The past few weeks have been fairly exciting. I posted images previously of the cruise ships and mega yachts arriving for the Olympics. I’ve spoken about the things I’ve seen in the build up to the games, but nothing prepares you for the reality of London hosting the Olympic games. My understanding was that the roads and the trains would be packed with millions of people and getting about would be impossible. Boris Johnson’s Transport for London announcement told of 1 million people daily using the network. I think however, people were too scared by this information to travel and therefore didn’t do so. I found the roads to be empty of cars and the trains offering pain free travel. From the moment the bizarre and spectacular opening ceremony began I was captivated by sports I’d never heard of or watched before… There was some concern about empty seats when people couldn’t buy a ticket for less than a kidney and a right arm and there were some sports, which didn’t have any spare seats, like women’s beach volleyball.
However, I can’t think why???
I was so pleased to get a ticket myself at the last minute for Basketball. I couldn’t wait to get into the Olympic park and sample the atmosphere that I was watching on the many BBC TV channels created just to watch the games.
I’m glad to say that I wasn’t disappointed when I got inside. The park was packed with the people of the world all displaying their country’s colors with a predominance of the union flag.
The Union Flag has been growing in popularity over the past few years and especially in the past 12 months since the royal wedding and the Queens diamond Jubilee its never been waved so much, and now its done supporting team GB. As I was seeing Team GB vs. Australia I had very little objection to doing the same. I think its odd that before the Olympic games I don’t remember a team GB. Now I’m their biggest supporter. I’m cheering the Judo and Table Tennis. Or Ping Pong as I call it. Why can’t you have Olympic Ping Pong??? Actually, is that really a sport? Either way, I’ve never enjoyed sport so much. The spectacle of Usain Bolt, Mo Farah and Ben Ainslie winning gold was compelling viewing. I have to be honest that hearing the national anthem now brings a tear to my eye. Considering that over a year ago the country was ripping itself apart and now we have come together to present ourselves to the world in a really positive way makes me proud that the scum didn’t win.
I didn’t want the games to end and as the second week came to an end I was left feeling fairly blue about life returning to normal. I felt the closing ceremony was disappointing. As a rock concert goes, I thought it was amazing, especially Fat Boy Slim. However, as a closing ceremony it lacked originality and the right pace for a celebration of what great things had preceded it. Maybe I’m just being grumpy with the post Olympic blues but it fell short for me.
Time to move on and get ready for a new season of Doctor Who and the Paralympics…
I know I’m going to be inspired and humbled by the Paralympics. Bring it on Team GB!!!
M
