The group of students and tutors are getting a taste of how a host city manages to cater for everyone during Games-time by working in some of the many restaurant kitchens in the Olympic Centre.

Head of catering and hospitality at Barnet College, Miles Holtby and students, Rachel Williams, Ulisse Di Benedetto and Dale O'Brien jetted off to Canada in time for the opening ceremonies for the Games.

They have been working alongside Hackney Community College students Phillip Harrison, Tiago Gomes, Bonnita Beasley and chef tutor, Christopher Skippers, as well as their counterparts from Harrow College and Vancouver Community College.

Activities have included smoking salmon and catering for a fashion show as well as enjoying a liberal sprinkling of sightseeing, which included a view of the Olympic flame at close quarters.

Holtby said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for us as a department to be taking part in. The hospitality that we have experienced has been amazing. This is a once in a lifetime experience and we would like to thank Vancouver Community College for inviting us to this fantastic city and for being perfect hosts.”

The group from Hackney Community College has been blogging about its Vancouver 2010 experiences on the London 2012 Get Set network. To read all about it, click here.