Blog: Britain basking in glory

13 Aug 2012, 8:48 am   -   Source: Brian Thomson, SBS
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Briton Mo Farah won gold in the 5,000 and 10,000 metres.

Briton Mo Farah won gold in the 5,000 and 10,000 metres.

They may be an Olympics that Australians would rather forget but it would be churlish not to allow Britain its moment in the sun as it basks in Olympic glory.

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If there is a God then one can only imagine that He must be giving serious consideration to saving the Queen considering the amount of times He's been implored to do so over the past 16 days.

It's more than 100 years since the Lord was asked with such great gusto, so frequently, over a short space of time, to spare Her Majesty.

It's just 16 years since the British national anthem was played just once at an Olympic games. How times have changed. Britain's athletes reminding their countrymen that Britain can be great again.

London's Lord Mayor has triumphantly declared that the Games proves Britain means business. 

"The Olympics have provided an opportunity for Britons to see themselves in a new light", said Boris Johnson, "as a nation that can pull off ambitious projects on time and under budget."

In typical British style the country spent the last seven years doubting itself. Could it compete with Beijing? Were the Games worth the cost? Would a 100-year-old transport system cope with the influx of visitors? Could the organisers guarantee security? 

Only when the Games began did the questioning stop. A nation of doubters transformed into true believers, particularly when the medals started rolling in

Britain ends the games in third place on the medals table, a remarkable result, in part influenced by the support of the home crowds. But, this being Britain the crowds didn't just cheer on the Brits. The passion of the spectators and the thousands of volunteers leaving the overseas visitors, tourists and athletes alike, marvelling at the sportsmanship, wondering what happened to the traditional British stiff upper lip.

The "crying games", they've been dubbed. More than a third of Britain's medal winners struggling to hold it together when they got on the podium. Finally Britain is a country where grown men do cry and everyone feels much better for it.

The opening ceremony presented a new image of Britain, the athletes confirmed it. Almost every major British medal hope lived up to expectation.

Perhaps the most memorable occasion, Usain Bolt aside, was Mo Farah's double gold in the 5,000 and 10,000 metres. The 29 year old came to Britain as a child refugee from Somalia, his double gold forcing some here to question their opposition to immigration. Who said sport and politics don't mix?

Farah's words after claiming the double will resonate with immigrants around the world. "Hard work and graft" were the key ingredients of his success, he said. As a nation of immigrants they are words that we can all relate to.

They may be an Olympics that Australians would rather forget but it would be churlish not to allow Britain its moment in the sun - and yes, there's been plenty of that too! One of the worst summers on record giving way to a largely rain-free Games.

Britain basking in glory, and in sunshine. Who would have believed it?
 

Blogs , London Olympics

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Gie - from Sydney, 9 months ago

You said it's been 100 years since God was asked so frequently to spare the queen, but the 1908 Olympics was during the reign of a king. London also hosted the games in 1948, again opened by a king.

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