While I would normally have a general ambivalence towards the Olympic games – mostly due to the introduction of professional sportsmen. A number of the victories this time have, for me, got back to the real spirit of the games and consequently I’ve really enjoyed it.
The opening ceremony was, I thought, fantastic – Danny Boyle nailed it. As an aside, the flame is contracted to a company called Fulcrum utilities, and a friend of mine was the PM tasked with design, build, test , and maintenance etc of the flame – as well as ensuring it doesn’t fail or go out. The moments before it was lit he was pukeing with worry in case anything failed (he’ll be dining out on the success of the flame for years, and I’ll be reminding him of the 20 minutes before it was lit!)
The has been a number of moments in the games that, for me, typify what it should be all about :
Alan Campbell getting Bronze in the single skulls, an unexpected medal that came by giving all he had to give, and then a bit more, on the day. I was also really impressed at Sir Steve realizing it was the wrong time for an interview, putting the mike down and helping the guy recover. That and Alan getting up to sing the anthem for someone else’s award, even though he was dead on his feet – absolute commitment to the team and the right role model for sport and sportsmen..
Helen and Heather getting gold in woman’s pairs, their day jobs are a PE teacher and an Army officer – the commitment and sacrifice they have had to give to be the best in the world is phenomenal.
And of course last night’s athletics performance – totally absorbing – 80,000 in the stadium, but a few years out 800,000 will be claiming to have been there. The surge of pride in what our nation can produce was fantastic and the memories will last a long time.
I’ve not paid much attention to the football, as personally I don’t think it should be there. Professional football already has a pinnacle, the world cup. As a rule of thumb, if the Olympics aren’t the pinnacle of achievement in a sport – I’ve probably got no interest in it at the games. For the bulk of the athletes, they have day jobs, the sport with its training and level of commitment needed are done on top of the day job. And I have massive respect for them. I feel much the same way about the Tennis, I wish Murray well, but can’t get excited about it.
I even took the opportunity to watch some new sports – I particularly enjoyed the women’s 3 meter synchronized diving, although that may have been more for the Ukrainian competitors than the diving!.
At these start I wasn’t Mr Olympics, but certainly wasn’t in the Bah Humbug camp either. The opening ceremony impressed me, and as the games have gone on – I’ve found myself getting more into it every day..
I was even in London last week, and on a related note – was very impressed at the organization of the transport system. I was expecting carnage, but it was well thought out and worked well – extra signs, extra staff – suitable timetable changes etc..
Overall, despite some issues in the run up (e.g. G4S), i'd put the games down as a huge success for the nation.
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