17 August 2012
One final check on the five-day weather forecast, pretty much as it was before the maximum predicted temperature of 27°C.
Doctor Margaret Saunders, from the Arthur Rank hospice, in Cambridge, came to have a chat this morning. Last time she came in ran out of time to discuss such matters as how they deal with the patient who feels that he has had enough. I put this to Margaret who pointed out the difference between the patient who unilaterally decides he has had enough and the patient whose medical team agree that his quality of life has clearly dramatically reduced. In this latter case the hospice would respect the patient’s wishes and allow him to die peacefully maybe with a little bit of help from the hospice’s medical team to make the end as pain-free as possible. Obviously this something that I will have to go into more detail and discussion with the hospice staff as time goes by and I get weaker and weaker.
We discussed the benefit of me having a consultation with the Speech Therapist and agreed that there was nothing she could do to improve the quality of my speech except perhaps for some breathing exercises. In the end we decided that the possible benefits did not justify a special consultation. Similarly with the Dietician, we decided that it would only being worth having a session with this specialist if my food became increasingly difficult to swallow. Having said that Alice knows enough about diet to thin the food out and avoid lumps. The only justification for a special consultation with the Dietician would be if I began losing weight and required some added calories.
In any event it was made quite clear to me that hospice way cannot be confused with the Swiss Dignitas Assisted Suicide scheme. Whereas at one time I would have nothing to do with the hospice movement, the more I see of Dr Margaret Saunders, my resolve not to be involved with the hospice at the end, is weakening.
We went on and to discuss slight changes in my medication where the side-effects may not be so severe.
Paul the ‘computer’ came this afternoon, to babysit and make some minor adjustments to my computer which were not very demanding so we spent the afternoon chatting with one ear on the cricket. After a shaky start losing, four wickets for 54, the South African’s stopped the rot and went on to host a reasonable 309 all out. England responded badly by losing two quick wickets.
The good Dr Michael arrived from Sweden, after I had gone to bed, so that I did not see him until the following morning.
16 August 2012
I turned to the Internet to check, once more, the weather forecast for the big day (Saturday 18th of August). The temperatures were pretty much the same as they had been on previous forecasts but the general outlook for Saturday was perhaps a cloudy start Saturday becoming bright, hot and humid.. Certainly not ideal as the humidity and heat made it difficult for me to breathe. Again, another problem is where we sit.-bottom left of the Warner Stand. Two or three years ago they converted this area, amounting to 3 rows of seats, which have occupied for the best part of 40 years, into a Wheelchair Enclosure which, as it happens, is now ideal as, when you book your seats, you can, at the same time, obtain a free Wheelchair Enclosure pass, which in effect reserves seats for you.
Well, the die is cast, it is all down to the way I manage to cope with the heat.
To come down to earth, we have a hedgehog in our garden. Somebody told me there is an old Wives Tale, which says that this is lucky. Anyway, ‘my lovely’, noticed a week or so ago, that the little fellow was feeding from the same bowls as the cats. She tried going out, and attempting to stroke him although with all those prickles stroke isn’t exactly the cleverest thing to attempt. After a few days being out there but not attempting to get too close, the hedgehog now seems to have overcome is fear of humans and happily continues feeding, however, close Alice gets to him.
In the spring, during one of those very pleasant lunches I had sitting outside The Cricketers, I saw Trevor Oliver building a giant pizza-oven. Presumably the idea is that on those warm idyllic summers evenings, you sit outside the pub enjoying whatever libation takes your fancy and at the same time enjoy one of Trevor’s pizzais. Until this last week there had scarcely been an evening when I would have been comfortable to sit outside in the evenings. Now, unfortunately, it has become uncomfortably hot. Assuming this warm weather continues and provided it becomes less humid, we shall go round and try out Trevor’s pizzas.
Finally, for those inveterate Scrabble players or crossword fiends, click here for some clever anagrams.
