Stadium events, not really my thing. I'm more a 'two's company, three's a crowd' sort of a person. I'm also someone who covets good sporting coverage on the TV. Because let's be honest, you can't beat it really, for that 'being there' feeling. And as such, around 18 months or so ago, like many I reckon, when faced with the choice of going through the right old hoo-haa of getting Olympic tickets, I really couldn't be arsed. It'd be much better on the TV, and a damn sight easier to get to...surely.
Except I was there, sat watching the greatest show on earth, part of it, in some respects. Couldn't not be, it was all-consuming. From the moment the train door opened at Euston, London welcomed us. If ever a cheesy phrase like 'on-message' was appropriate, then London is delivering it in spades. Welcoming doesn't describe it, neither does enthusiastic. Volunteers were on every corner, guiding us and priming our enthusiasm. Everyone, absolutely everyone was on the boil.
For the nay-sayers and Daily Mail readers...you've one more week, then it's all over. Get back to your lives. For everyone else, we only have one more week of this festival of sport. It's been hard to work these past few days, even harder to drive, guiding your car down a narrow corridor of AM radio reception. It's been fantastic, wonderful and captivating. All us armchair critics have come together as one, and it's all in our back yard. Hard to ignore the headlines, but why would you? Everyone wants more.
And then there's Oscar. Which side of the fence were you? Someone has an opinion; he got one of the biggest cheers of day. Denise Lewis says she thinks it right he competes...on humanitarian grounds! Quality. That's the kind of language we use for dying dogs, isn't it, before we kill them...humanely. Pistorius is 25. There's life in him yet. But his efforts were lost somewhat in the National joy of Super Saturday. He wanted to be judged on his performance as an athlete. And in that respect he was.
Nonetheless, for any competitor, and also for any spectator in the Olympic Stadium that day, everyone was touched. The atmosphere of competition was Gladiatorial. But despite the crowds and the noise, there was peace to be found in the park. The banks and surrounding areas have been planted beautifully. A riot of colour almost everywhere generated a sense of calm that was at odds with the enormity of the day. Inspired. Welcoming detail that all added to make this show Great. Good work London.
