LONDON // So that's it. Games over. Can it really be only 19 days ago that the opening of London 2012 was nervously awaited?
The 30th Modern Olympiad has confounded its critics - the "gloomadon poppers" as Boris Johnson, London's mayor, oddly called them - and appeared to exceed expectations.
It took as its theme "Inspiring a Generation" and, from the lighting of the Olympic cauldron to the moment it was extinguished on Sunday night, that has been at the heart of the spectacle and the sport of the Games.
It started with a symbolic act in Danny Boyle's brilliantly bonkers opening ceremony.
There had been so much speculation over who would light the cauldron: Muhammad Ali, Sir Steve Redgrave, the Queen?
The decision to hand that honour to seven young unknowns set a tone that carried through on to the sporting arena and was played out in all the brutal glory of competition.
New names and new stars emerged, as sporting legends - not all, of course - were eclipsed. Anything is possible, they seemed to say, as these kids, many just teenagers, stepped on to the winners' podium.
The South African swimmer Chad le Clos wept at the realisation that he had beaten his hero, Michael Phelps. Victoria Pendleton confirmed herself as Britain's most successful female Olympian, taking a gold in the women's cycling keirin and silver in the women's sprint.
And so much for British reserve. It was shed as the records were broken and inhibitions tumbled with them. Everyone, it seemed, was "in bits", weeping at successes and aching at failures.
The home crowd roared for their team and for everybody else's. That "wall of sound" became a defining feature of the Games.
It was the extra kick in athletes' strides, the extra cover in rowers' strokes, the final surge for each finishing line.
Before they began, the Games had been dubbed the "Censorship Games" as strict legislation protected the interests of sponsors.
Now, at their close, some have renamed them the "People's Games", for the sheer goodwill of the army of volunteers - 70,000 of them - and of London itself
They have proved as diverse and inclusive as the host nation.
Who could watch Usain Bolt, Mo Farah or David Rudisha and question the point of the Games?
Who could witness runners such as the Afghans Tahmina Kohistani and Sarah Attar, or the Saudi judoka Wojdan Shaherkani, and doubt the importance of these Olympics?
Every nation fielded women participants. For Qatar, Brunei and Saudi Arabia, it was the first time they had done so.
Sixty-four years ago, London staged the Olympic Games against a backdrop of a bombed and scarred city. Then, it was a face of courage and optimism it showed to the world, pulling together against all odds.
Today, London has taken its scandals and troubles and economic strife and, over 17 days of competition, told the world who it really is.
And that is a country that can compete and win, and a people who will welcome and support all. For Britons and London, the Games has been about building a legacy.
At a cost of £9.3 billion (Dh53.68bn) could they afford it? Probably not. But was it worth it? Britons, and the world, are likely to answer in the affirmative.
lcollins@thenational.ae
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The rules of the road keeping cyclists safe
Cyclists must wear a helmet, arm and knee pads
Have a white front-light and a back red-light on their bike
They must place a number plate with reflective light to the back of the bike to alert road-users
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They must cycle on designated lanes and areas and ride safe on pavements to avoid bumping into pedestrians
How to help
Call the hotline on 0502955999 or send "thenational" to the following numbers:
2289 - Dh10
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Match info
Australia 580
Pakistan 240 and 335
Result: Australia win by an innings and five runs
Your Guide to the Home
- Level 1 has a valet service if you choose not to park in the basement level. This level houses all the kitchenware, including covetable brand French Bull, along with a wide array of outdoor furnishings, lamps and lighting solutions, textiles like curtains, towels, cushions and bedding, and plenty of other home accessories.
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The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
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- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
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Results
Light Flyweight (49kg): Mirzakhmedov Nodirjon (UZB) beat Daniyal Sabit (KAZ) by points 5-0.
Flyweight (52kg): Zoirov Shakhobidin (UZB) beat Amit Panghol (IND) 3-2.
Bantamweight (56kg): Kharkhuu Enkh-Amar (MGL) beat Mirazizbek Mirzahalilov (UZB) 3-2.
Lightweight (60kg): Erdenebat Tsendbaatar (MGL) beat Daniyal Shahbakhsh (IRI) 5-0.
Light Welterweight (64kg): Baatarsukh Chinzorig (MGL) beat Shiva Thapa (IND) 3-2.
Welterweight (69kg): Bobo-Usmon Baturov (UZB) beat Ablaikhan Zhussupov (KAZ) RSC round-1.
Middleweight (75kg): Jafarov Saidjamshid (UZB) beat Abilkhan Amankul (KAZ) 4-1.
Light Heavyweight (81kg): Ruzmetov Dilshodbek (UZB) beat Meysam Gheshlaghi (IRI) 3-2.
Heavyweight (91kg): Sanjeet (IND) beat Vassiliy Levit (KAZ) 4-1.
Super Heavyweight ( 91kg): Jalolov Bakhodir (UZB) beat Kamshibek Kunkabayev (KAZ) 5-0.
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
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WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
