The Olympics: a Miscellany

I was unable to watch the opening ceremony but by all accounts it was masterfully choreographed by a certain Danny Boy. Mr Boy is a new name to me but apparently his patriotic credentials (Trainspotting) have never been in doubt. In writing these words I am reminded of Oliver Goldsmith's "And fools, who came to scoff, remained to pray". I don't really know why I am less enchanted by the occasion than I used to be. Quite possibly, when (and if ) I manage to get to the Olympic Stadium to see the Decathlon, I will be taken up in the joy of the moment. I must say it's hard to resist the bubbly enthusiasm of the young swimmers and gymnasts. And I have to say that I am easily the most sports-obsessed member of my family, both English and French versions, though I think my great uncle Reg was keen on rugby league.

I remember staying up all hours to listen to live commentary of a Mohammed Ali - Sonny Liston fight, watching the likes of David Hemery, Anne Packer, Robbie Brightwell, Lillian Board and Roger Black at the Olympics, sneaking away from the Law College to watch county matches at Lords, pressing my face against a television shop window to watch Johann Cruyff and the great Dutch team of 1974, and so on and so forth. So I must gradually have changed over the years.

*****

If you had to choose just one from the following, which one would it be?

• The Royal Wedding 2011
• The Queen's Diamond Jubilee
• The London Olympics

A difficult question, I agree.

The wonderful thing about these three events is that they haven't cost the taxpayer a single penny! Of course, it wouldn't have been possible for a country in the grip of a recession to stage such events.