15 August 2012
According to the night carer, Lillian, had the best nights sleep yet. My first task this morning was to check the five-day weather forecast, once again. The general outlook for Saturday is mostly dry with sums sunny spells. Showers in places. The temperature, at 10 o’clock is forecast at 22°C rising to 24°C and one o’clock. SoSo, all fair on weather front. This meant that I was able to ring Debbie, at Ollie’s Friendly Wheelchair Service and confirm the booking.
Thinking about the Roho cushion, and being told by Richard, the area manager, there was nothing wrong with it, I wondered if they should perhaps wave their ‘repair ‘ charge of £45. As Richard said, they merely immersed the cushion in a bath seven days and found no leakage. Therefore it can only mean that there was insufficient air in the cushion, in the first place, which led Richard, to believe that there was a leakage. I can speak to Richard first and provide is in agreement I may mention it to his superior, who came with him on the first visit and see if she believes it to be equitable that I should not pay. Apart from anything else, £45 to mend a puncture (had there been one) seems excessive. But, at the end of the day, the cost is insignificant when it comes to sitting in the chair for 12 hours a day, the comfort aspect can hardly be calculated in terms of cash.
The second big excitement today was the arrival of Tim Softly who brought with him a commode chair, very similar to the one we have been struggling with for months, except this one goes through the wet front door without any trouble and the seat can be changed in a thrice from a whole stock of seats with varying size apertures which can accommodate the smallest to the largest backsides!. So it ticks all the boxes. After months of being told that there is no such thing as a male commode or perhaps, more correctly, a flexible commode that would work for a male.
Having said please may we have one, Tim Softly then asked if we were buying it. This came as somewhat of a surprise, so we last him from whence had come instruction to visit us?. We have so many sources from whence the instruction could have come came we have to leave it to Tim to find out from whence his instruction had come from and presumably they would be in a position to place your order on our behalf. I really cannot believe that we are going to asked to pay for such a basic piece of equipment as a commode. The main thing however, was that Tim should try it cut through the red tape and get it to us. as soon as possible..
Having dealt with those immensely important pieces of equipment, the absence of which can make my day most uncomfortable, I then realised how narrow my life had become when, sitting on the lavatory or on my day chair had assumed such high priority
To bring our feet back on the ground, so to speak, click here and feel proud to be British following our success at the Olympic Games .
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14 August 2012
I did a five a weather forecast, as promised. I have maintained, for several weeks now, that provided it was not wet or too cold, I would go. The one thing we have not anticipated was that it could be too hot. the present forecast predicts a temperature of 19°C, at 10 AM. rising to 25°C at 4 PM, the normal time for tea during the test match. So, depending on how I feel, I anticipate needing at 3,40. The general forecast for Saturday is for isolated showers and sunny spells; feeling rather warm. and I anticipate fairly high humidity. Sitting in the Wheel chair enclosure, at Lord’s, open to the sun, with no shade, might well find me with distressed breathing and having find a shady spot from time to time. At least the plans can now be confirmed.
New readers might wonder what all this fuss is about a cushion. It is one of those things that unless you have experienced it for yourself you will be hard pressed to imagine it. Basically, the cushion is necessary because I cannot shift my weight at all stop once I’m pleased on my cushion that is it until I’m hoisted off it again. Without pressure, sitting are after our day after day on the same burning you bits, the likelihood is that the patient will get pressure sores. There is no doubt having tried this cushion for some weeks that it certainly accomplishes its objective of comfort and changing the pressure as one’s body moves naturally over the cushion. This is achieved by the cushion being divided into four sectors . Each sector has 16 to 20′ fingers’ which are inflated with a hand pump. The patient is then hoisted and placed on the cushion from each sector of which, air is allowed to escape . Before I had this cushion, after a few hours would become extremely uncomfortable, this would be the first indication of the likelihood of pressure sores developing. If that did happen with me I could find myself in some difficulty. If I couldn’t sit down I would have to lie down and lying down in bed means lying on one side or another to avoid the pain. This being so, we must do everything we can to avoid this backward step.
If any other readers are interested in this cushion I suggest turning to its website (www.sumed,co,uk) for more information.
