Olympics

DDiL (the Olympic coach) has just sent a picture of her and her mates all ready for the closing ceremony. Would so love to be there. But she deserves it, bless her. Maybe my settee and a is best.

cos other people do.

jeni in case its chocolate like the Christmas money!

Why are they all biting their medals?

A quiet highlight for me was Kirani James who at the age of 19 won a gold for Grenada in the 400m, winning his heat and going up to Pistorius and asking to exchange race numbers. And then, in the final, shaking hands with everyone else in the race before he started to celebrate.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/aug/06/london-2012-400m-kirani-james?newsfeed=true
And a more obvious one - going to the Olympic park and seeing the wonderful buildings, organisation and volunteers. (not to mention spectators and athletes)

What a difference a year makes to a City, this time last year the riots ripped apart London and everywhere people wondered what we had come to, the problems haven't gone away but I think peoples spirits have been lifted which can only bring dividends.

Ella46

Could not agree more! The power of the press hey.

The whole thing has been a TRIUMPH and the negativity stirred up by the media previously was completely unfounded and unpatriotic!

Jingoism is now alive and kicking!

Well, let's hope the Tech department is feeling magnanimous!

Anagram I hope not after all we have the paralympics at the end of this month.

I hope not Anagram we need the feeling to last a while. I was one of those who was Bah humbug about the whole thing, but now take it all back As someone who lives in London, I thought it would turn our city into a chaotic mess, and we were going to leave for the duration. I am so pleased we didn't, it's been like one big party, and no, we didn't get tickets, I didn't get organised quickly enough, However we spent yesterday in Hyde Park and the atmosphere was wonderful, full of happy smiling people enjoying themselves, we must keep the feeling alive as long as possible, before we all come down to earth with a bump.

I expect the will disappear at the stroke of midnight!
We'd better use it as much as we can today!

Thoroughly enjoyed the Olympics. A wealth of talent. Tremendous effort. I feel that the event has made a huge difference in terms of lifting our spirits and giving us something to applaud and smile about.

We need to understand that there's nothing wrong with patriotism if it's the right sort of patriotism . The choice of people 'on the couch' had been brilliant; Denise is lovely as is the American guy [whose name escapes me but he sounds like Morgan Freeman]. Mark [sigh] Foster and Thorpy. I have a concern that Clare has been so good that she'll be too busy to do any work for Channel 4 Racing in future.

My highlights of the Oylimpics, ( apart from the wonderful GB team and their triumphs ) the sight of Colin Jackson and Denise Lewis cheering the GB team on when they are unaware the cameras are on them.
Also the whole crowds singing the Nationa Anthem I am not one to stand for the Queen but it just gives me 'goose bumps'.
Not forgetting Andy Murray giving a little boy (whose name is Henry I believe) a cuddle after he had won gold.
Well done team GB and the BBC wonderful

Glass after all the excitement, and it has been fantastic with superb coverage from the Beeb, I too feel a sense of anti-climax. Perhaps it's knowing that we will not host the Olympics again in our lifetimes.
An amazing medals count, our Olympians have performed magnificently.

My highlight: Mo Farah.

Quoting No 2 son: Ha ha ha, Mo Farah 15000.... English Defence League 0.
Multicultural triumph!

Now we need David Cameron to admit his mistake re funding for sport in schools and restore this. As mentioned by JessM in a previous post.

Well I never expected to be so tied up by it all it have been fantastic........and I feel a bit flat this morning, but we have the paralympics to look forward to, but opening ceremony is not until the 29th August seems a long time away!

Definately watching Ellie; she's also a friend of a friend so I do follow her career. The Paralympians are, without doubt the bravest of the brave.

I hope to see as much as possible of the paralympics, and am looking forward to Ellie Simmonds' joyful celebrations!

Nobody watching the paralympics then?

Really enjoyed the olympics and watching sport I never thought I would be interested in. Looking forward to round two.

Re my last comment.

They have just said Team G.B. cannot be shifted off of 3rd place in the medal ratings.

Brilliant.

I need to get back out in the garden It's been a great fortnight of patriotism, excitement, small amounts of disappointment and guilt (everytime I tell myself the hoovering/washing up can wait a bit ).
I'm looking forward to the closing ceremony because I think you can have too much of a good thing and it will be nice to get back to normal.

I always had faith that the Olympics would be a wonderful festival of sport and show the world what we're really like. And I've been by no means disappointed. I hope the nay-sayers will be silenced for ever - but they will probably raise their heads again once it's all over!

Oh Jess, I can't believe it's coming to a close. It's as if it's been on forever; we were seeing things last night that happened a week ago and we couldn't believe it was only a week. Thorpy's been out again this past couple of days and, according to the beeb this morning it isn't just me that's in love with him..he's now an honorary Brit I think. I'll miss seeing Gabby Logan each night with 'The Magnificent Seven' and 'Big Ben'. Not to mention Spandau Ballet's 'Gold' which I now can't get out of my head. I'm so, so proud of being British and hope the world now sees us for what we are; fun loving, warm friendly people [also described by a friend from Southern Ireland who worked in London for a while when he was young as 'the most tolerant people on the planet']. I seem to be constantly blinking back tears, not only from watching things but thinking back to previous events. Even the sun has shone ! Wonderful.