The Power Of Sport

Truth be told, everyone thought we'd mess the Olympics up, it's the British way isn't it? When the North Korea and South Korea flags were mixed up on the scoreboard before the opening ceremony had even taken place, people obviously doubted how we were going to handle the largest sporting event in the world. 

Olympics or not we've witnessed our team go out in a penalty shootout, but that's about all that's gone with form. Prior to the Olympics, tickets were unsold, the public weren't bothered about the Olympics and who was going to light the flame was the least of anyone's worries. Not to mention the squabble going on over the Olympic Stadium. 

Generally, Britain was in the doldrums. Cameron and Clegg were roaming round with a pair of monetary scissors, cutting anything they could, unemployment was at it's highest for years on end and we entered a double dip recession. When was the last time you heard the names of Cameron and Clegg? Probably not within the last ten days while Olympic fever has taken over the British Isles. 

The Olympics has everyone hooked, and even more so because it is a home Olympics. I don't remember such a fever for Beijing, despite the success of British athletes compared with previous Olympics. Why wouldn't you be hooked? There is something for everyone. Even sports you've never watched before you find yourself watching and become an armchair expert. You know the rules for sports you wouldn't even consider watching if your Sky listing said "World Championship Archery/Equestrian/Volleyball.

I'm a football fan, a big fan, but I haven't really got into the Olympic football tournament at all. I've found myself watching other sports instead of football, when else would you get the opportunity? Football is on all year pretty much, and I'm glad the Olympics hasn't been dominated by football, which must have been some people's worry considering it's our national sport. 

"Inspire a generation" has been the tag line used throughout the Olympics and there has been a huge focus on the legacy left by the 2012 games. It is doing just that, it must be. People who generally have no interest in sport are being inspired by watching Olympic sport. How can you not be inspired by someone like Jessica Ennis? She is the Olympic Champion taking in various sports, if people take up one of those events then it has done some good. 

The crowd sounded electric as she completed the 800m and the 'Golden Saturday' was one of the best nights of sport I've ever seen. Gold after gold for GB and if anything I'm sure the crowd inspired them when they needed that extra boost. Several times I've heard "GB haven't won a medal in this event since...." and we've won the gold or at least claimed a medal.  That must make people want to get up and give something a go?!

The Olympics Stadium has been full every time it's been opened, 160,000 people in one day watching the athletics. Two sessions of athletics each holding 80,000 people, thousands in Greenwich Park for cross country horse racing, who'd have thought it? Who'd have thought I'd have been watching Equestrian's equivalent of a penalty shootout and leaving as late as possible for work because I wanted to see the conclusion?

The rush of medals, which has taken GB into 3rd behind the USA and China, who don't forget have many more people to pick from, has boosted British pride to a high point for many, many years. Like I said before, is anyone taking about recession at the moment? No, they're talking about sport. Even if GB hadn't taken home as many medals as they have so far, you'd still have to be proud of how we've taken on the Olympics and the public has actually got behind the games.

Maybe local pride has been boosted by the performances of Yorkshire born athletes who would have more gold medals than a lot of countries if Yorkshire was a country. They have claimed 5 gold medals, which is as many as Germany, and more than Holland, South Africa, Australia and Japan. 

I'll leave you with the words of Dickie Bird as a suggestion as to why: "Yorkshire folk are wonderful, wonderful people known for their hard work and sheer Yorkshire grit which has pulled them through."