Olympic Inspiration

(Nearly) Everybody I know has been wowed by the London Olympics.

Everybody who likes sport, that is. My long-suffering wife plaintively asks "how much longer is this going on?" from time to time, while the rest of us pump the air and exchange delighted grins.

The feelgood factor has been immense. From the charming, original and heartwarming opening ceremony, through the long stream of British successes, and thanks to the brilliant broadcasting of the BBC, the olympic spirit has shone out.

Here are people who are pouring their hearts out to compete: how refreshing, when so many professional sports people no longer even try to look as though they mean it, but cynically collect their pay cheques and go through the motions ... or so it seems.
I know appearances can be deceptive, and perhaps all those well paid footballers are trying their hearts out, really. But it doesn't seem like it.

The athletes who lose are queueing up to apologise to the nation and to their support team for letting them down; the athletes who win are queuing up to thank the same people. Has anybody complained about the referee? If they did, I haven't noticed.

It is truly marvellous to see that, even in 2012, even in this age of manipulation and gamesmanship, there are still some sportspeople out there who play it the way it was meant to be played.