Vikings Cheerleaders In London Recap
By Kaylee, 5th Year MVC
Vikings.com
Five years later, the words, “Kaylee- we would like you to be part of this year’s Minnesota Vikings Cheerleading team,” never get old. However in 2013, the words meant so much more for two reasons; Making the team meant, one, we would be the last MVC team to cheer in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, and, two, we would be the first MVC team to travel and host an NFL international game in London!
Our MVC team has worked for months to prepare for this experience. We learned and refined our routines, worked on our fitness and stamina, and brushed up on our “Queen’s English.” But how can you truly prepare yourself what is sure to be, a once in a lifetime experience? The Vikings organization prides itself as being a “world-class” organization, and we knew as MVC, this was our opportunity to prove ourselves, and to spread the Vikings spirit in a “world-class” fashion.
After a long trip across the pond, we arrived the Tuesday before game day in London and headed straight for Wembley Stadium! We joined the whole Vikings organization in hosting a “Play 60” event for local boys & girls. This was the first of many awesome events for the week! There were so many events, including photo shoots and performances that kept the 35 MVC very busy throughout the week, all over London. We attended radio & television broadcasts, Vikings sponsored events, political gatherings, and even took part in photo shoots at various historical and popular London landmarks. The team maximized free time as well, and saw Westminster Abby, Parliament, the London “Eye”, and Big Ben. We toured the inside of Buckingham Palace, gazed out the top of the Shard (Europe’s tallest building), and couldn’t pass up shopping on Regent and Oxford streets! It was easy to work out while running through the city’s enchanting parks, we navigated the ‘tube” transport system, and even visited the infamous “9 3/4” stop for our many Harry Potter fanatics.
It did not take long to realize the great presence of Vikings fans in Europe. There are so many fans who love the Purple and Gold! Many people traveled from Norway, Sweden, Spain, Germany, Austria, Turkey, Switzerland, you name it! All were there to cheer for American Football, and their favorite team in the NFL (although we hope our win persuaded them to be Vikings fans!) It was truly spectacular to witness the crowds of people from across the world in the name of football…or American football – whatever you call it. It reaffirmed the magnitude of this game for not only the Vikings, but also the NFL!
The London game was an adventure the 2013 MVC will never forget, and a memory we will continue to share forever. Thank you to all the Vikings organization and the NFL for making it possible, to the Vikings players for pulling out a WIN, and most of all, to the fans who made it a dream come true!!
