WeeklySport

Wednesday, 15 August 2012

LONDON 2012 - A SHIMMERING SUCCESS BUT AT A PRICE: OLYMPICS REVIEW 4

I DON'T think any of us will disagree that the London 2012 Olympics were a massive success and uplifting for a nation almost on its knees due to the financial crisis that continues to swirl unrelentlessly around us.
The Team GB victories were inspiring and the whole event was essential, mesmeric viewing.
Even sporting cynics found themselves shedding a tear or two as the incredible, awe-inspiring achievements continued to mount on the athletics track, in the velodrome and in the swimming pool.
For two weeks, we were lifted out of the doom and gloom that has been a constant part of life as the country struggles amid cuts, job losses and lack of growth in industry.
But in another way it reminded me of when I was a carefree music journalist in my 20s, boozed up and skint - and enjoyed Christmas by maxing out my credit cards.
During the festive season itself I was lost in a wonderland of unlimited booze, food, 'fun' and hedonism.
Then came the dark realisation that I had no way of paying off the debts I had racked up during that couple of weeks of exceptionally good times.
It was the hangover of all hangovers: I was maxed out on my cards, I was skint and I couldn't meet my commitments.
I had experienced a whale of a time at Christmas, now I was just sinking.
And isn't that, to an extent, the same with the Games?
I know, it makes me sound a killjoy, but don't you feel a bit of a hangover this week? Now that the Games are gone, don't you miss them and feel a bit low?

As a country we have blown £9billion on them - and I will always tell anyone that it was one of the best two weeks of my life.
But so was that two-week blow-out in my 20s.
Then reality kicked in.
Let's hope that the Games HAVE paid for themselves as the politicians claim. The last thing we need is another Millennium Dome-style debt albatross hanging around our necks right now...but do we trust the politicians to have been telling the truth?
Do they usually?

FRANK WORRALL

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