I'm not one to get very excited over the Olympics and until this morning, it really hadn't touched my life at all, and probably wouldn't have. However, I do confess now to feeling a tad impressed with the whole thing having seen for myself the torch relay as it came through Long Sutton here in South Lincolnshire. What really struck me was the sheer number of people who came to see it, lining the roads and cheering as the convoy of vehicles appeared led by various police vehicles and motorcycles.
The role of the police in all this has to be praised as they seemed to be having as much fun as everyone else and making a point of stopping to talk to the numerous groups of school children full of excitement and anticipation. A Coca-Cola and Samsung float served to further excite the crowds and heralded the arrival of the torch bearer who jogged past frantically waving at as many spectators as she could. The photos taken must number somewhere in the thousands as almost everyone tried to get that special shot. I managed to capture the whole thing on video which is now preserved for ever thanks to the wonderment of all things digital.
For me, the atmosphere felt electric. There's something about an event like this that does rally people and it was wonderful to see so many people gathered to witness the event. The significance of the whole thing was lost on the groups of 4-6 year old's from the local schools and they seemed more interested in the police vehicles and their playful sirens and flashing lights. Whether they will witness another Olympic Games here in the UK is difficult to know, but it's unlikely. Their memories will be bolstered by the countless numbers of photos and hours of video making today truly unforgettable.
Has it changed my view of the Olympic Games? Yes, I think it has...
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