The title of this post is based around a quote from the Disney Mary Poppins film. You may remember that before Mary arrives at the Banks' house to take over nannying duties and sort things out, the wind changes direction first.
This summer has felt a bit like that, except that instead of an umbrella-floating-nanny arriving to sort things out, the Olympics took on that role. But how can a mighty multi-nation sporting event be compared to a fictional nanny? Well, look at the state of the nation. One year before the Olympics we were down. Rock bottom. There were riots all around the country and we were depressed. We looked inwards. We thought that the Olympics would be a huge disaster, after all this was Britain. We don't do big, brash and world beating do we? And if we do, we don't talk about it. We're reserved, and prefer to sit in our armchairs drinking tea, complaining about the weather.
So, what changed the usual British outlook about ourselves?
Well, let's start with that most British of aspects. The weather. It's been awful from the start of the year. We've had so much rain and lack of sun that we were all developing rust tans rather than sun tans. With only a week to go until the Olympics began we were being flooded on a weekly basis. But then - as if the weather knew there was a major event taking place - it cleared up, and for the majority of the Olympics it's been lovely. Of course all the rain before hand has made all the flora green and lush and it looks beautiful on the TV screens when a camera takes a long shot of an event taking place. Just a few days of fair weather works wonders at perking up the nation.
Secondly the opening ceremony of the Olympics. Yes, we all knew it would be a disaster. It couldn't live up to the Beijing spectacular could it? It would be a complete flop, and Britain would be a laughing stock across the world. Unfortunately for the rest of the world, Danny Boyle read the rule book for how to present an opening ceremony, then he ripped it up and created a masterpiece. From the moment that HRH The Queen turned around to 007 and spoke the immortal words "Good evening Mr. Bond" before leaping out a helicopter to parachute into the Olympic Arena you knew that this was how an opening ceremony should be. With a potted history of our great nation, a dose of comedy, stonkingly good tunes blasting out, and the most well kept, inspiring (that word crops up lots when you think about these Olympics), and tear inducing Olympic Cauldron lighting ceremony EVER, Boyle pulled it off. He showed the best of modern Britain in truly unique way. It was, as Gary Lineker put it when the opening ceremony ended;
Bold, Bonkers, Brilliant...and British
Then there are the Olympic venues themselves. The Olympic park has been a hive of activity as expected with it's stunning buildings and arenas, but it's the locations beyond the gates of the park that have been the real eye openers. Tell me you didn't look at the Equestrian events at Greenwich Park and marvel at the historic backdrop, buildings and surroundings, or think that the beach Volleyball arena in Horse Guards Parade was stunning in it's setting. Then there were the cycling road races, and the marathon and triathlon courses winding their way through idyllic British countryside before passing by iconic buildings in London. How many other nations can say that the worlds best athletes have cycled / run past a Royal Residence, or travelled through historic archways and past world famous landmarks?
And that leads me to the next aspect - the support for athletes. The number of people who have stood on the side of the roads and cheered as a cyclist or runner has passed has been jaw dropping. At times ten-deep crowds have jostled to glimpse their heroes and shout and scream with delight. Inside the arenas it has been the same (aside from the appalling issue of empty corporate seats) with the genuine fan creating such noise that it becomes hard to hear the commentators and announcers. I've lost count of the number of times that a TeamGB member has praised the support from the fans and said it has spurred them on to greater feats that could not have been imagined...
The Great Britain team themselves have been unbelievable. The British Olympic Association labelled the chosen atheletes as #ourgreatestteam and urged the nation to get behind them. They did! and boy did it help. I've never seen so many Gold medals for Great Britain, and to see Great Britain sitting high and proud in third place in the medal tables is a sight to stare in disbelief at. The nation stands behind each and every one of our 541 chosen athletes, and every Gold medal they win raises the happiness factor further. These Olympians are inspiring children to want to repeat their achievements, and for the first time in a long time, there seems to be a palpable change in what is considered to be a Role Model. Stan Collymore recently tweeted;
FA/Prem/players take note! Football fans arent feeling any love from us as an industry! Need to learn from this Olympics.The truth.
and he's spot on. What is a role model? Someone who is paid a fortune, under performs and feels no shame about it, or someone who works hard over 4 years for one moment to shine, and if they *only* achieve a silver or bronze medal they apologise to the nation? I know who I would want a child to emulate.
But that isn't all. Another aspect has been our armed forces. When it was revealed that G4S had drastically underestimated the security job in hand and would not be ready in time, the British Armed Forces stepped in and did a fantastic job. They are the best in the world, respected by everyone and proud to serve their country and be part of the Games. It has been wonderful to see them sitting proudly in arenas, wearing their uniforms, and being applauded by the public for the support they have given the games.
And so to the last aspect of this Olympic Games that has changed our view of ourselves to the world. It has been the thousands of volunteeers who have made sure that these Games have worked. These [extra] ordinary members of the public, who have happily travelled to London for the duration of the games giving up their own time have been the lynchpin that has made these games run. From those who took part in the opening ceremony, through those who have been working in the 'backrooms' to make things run smoothly, to those ambassadors who have been out and about on the streets of London helping visiting fans and tourists, they have shown why we call it 'Great' Britain. The nation applauds each and every one of you, and thanks you for your contribution to London2012.
But none of these aspects are the most telling sign that something important has changed in the country. Oh no, that is something else. This image, in my opinion, sums up the greatest change in Great Britain as a result of these Great games.
Our flag, the Union Flag, has been reclaimed by the Great British public from the BNP and the EDL. It is once again the flag of our beautiful, multicultural, proud and special country. This is the biggest, and most important, change this year and long may it continue.
With these Games, Great Britain has shown the world that we are a diverse, proud (and sometimes bonkers) nation that has got lots to shout about. And you know what - we've realised this too and we are starting to shout about it ourselves.
Britain. Great Britain.