When the United Kingdom made its pitch to host the 30th Olympiad in 2007, one of the key messages underlying the bid was the wonder of the rest of the world coming to London in 2012 rather than the old stereotypical notion of the post-imperial power still seeking somehow to impose its will and its presence on the rest of the world.
One of the most striking aspects of London 2012, however, has been not so much what the world has been learning about the UK but what Britons themselves have been learning about themselves and their country.
Put aside pre-Games fears about lousy weather, lengthy immigration queues and chaos at Heathrow Airport, traffic gridlock and public transport inadequacies, security snafus, and the apparent lack of enthusiasm on the part of the majority of the host population.
Forget the reality of less than ideal weather, inadequate supplies of generally substandard food at the concession stands in the Olympic Park – this a hugely ironic factor since multicultural London qualifies as one of the culinary capitals of the world and British food is no longer the tasteless joke it used to be – and the embarrassing number of empty seats in the areas reserved for the “Olympic Family” of International Olympic Committee bigwigs, national games federations officials, corporate sponsors and other VIPs, particularly at the high-demand swimming and gymnastics events in the first week of competition.
Now, as the Games reach their climax this weekend, the overall impression is that they have been a massive success for LOCOG, the London Organising Committee, the UK as a whole and the British people.
From the spectacular Opening Ceremony, with its very British touches of whimsy and humour, to the hearty support of this sports-mad nation, perhaps best exemplified by the thousands of spectators who braved the rain to line the route of the women’s cycling road race, to the approximately 3,500 servicemen and women who filled the security gaps, to the some 70,000 volunteers – the “Games-makers” – who travelled from all across the British Isles, to offer a cheery smile and a warmth of spirit not normally associated with the UK, London and the UK have embraced the world and the world has embraced London and the UK.
And so the British seem to have learnt to smile, to be welcoming, to open their arms to the world, to put aside their natural reserve and cynicism. They have made the Olympics truly the greatest show on Earth, helped, of course, by some superlative athletic performances. And they have projected a brave, new image of themselves as a genuinely multicultural nation, comfortable with all the symbols of their long history, whilst appearing to be fully modern in their outlook.
They have revelled in the triumphs of their Team GB and have been unashamedly patriotic about their golden Games, waving flags, crying buckets during the playing of God Save the Queen, and generally behaving in a hitherto very un-British manner. Heavens above, they have even been smiling at and chatting with perfect strangers.
One should not underestimate the uplifting power of sport or the feel-good factor that sporting success engenders. On the other hand, maybe it is all an aberration of Olympic proportions and the spell will soon wear off. But if the British can retain just a little of this new-found warmth and generosity of spirit, they may well be on the verge of dispelling old stereotypes and projecting a new face to the rest of the world. That would, arguably, be the greatest legacy of London 2012.