What is your most memorable Olympic moment?

Waiting and holding my breath

I have waited until the last moment to pen this review. I have been wrestling with different ideas and thinking about what could possibly be my most memorable moment from this wonderful event that takes place every four years. When so many incredible achievements are made and world records are broken, it is hard to choose just one moment. Athletes just seem to be getting better and better as technological advances in equipment and developments in training improve performance. I have been ridiculously excited for this year’s Olympics ever since I heard that London had won the bid in 2005. I love watching the Olympics; I love the sense of national pride as every sporting person from their country come together to be one big team. I awaited the opening ceremony on Friday with bated breath, knowing the whole world was going to be watching. It was an absolutely wonderful, meaningful show. Indeed, it is this opening ceremony that I pronounce as my most memorable Olympic moment.

A nation of pessimists

After all the drama and gloom surrounding the Olympic preparations, the standing jokes about G4S, the petitions about the missiles on the tower blocks, the poor weather and the demonization of London public transport; I was getting pretty sick of the moaning and the groaning. The papers revelled in the mishaps and everyone was having a pop at how the games were going to cause an inconvenience to their lives, from taking up all the tv viewing slots to closing some of London’s roads. It appeared that everyone had something to moan about. We are a nation of pessimists though and after seeing the reaction to the opening ceremony, I realised that it is all part of the act. This is who we are, we mutter and moan and then we are all cheers; the best of friends and all the problems in getting here are forgotten. It is balanced by what is known as ‘Dunkirk’ spirit, named after the heroic escape of the British troops from the French beaches in world war II. We have a deft ability to change a loss in to a gain, forget all the misery and pull off a last minute coup with all of Britain standing behind it flags waving ferociously.

All things British

The opening ceremony was an eclectic mix that provoked all our senses. Ot eas busy and in some respect really chaotic but is that not life in Britain? I was so proud to call myself British; this is a wonderful county and the ceremony will stay with me for a long time. Danny Boyle did an amazing job with a cast of thousands; every one smiling and moving and keeping me on the edge of my seat.

The highlights

The highlights are many but my favourites include the industrial revolution. Introducing the industrial revolution was Kenneth Branagh who stood on the hilltop as Isambard Kingdom Brunel. He quoted from The Tempest; obviously in we had to pay homage to Shakespeare and I felt goose bumps it was a really moving moment. All of sudden a chaotic, ferocious dance routine began with people climbing out of the earth The was a wonderful routine that was very well executed and choreographed. The darkness that moved across Britain in this revolutionary times was depicted in a beautiful energetic show with monstrous chimneys rising on the stage, bellowing ash and changing the whole aesthetics of the stage. The dancers showed the disproportionate share of wealth, the terrible conditions and changing face of Britain’s landscapes. I loved the way the dancers lifted the turf, pretty quiet English land to reveal glowing hot steel and the whole scene ended with a very moving and thought provoking image as the five Olympics rings were forged out of hot metal. They were held in the air for a few moments, glowing mysteriously in the darkened sky. This poignant image will stick in my memory for a long time.

HOMAGE TO OUR GREATNESS

I loved the way that Danny Boyle highlighted the NHS and Great Olmond Street hospital, this is something we should be proud of and it is a fitting reminder in the recession that we should fight to make it work. It is an achievement and we should be proud that we are part of it. The scenes denoting the NHS were fun and vibrant with nurses, beds and patients were moving, swaying and dancing. It was a sight to behold. There were hundreds of children on stage an they all did a marvellous job. From the elation of our achievements came the sorrow as we remembered our fallen in the World Wars and 7/7 bombings. It was an interesting touch to include these as it would have been much easier to skirt past the sadness and focus on the happy times. Boyle played with our emotions moving us with the music and the images before are eyes.

Thanks Ma'am

As Britons we have an unusual taste in comedy which other nations do not understand and we seem to enjoy and revel in the fact that other countries find our sense of humour baffling. The highlights for me were the spoof James Bond and the Queen mini clip with the Queen supposedly parachuting down into the games. I loved it and I loved the fact that our glorious Queen was in on the joke. The other highlight was Mr Bean and the London Symphony Orchestra. The beautiful delectable sounds were fantastic and Mr Bean was being just as unusual as ever.

Finally. United

My favourite part was the amazing cauldron and it was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. Each child mascot who accompanied one of the 204 participating countries carried a copper bowl. These were all added together and when the flames were lit the whole thing blazed together in a beautiful and powerful image. I felt like this symbolised the whole world uniting as one, burning together with one purpose.