The last two slightly unreal weeks in this country are now over, and, excepting the further exciting prospect of the Paralympics at the end of the month, there is much talk of what will be the lasting effect of the 2012 Olympics for Britain. There will be lots of hype for Team GB leading up to the next Olympics in Rio in 2016, a few more potential athletes will be encouraged to train harder, and a few more tourists will be tempted to come into London to see some of the sights.
Personally I was sad not to see some of Britain's own national sports get their chance at the Olympics, such as golf and cricket. In that sense, it felt like an Olympics like any other, that could've been staged in any part of the world.
Ultimately, I don't think it will actually make much difference either way to Britain's sporting fortunes. Britain has always been a spirited competitor for such a small island, in comparison to the size of huge land masses like the US and China. It's the spirit that built an empire.
Thank God also that Al-Qaeda didn't gatecrash the party, after the horrors of July 7th 2005 - whose victims were so movingly commemorated in the opening ceremony.
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