The cushion was returned today and we have agreed with Richard Walker, the area manager, that he would come and make sure that it was probably adjusted. This meant, in turn, that we had to ensure there was a carer here to hoist me up to enable me temporary cushion to be removed and the ‘ repaired’ cushion substituted. Unfortunately, when the return box was opened in time they had sent the rubber cushion back without its cover. So there was nothing we could do without it, but to arrange an appointment with Richard, in a day or two.
After all this boring stuff about cushion the reader deserves a diversion. Click here to see how the Australians would resolve the Middle East problems.
13 August 2012
The Games are over. The triumphant Olympians are homeward bound via a special temporary terminal setup for them at Heathrow airport. This last act of transporting the 4500 competitors plus their hangers on, presented the last challenge to the organising committee, which, like all the rest of the Games, went smoothly without a hitch..
The next highlight I have to face is my birthday at Lord’s, this coming Saturday, but we pray for a fine day and tomorrow I shall do a five-day weather forecast.
There was the usual flow of people coming and going again today. With the addition of Richard (Walker, the Area Manager for Sumed, the company‘ who hold the franchise, in the UK, for the Roho cushion.) Richard had promised to return once the work prepared to that could cushion was complete and to re-fit in it himself. Unfortunately, he failed to tell us what time. As it requires me being hoisted out of my chair, so the cushion can be substituted for the temporary one. We had to rearrange for tomorrow at a time when we can get a carer
here for the purpose.
It was announced today that as Sebastian Coe (Lord Coe) had done such a good job on organising the Olympic Games, he was to be rewarded by being appointed director of the legacy of these Games. This is a vitally important job. The nation, and that essentially means the young, are at present on a high, having been inspired by one Olympian or another, to believe that they too compete in the next Olympic Games in Rio 2016. Such youngsters have to be prepared to submit themselves to a grinding schedule of practice and training. Unless there is someone supervising this transitional period much of this enthusiasm will fade away.
12 August 2012
I am pleased to report a perfectly good night compared with the horrors of the previous one. It was our favourite sitter, Lillian, in whom both’ my lovely’ and I have the greatest confidence.
Today is the last day of these Olympic Games . Provided there is no incident tonight then I believe we are all be congratulated on putting on a major public event with such tight security that any breach of it was virtually impossible.
The vast stadia and arenas are quiet and eerily dark. The bright lights and the noise of encouragement from the crowd had faded away. Nations from every corner of the earth have been and gone. Having competed against each other in the spirit of the Olympic Games. Team GB and the organisation behind it, from the Police to the Chairman of the Organising Committee, are to be congratulated.
As has been emphasised throughout his Games, it is not the colour you go home with (Gold, silver or bronze) but the colour with which you came, that matters. In other words, the colour of the nation you have been honoured to represent.
As the host nation for the Games, we were determined to put on a good show and attempt to better the result we had achieved at the last Olympic Games, four years ago, in Beijing. Our tally of medals this time, amounted to 65(47)the tally for the Beijing Olympics. is shown in parenthesis, Our tally this time included 29 (19) gold medals,17(13 ) silver medals and 19 (15) bronze medals This gave us third place behind China, whose overall tally was 87 with 38 gold medals. Our nearest rival – in fourth place – was Russia with 24 gold medals and of a tally of 82.
After our success in the presentation of the Opening Ceremony the last event, on which, we will be judged, is the Closing Ceremony. Like all such events, the opinions on whether it was successful, are divided. As one critic put it I’m not sure you can review this Ceremony, especially when it is a mixture of pageant, pop concert, street party and presentation Ceremony. Frankly, this event did not appeal to me at all. But then at 78 years old . I would not expect to be representative of the British masses. The best description of this Closing Ceremony was a kaleidoscopic spectacle based on a mashed up symphony of British music or a raucous pageant of popular culture which
enthralled a nation and showed a capacity to amaze and charm. However, the overall feeling one gets from the critics is that there were strong reservations about the music not being representative of modern Britain music.
