It will not last. Nothing
does. That is the very nature of life. But today, Monday the 13th of August
2012, let me mark one of several quotes. That of Boris Johnson, Mayor of
London: “London this morning to me really
does feel like the capital of the world. Over 17 days we have shown the world
that if we put our mind to it there is nothing this city and this country
cannot do.”
In a constant deluge of
double-dip recession, corruption and all other negative aspects of life both
home and abroad, the crimes of humanity seemingly ever growing rather than
diminishing as they should in a more enlightened age, hasn’t it been good to focus
elsewhere for a while and have a city, a United Kingdom and indeed much of the
globe look somewhere else entirely.
An oft used quote, and with
good reason, is that of the chap who gave us the first dictionary (Dr.Samuel
Johnson): “When (one) is tired of London,
(one) is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.”
So true then as is now. Living
here, being a Londoner, be it born and breed, long or shortly adopted, can take
its toll. We know this. As with every relationship in life, there is good and
bad in all that which we hold dear. But hold it dear we nonetheless do, and for
a myriad of reasons.
One of them, where London
is concerned, whether we consciously recognise it or not, is that we live in
what is, undeniably, the richest city on the planet, in the sense of history,
culture and unparalleled cosmopolitan wealth. (This isn’t entirely
London-centric either – I believe the essence of what I express here permeates
throughout our four nations upon two isles.)
I don’t know how many
friends you have from different nations, but I doubt it surpasses the 300 +
different languages that speak in this metropolis each day (even linguistically
this is the most diverse city in the world). I don’t know what unexpected
wonder, discovery and delight you have been educated and enlightened with,
entirely free, but it must be (or else, you should strive more for it to become)
considerable.
For all its faults, its
weaknesses, errors and expense – London holds and offers much. I could wax
lyrical on that alone, but it is, now, mid-2012 I write of here.
So they came, the Olympics
2012. I will freely admit, I gave it little care or joy. In truth, I was more
concerned with the huge expense and the inexhaustible and shameful greed of
corporate sponsorship (two things that must not be forgotten entirely – not out
of pessimism but awareness that we can/must fight for rightful change). I’d also
been led to think there was a going to be a crippling disruption of our
capital, and well, to be honest, I really had little interest in these sports. Yes,
I’d enjoyed sporadic moments with each Olympics over the years, but not with
more than a passing enthusiasm. These Olympics would come, they’d be noted, but
with little care or impact to me if I could help it.
I was, of course, wrong. Very
wrong. All too soon I was returning from work and catching up on the day – the
action and the commentary my only interests. (Note: BBC surpassed themselves).
I openly wept, I cheered loudly, bounced on my sofa, crushed cushions fiercely
and punched the air in acclaimed joy - As I wrote on my facebook upon the
closing night:
“The joy of effort is more important than the
thrill of victory.”
-Pierre de Coubertin,
founder of the modern Olympic movement (1894)
But what victory we have witnessed these past two
weeks! Not just the great Team GB, but from the showmen of Jamaica and all over
the world. I really didn't think I'd get much Olympic fever - how wrong I was.
Thrilling, moving, inspiring - bravo Great Britain, bravo the World - it is a
good thing to celebrate the goodness of human spirit and endeavour.
It truly was.
There is enough darkness
present in humanity as a whole, and yes, we must continually strive to rectify
that, even if it takes a millennia.
But amongst that darkness,
there is such brilliance to, and how it was shown to us through the Olympics
2012. Here were individuals who sacrificed much, pushed their bodies beyond the
norm, to achieve a marvellous majesty that most of us could only dream of
doing. Many of them also showed a huge humility in doing so, and even those
showmen who more embraced their understandable elevation akin to demi-god still did so with
grace too, loved not only because they still fulfilled and surpassed promise,
but because how we adore those with a deserved swagger – rock stars would not
be so without it.
Team GB – there was/are
many names that will now be etched on our memories for ever. Ennis, Hoy, Trott,
Rutherford to name but a few. We loved their stories too, such as how Anthony
Joshua (winning the Men’s Super Heavyweight with Team GB's 29th gold) at just
22 had only taken up the sport four years previously after his cousin took him to
Finchley Amateur Boxing Club – one of many tales illustrating the tenacity
within us all, the ability to achieve the unexpected. I can’t for a moment say
most of us we will ever hit such heights, or how many future Olympians have now
seen a spark within them flame, but nonetheless inspiration to many has been
given.
As a nation we have been
gripped by magnificence. Let us not forget that in Atlanta 1996, Team GB won a
solitary gold – and that now in 2012 there were 29, with 65 in total, only pipped
on the leader board by the super-states USA and China.
Of course, one strength we
have (and let us embrace this rather than brush it aside) is that our country,
when best, has always been everyman (and woman). Mo Farah (double Olympic
Champion with gold on both the 5,000m and 10,000m) may hail from Somalia, but
yes, he is British as British is. This is his home, where he found direction,
love… greatness.
We are a people of many
creed. One of the most powerful aspects of the Olympian tradition is the birth of
the idea that it transcends the bounds of nationality, but in that we must also
embrace that this land has always, and continues to be, a land made up of all.
In the best sense, One Nation made of many, all (when best) under one groove.
As my friend Trojan put: “It is truly amazing to see so many people
from different countries, religions and colours are together, in peace and
having fun. Pity it can't be like everyday.” True. How good to see it
though, even if for a while.
Yes, we revelled in the
flag and spirit of heralding our own. But we also embraced the greatness of
others. The strength and charisma of Usain Bolt for example will be legendary
across generations, to name just one true star of these games.
I must also say, that as
with this surprise of how much the Games themselves held such impact, I also did
not see Sebastian Coe as a Statesman. In the closing moments (I pass singers
miming et al – and acclaim a tragedy-struck Gary Barlow for not - though as a
whole the show wasn’t bad) he proved he was:
“On the first day of these Games I said we were
determined to do it right. I said that these Games would see the best of us… On
this last day I can conclude with these words: When our time came - Britain we
did it right. Thank you!... We lit the flame and lit up the world.”
With a global unity
unparalleled thus aiding us, yes, indeed we did. We were that fire. The
somewhat criticized NBC proclaimed the London Olympics the most-watched
television event in the whole of U.S. history, whilst our own (and much
acclaimed) BBC coverage was watched by 90% of UK population, not to mention the
billions more worldwide.
This was monumental, this
was history made, undeniably one of the greatest times of our modern age. Yes,
there will be fault found, critique cast – that is how things are in this
world. But right now, here, I mark simply what was good.
For, in amongst the agony
and ecstasy of such pinnacles in sportsmanship, through all that engaged and
made us feel such passion, it was no small joy to hear that by far the loudest
and longest magnificent accolades of applause during the speech of Lord Coe came
when he spoke of those 40,000 volunteers who had tirelessly played their part,
individually tiny but collectively huge. It said not only appreciation of what
they had done, but showed acknowledgement that the best in humanity comes from
strength in comradeship, done selflessly, without personal gain, towards a
common good.
Imagine that more often.
As Felix Sanchez (of the Dominican
Republic) said: “It was heaven.”
Something about it certainly was. For it showed greatness in human achievement.
And so I hope all of us who got something from these past few weeks, be it
large or small, can continue to hold some of that spirit within us.
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