………and it all kicks off, in the nicest possible way of course!

An interesting moment on the return flight though when the pilot announced that he was flying over the Olympic Stadium and that we should all move to the right hand side of the plane to see it. No sooner said than done and, despite the illuminated ‘fasten your seat belt signs’, we all got very up close and personal with a bunch of complete strangers in order to catch a glimpse of the stadium lit up for the evening’s events.

After missing a bit of the opening ceremony and the first week of action, I have been spending some time catching up on what’s been going on in our Olympics. And I have to say that the track and field events are really my thing, although I have rejoiced, and will continue to do so in all of our achievements. And yesterday was nothing short of awesome – not a word I use lightly!! I think even the BBC commentators ran out of superlatives for what we witnessed on the presciently named ‘Super’ Saturday.  

The super human efforts of a young woman who can master 7 very different events, and execute each of them with a calm confidence that belies her age, under the weight of such huge national expectation – Jessica Ennis is surely an inspiration to all of us not only because of her accomplishments in the last couple of days, but because the last 4 years have been a tough road back from the injury that precluded her from Beijing. The strength of mind, character and sheer determination to drive towards her goal is breath-taking!

I also later found myself speechless (not a regular occurrence) watching Mo Farah win the 10000 metre final with composure and grace. And my admiration for him, both as an athlete and as a man, is amplified after reading about his life when he arrived in this country as a young child with his parents from Somalia.

But I warn you that my allegiance for Team GB will falter tonight when another awesome (there’s that word again!) athlete steps on to the track to compete in the Men’s 100m final. His victory is by no means guaranteed, but I have marvelled at his power, strength, speed and natural genius for 4 years, and I won’t abandon my support for him now. Mr Usain Bolt is his name and he is yet another athlete from the prodigious Jamaican running fraternity.

To be continued………but, in the meantime, London 2012, Team GB and Usain Bolt I salute you