Whilst the Opening Ceremony did attempt to reflect modern British life, this could not be said of the Closing Ceremony. At least in the Opening Ceremony there was an attempt to introduce the British way of life, both urban and rural. The same could not be said for this Closing Ceremony which the music represented all that was noisy, ugly and bad but, as I have been prepared to admit, at my age I could not be expected to love the cacophony of modern pop music. As I mentioned earlier one critic spoke of the Closing Ceremony as including pageantry. I must’ve nodded off for a few moments as I cannot recall seeing anything that could be classified as pageantry. If we were attempting to present something quintessentially British then would it have been so bad to have brought on one of our Guards regimental band in full dress, marching to those tunes that have become beloved and representative of this nation.
Whilst doing my grumpy old men bit. I must say that if Rio’s contribution to this Closing Ceremony is what we can expect from them as a host nation then, thank goodness this sort of extravaganza is only possible in the Opening and Closing ceremonies. Of course, I am partisan but commenting on the event as a whole, there was not one criticism of the organisation, the accommodation and travel arrangements or the adequacy of the stadia or arenas. How fortunate we were to be able to host some of these events in historical venues-the Horse Guards parade for the beach volleyball; the Greenwich Maritime Museum for the show jumping and dressage; Lord’s cricket ground for the archery and Hampton Court Palace for cycling and so on.
Whilst we have had a surfeit of Olympics and enjoyable as they were, most of us have had enough. it is a great pity that the Paralympics, which follow on immediately, will not enjoy the same enthusiasm and support has the main games.
11 August 2012
I can scarcely believe that I am here reporting yet another drama connected to the night sitters. Around 4 AM this morning, I woke up and, after a minute or two feeling pain, I attempted to hit my alarm button. However, the carer had tucked me up so tightly that I simply could not get my arms free of the bedclothes. When I am turned from on one side to the other. I frequently asked the carer to allow me to pause for a few minutes on my back which seems to relax most of the muscles dissipating any pain that had awoken me. This was the reason why, on this occasion, I found myself on my back. Apparently I had fallen asleep during this turning process. Anyway, try as I might I could not extricate my arms to activate the alarm. After the last occasion, when the sitter was clearly asleep, evidenced by her loud snores. (See entry). the agency from whence came these sitters were so apologetic and adamant that this would never happen again, I could scarcely believe that I was once more locked in this nightmare scenario.
Unable to reach the alarm button. I had to resort to shouting for help through my respirator. As a result of MND and weakness in my diaphragm muscles I could not shout very loudly. However, I persevered, getting more anxious has the time went by until I heard’ my loveley’s voice’ asking what was going on. Thank heavens she’d heard me despite our bedroom being some distance away. When Alice had come down investigate the noise, the so-called carer appeared to be reading her book, totally oblivious of my cries for help only a yard or two away from where she sat. When Alice appeared at the bedroom door all she could see was the carer ostensibly reading her book but not responding in anyway to my cry for help. Although it was almost time to hand over, Alice took a chances and said very little to the sitter at that stage. she left making an official complaint until the agency’s office was open just after nine. Once again they were very apologetic and swore that this sitter would not be sent to us again. So what do we do, this is the third occasion this has happened in the very short time that we have engaged this agency?.
Our biggest problem is that we do not have a contract with this agency who are hired by Essex County Council and only they can take action against them. We were so grateful, when we were granted this service, we do not wish to do anything which could upset the apple cart. Having said that I’m sure that Essex County Council would like to be informed, as if anything happened to me as a result of the negligence of their contracted sitters, they who would be responsible to me.
A clutch more medals in the Olympic Games. His slightly disappointed Tom Daley, only managed a Bronze medal in the diving which you must one of our high hopes for a gold.
But then this sort of disappointment is balanced by totally surprising success in other areas, for an example, Mo Fahar’s success in winning the 5000 m race, having previously won gold in the 10,000 m. There are still hopes for medals in boxing and the marathon. In any event, Team GB’s efforts to date ensure that we have achieved the highest number of medals, in our overall tally, handsomely exceeding the number gained in all the Games since 1908.
