Our aspiring Olympians take in the view - and find it inspiring

Sportsbeat's Josh Burrows and Matt Sherry are competing against each other in every Olympic sport between now and London 2012.  But one of them is struggling just to climb a hill ...

GOOD VIEW: Our aspiring Olympians watch the 1000 days to go fireworks - but their challenge is only just starting

By Josh Burrows, Sportsbeat

MATT had cramp by the time he got to the top of Primrose Hill, where we met to watch the 1,000-days-to-go fireworks display. He was also a little pissed. Hardly the aspiring Olympian.

But I know as well as he does that we're not going to become Olympic athletes overnight. In fact, we're not even going to become Olympic athletes over the course of the next 1,000 days - even though we will be completing one event every couple of weeks.

For that reason, it felt like an appropriate place to watch from - detached from the real thing but very loosely involved, watching on in awe as London's sky became illuminated with the fiery drama of the 1,000-day-countdown beginning.

Except it was rubbish.

The fireworks went on for about as long as it takes Tom Daley to complete a dive.

There were audible groans from photographers who had spent hours setting up only to see the fireworks flash twice and end. Just like that.

"I've bought us some sparklers," said one woman to her friend. "To mark the 1,000-day countdown."

Thank goodness she did.

AS GOOD AS IT GOT: BT Power is pictured from North London, while the London Eye is pictured in the foreground (Locog/via Getty Images)

An older lady standing nearby seemed confused. "What were the fireworks for?" she asked out loud. I felt like shaking her. "Only part of the most important event in London since the great fire," I wanted to say, but didn't.

Instead, I took a long look at the view.

The city looks a lot like it wants its Olympics to look. It is not a new-built, uniform metropolis and nor is it vast by capital city standards. But the mix-and-match skyline is an inspiring sight nonetheless. Seb Coe and friends want the 2012 games to be similar.

Far, far away to the left was Stratford, the newly built, £550m-plus Olympic park where the main stadium and aquatics centre are being built.

A few hundred yards to the right - Lord's cricket ground, a 195-year-old arena that will host the archery competition. In the mid-distance - Hyde Park, the ancient green space where the triathletes will compete.

It is this contrast of venues that will help the London games to stand out. They will also help Locog save money. Money they clearly didn't blow on the fireworks. Perhaps these really will be the austerity games.

I tried to explain this to Matt - who was struggling to focus and seemed more interested in telling me how much he was going to hurt me in the boxing ring.

"Enjoy this moment," he said, slurring slightly.

"It's battle from now on. And it's going to get pretty miserable for you over the next 1,000 days."

Then our photographer kicked over my beer. So I went home.

Matt went back to the pub.

* Follow Matt and Josh's challenge here and also check them out on Twitter