There's no single moment for me, in fact there are too many to choose from.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr Giacomo Rappaccini
It started with an opening ceremony that came in under the radar and far from being a boring and embarrassing screw up made me and many other people who are often normally deeply suspicious of anything resembling patriotism deeply proud of our country, society and its achievements. Just as importantly it put us in the right mood for the Olympics.
Then there were the volunteers, its difficult to get across how reliant the whole thing was on people who gave up their jobs and came to help for nothing more in return than their uniforms and a free travel pass for the fortnight. Every performer at the ceremonies (including the stars), helper and guide was unpaid as well as loads of technical support staff. At Beijing people were forcibly evicted from their homes to make room for the Olympic park. The contrast was and is stark. Their enthusiasm was infectious too and definitely helped contribute to the great atmosphere at the events. Fantastic.
Super Saturday. Trying to soak up the atmosphere at the Olympic stadium as Ennis and Farah won their medals. Its a pity in a way that Mo Farah isn't gay as otherwise he ticks every box on the Daily Mail hate list, black Muslim African immigrant. Quite a few bigots must have had their heads explode at the thought of him winning.
Then there were the athletes who had made a special effort, the 16 year old Saudi judoka, the first woman from her country ever to compete who wasn't even a black belt but got a standing ovation on her way in and out of her first and only match. The Japanese guy in the dressage who was 71 and had first competed at the Tokyo '64 Olympics and who wasn't ruling out a trip to Rio in 4 years time. Also, all those athletes who keep astonishing me by somehow training in terribly poor countries or warzones that manage to make it to these games regardless.
Finally London itself. Usually it takes a serious bombing for Londoners to start warming to each other (Luftwaffe, IRA or some jihadis, we are not picky) but for this fortnight the atmosphere in town has definitely been in party mode, something that few people predicted.
Its been a fantastic fortnight!