10 August 2012
Well, the Games are coming to an end. There are a few more medals to be contested for today and then we have the closing ceremony to look forward to. Sadly, then there is a fortnight or so of Paralympics. I’m sure that these Olympians can feel justifiably proud to have overcome whatever differently they suffer from and have reached the pinnacle of representing their country. Unfortunately, I believe we have had as such a wonderful coverage by the BBC that most of us, frankly have enough. I hope that I’m not reading the mood of the country wrongly and that there will be as much enthusiasm behind these Paralympic Games as were behind the normal ones.
Team GB have reason to be proud they are comfortably in the third position in the medals table and the individual stories and sacrifices that many of these Olympians made to reach this level of proficiency makes us even more proud than the cold, hard statistics of yet another medal.
I think yesterday we added a couple of silver and the same quantity of bronze to our tally of medals but for some reason, it is not the total of all medals that determines where you end up in the medals table, but the number of gold medals. (This despite’ one of the Olympians who just missed out on a gold medal, waggishly suggesting that the new gold is silver!)
Had a quick word with stepfather Richard this morning. I had tried to ring earlier and Nan had answered the telephone. Part way through the conversation she suggested that she would turn down the radio. We hung all the best part of 4/5 mins before realising that she had probably got to the radio and then forgotten why she was there with the result that we were left holding a phone at our end with no one speaking at the other end. Richard came on 5 min or so later and confirmed that this is just the sort of thing that happens all the time.
It would be quite funny under normal circumstances but it is really quite sad and desperate so for the partner left doing the caring. We all know what a Saint Richard is looking after my mother as the Alzheimer’s increases but as long as he can keep her within sight she cannot get up to too much mischief but I can see that the whole process from Richard’s point of view, is very tiring. Sadly, living so far away. There is very little we can do to help. However, with our weekly contact and with John and Anne Prytz dropping in regularly, that’s the best we can do for the time being. I know that Richard is hankering to come down for another visit. Lovely as it would be. this is a very expensive day out which we should perhaps preserve for the day when I am on my last gasp.
Although I cannot deny that I have gone downhill, as time goes by, I think my telephone voice gives people the impression that I am far worse than I sound. Nevertheless, I think we will try to get them both down here sometime in September.
My Roho cushion was returned yesterday and Richard, the area manager, responded to my call and will be with us on Monday afternoon to ‘set it up’.
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9 August 2012
I should have finished yesterday’s comment with a small explanation concerning the quotation I included. The point being is this. Many of us have good ideas. Some of them, undoubtedly commercial, if they could be taken through the obstacle course of development; Mock up models; further temporary patent applications and so on. So conception is not so difficult. We all have good ideas from time to time, but the key to the whole business is Belief. In order to progress your idea further you must have an unwavering belief in it. Unless you have this hundred percent belief in whatever you have conceived there is no chance that you will bring it to conception…
This applies equally to the making of a household gadget to believing that you can rise to dizzy heights in leading the world in a particular challenge, relating to taking your idea, for an example, ridding the world of a horrid disease. A recent example of this is Bill Gates and his wife’s attempt to wipe out malaria. I believe there are close to achieving that dream. The object lesson to be learned from this is that it would not have been the same had Joe Bloggs conceived the idea because, unless he was as wealthy as the Gates’ there would be no way he could be met with the same success. In other words, deep down he will not have believed he could achieve it.
Our tally of Olympic gold medals rose again today in an historic event- we won a gold medal, the first ever to be awarded for women’s boxing, as this event was only added this year to the Games.
Yet another gold medal was awarded to Team GB for those exquisite horses. In fact, two medals-a gold and bronze for dressage (or what some people call ‘ dancing horses’.
The English weather, which is notoriously changeable, behaved itself immaculately up to this point in the Games. It only needs to maintain this for a couple more days to have been the most perfect weather covering the whole fortnight.
