willows.

He will form part of a team tasked with ensuring track events go ahead as smoothly as possible.

Mike explained: “It’s my job to ensure that the athletes stay in line and jump over hurdles correctly and generally behave themselves. But I could be assigned to any athletic competition.”

A member of Liverpool Harriers Athletic Club for almost 50 years, Mike was also a former sub 2hr 30min Marathon runner.

The retired teacher has dedicated his life to the sport he loves, particularly at school level. And despite his vast experience he admitted he was excited about playing his part in the games.

“There is a sense of pressure,” he said. “But you are there to make sure everybody competes fairly. If you are on the track and see something, such as an athlete straying onto another lane, you have to report it.

“But some people do all sorts of things to try and bend the rules.”