The 2012 London Olympics and Paralympics are over and
even I as a devote sport-atheist was sucked into the razzmatazz of the whole
spectacular event. We did not put our names down for tickets and I feel a
little pang of regret from not experiencing the enthusiasm and celebration first
hand. Even when the Olympics came to us by way of the cycle race that passed
through our village we avoided it, but that was to avoid being trapped here and
to allow us to take my folks to visit family before they returned home.
We did however watch some of the television coverage
starting with the Opening Ceremony that we thoroughly enjoyed (so impressed
with the effects incorporated into the stadium, the imagery of Britain through history
and the remarkable set work and visual theatre – not so impressed with the
musical acts, but that is just a matter of personal taste). We also saw some
glimpses of events on the wall-to-wall coverage we had access to (loved the
Matrix style multiple camera shots of the gymnasts as they leapt off the beam),
and thought the integration of the events into the city and surroundings was well
done (personally I am grateful for the cycle race as it meant we had our roads
fixed and a lot of road furniture replaced, buildings repainted and even a new
sculpture commissioned for one of the roundabouts).
Equally the coverage of the Paralympics was impressive
and the exposure here in the UK has done a great deal to overcome some of the
population’s misconception and poor attitude towards disabilities and has increased
public awareness. Hopefully it is something that can be built on in the future –
one of the legacies they told us about.
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