On Sunday next we will have the Closing Ceremony. I wonder how much the Olympic Development Team have dedicated to this Ceremony. I hope that our Opening Ceremony together with our success in the Games itself would speak for itself and we can get away with a short spectacular finish..
Of course, we must not forget the Para-Olympics which I believe immediately follow on these Games. I can understand why the organising committee may had been forced into making this decision but cannot help feeling that we are suffering from a surfeit of Olympics and it may take a little while to bolster our enthusiasm for another fortnight of the same, As much as anything, I think, the whole country will sigh in relief that these Games have passed without incident. Behind-the-scenes the security arrangements must have required immaculate planning and it appears that the effort put into this aspect of the planning, has paid off. The substitution of 3500 troops for the shortfall from the security company, who won the award (at a cost of £53 million), has achieved a double purpose.
First all, the effect of the fraternisation of the public with our troops, who are currently engaged in this futile war, will have raised the public interest and perhaps have encouraged some people, who were sceptical about our presence in this arena, to think again.
Secondly, there should be a substantial saving in cost or will this be another example of an incompetent civil servant negotiating a contract full of holes that allow the contractor to slip through unscathed.
I mentioned earlier how impressed I had been at the enthusiasm whipped up around these Games. We had our own personal demonstration of this yesterday when, our granddaughter, little Lara, telephoned Granny to tell her all about her visit to watch the women team GB, play hockey. Lara was terribly excited about the whole affair despite never having seen a game of hockey in her life you realise that the event was something rather special and in no time at all was shouting and screaming for the British team. So, here is a little girl who will probably remember these Olympic Games 60 or 70 years hence. That in itself, is a wonderful personal legacy of this staggering stravaganza..
I should have finished yesterday’s comment with a small explanation concerning the quotation I included. The point being is this. Many of us have good ideas. Some of them, undoubtedly commercial, if they could be taken through the obstacle course of development; Mock up models; further temporary patent applications and so on. So conception is not so difficult. We all have good ideas from time to time, but the key to the whole business is Belief. In order to progress your idea further you must have an unwavering belief in it. Unless you have this hundred percent belief in whatever you have conceived there is no chance that you will bring it to conception…
This applies equally to the making of a household gadget to believing that you can rise to dizzy heights in leading the world in a particular challenge, relating to taking your idea, for an example, ridding the world of a horrid disease. A recent example of this is Bill Gates and his wife’s attempt to wipe out malaria. I believe there are close to achieving that dream. The object lesson to be learned from this is that it would not have been the same had Joe Bloggs conceived the idea because, unless he was as wealthy as the Gates’ there would be no way he could be met with the same success. In other words, deep down he will not have believed he could achieve it.
Our tally of Olympic gold medals rose again today in an historic event- we won a gold medal, the first ever to be awarded for women’s boxing, as this event was only added this year to the Games.
Yet another gold medal was awarded to Team GB for those exquisite horses. In fact, two medals-a gold and bronze for dressage (or what some people call ‘ dancing horses’.
The English weather, which is notoriously changeable, behaved itself immaculately up to this point in the Games. It only needs to maintain this for a couple more days to have been the most perfect weather covering the whole fortnight.
On Sunday next we will have the Closing Ceremony. I wonder how much the Olympic Development Team have dedicated to this Ceremony. I hope that our Opening Ceremony together with our success in the Games itself would speak for itself and we can get away with a short spectacular finish..
Of course, we must not forget the Para-Olympics which I believe immediately follow on these Games. I can understand why the organising committee may had been forced into making this decision but cannot help feeling that we are suffering from a surfeit of Olympics and it may take a little while to bolster our enthusiasm for another fortnight of the same, As much as anything, I think, the whole country will sigh in relief that these Games have passed without incident. Behind-the-scenes the security arrangements must have required immaculate planning and it appears that the effort put into this aspect of the planning, has paid off. The substitution of 3500 troops for the shortfall from the security company, who won the award (at a cost of £53 million), has achieved a double purpose.
