London 2012 - A Different Slant

Well, the Olympics have drawn to a close. Time perhaps to give my thoughts on the whole thing.

I have to say that the whole British flag-waving feeding frenzy has left me completely cold.  However, I have enjoyed the Olympics immensely, if perhaps for slightly differing reasons to some other people.

I made a point of bypassing much of the populist hoopla, and concentrated on what would be regarded as "minority" sports, such as handball and rhythmic gymnastics.

When watching these reports, I was struck by the sheer joy, pride and emotion of competing, of people achieving a lifetime's ambition merely by participating in the Olympics, and determined to make the most of it, and savour it, whatever the result. These people will never be international celebrities, or acquire great riches.  This was sport for its own sake, and also as a manifestation of admirable and noble human qualities.

I found watching the rhythmic gymnastics competitions to be especially rewarding and heart-warming. The feeling I got was one of intense competition, but also a real sense of community and camararderie amongs the participants.  A sport which is still human, which has retained some roots, and has not sold its soul. At the same time, a sport which is keenly aware of the need to promote itself, and endear itself to the public, but through sincerity,integrity and a sense of fun and enjoyment.

Many of the so-called "minority" Olympic sports are routinely denigrated by media and public, and this disdain is often born of ignorance.  Handball, rhythmic gymnastics and synchronised swimming require just as much skill, athleticism and dedication as any other sport.

So, my main memories from London 2012 will not be of "legacy" or empty nationalistic bravado, but of simpler, more innocent and genuinely uplifting things .