First all, the effect of the fraternisation of the public with our troops, who are currently engaged in this futile war, will have raised the public interest and perhaps have encouraged some people, who were sceptical about our presence in this arena, to think again.
Secondly, there should be a substantial saving in cost or will this be another example of an incompetent civil servant negotiating a contract full of holes that allow the contractor to slip through unscathed.
I mentioned earlier how impressed I had been at the enthusiasm whipped up around these Games. We had our own personal demonstration of this yesterday when, our granddaughter, little Lara, telephoned Granny to tell her all about her visit to watch the women team GB, play hockey. Lara was terribly excited about the whole affair despite never having seen a game of hockey in her life you realise that the event was something rather special and in no time at all was shouting and screaming for the British team. So, here is a little girl who will probably remember these Olympic Games 60 or 70 years hence. That in itself, is a wonderful personal legacy of this staggering stravaganza..
8 August 2012
No more gold medals today as the Games draw to an end, we did however increase our number of silver medals to 13 as indeed we also did with our bronze medals. There is of course a chance that we will pick up more medals in these dying days but the likelihood of our being displaced from third position in the medal league-compared with 4th. in Beijing-we are told, is remote. So, well done Team GB-an inspiring result
In terms of involvement with the Games themselves, leaving aside the hundreds or thousands of volunteers of bag carriers or just being available to help a particular team over any local difficulties, I think my family was fairly representative. In other words, the young’ balloted for and successfully obtained tickets for three or four events, the rest was on television. Full marks to the BBC for the quality of their presentation.
Chloe and family obtained tickets for the hockey-semi-finals in which Team GB played Argentina in a fast moving exciting game which the visitors won by the narrowest of margins, 2-1. This physical exposure to an event would be sufficient for the children to recall for the rest of their lives, as there is nothing comparable with being there, for being swept along with the enthusiasm of the surrounding crowd.
There has been much discussion about the’ legacy’ from these Games and this, physical exposure, I suggest, is one of them. I remember being taken to a baseball match in the USA. I think it was a final of some sort in the famous Rose Bowl Arena. I was merely visiting on a business project and my hosts had obtained the ticket for me as good hosts should. I knew very little about the rules of baseball and nothing about the two competing teams.
Yet, very soon I found myself standing cheering myself hoarse with the rest of the surrounding supporters of one team or another. The point being that I was absolutely swept away by the drama of the occasion and indeed will have never forgotten the rise in my adrenaline and, no doubt, in my heartbeat, as my excitement level rose in keeping with my hosts when the team they were supporting did something challenging to their opponents.
So, there is the legacy of physical attendance at an event or other by an individual but far more important is the effect it might have on the population of a particular town or region. The Games are deliberately designed to be partisan. No matter how famous is the participant, all that matters, in this particular event, is as representative of his/her country.
There is, no doubt, that, in watching the effect of these Games on thousands of youngsters is quite dramatic. The little seven, eight, nine years seriously believe that they too can become champions of the world and receive their own gold medal. This raises the level of enthusiasm very quickly from the masses who decide that they are going to be the best shot putter in the world or 10,000 m runner, or other. Unless the infrastructure to follow through on this enthusiasm, maintain its height long enough for this new enthusiast to be swept along, is in place, this new passion will quickly pass. So, in terms of legacy of inspiring future generations to dedicate, day by day, the hard work of practice and exercise to build up this new enthusiast’s strength, six months or so later I suspect that the flame of enthusiasm will have all but burnt out.
That leaves me with the all abiding sense of achievement – there were as many stories of the hardship suffered by someone who had by dint of personal sacrifice and hard work found themselves in the Olympic arena. It was, I believe, these individual stories that will inspire a generation of youngsters, the small residue of which will go on to compete for this country.
Finally, I suggest, that the whole affair, coming at a time of extreme global financial uncertainty, will have affected most people in this country with a realistic sense of being able to get through this present financial crisis and the sheer believe that we can make it will be sufficient, in itself, to get through the crisis, safely and securely.
‘ What the mind of Man can conceive, and believe, Man can achieve’.