I’ve watched more sport this weekend in one go than I think
I ever have in my life. Athletics,
gymnastics, swimming, tennis, you name it and I’ve probably watched it.
I’ve never really been a sports fan apart from Formula
One. Suddenly this weekend I found
myself cheering people on in sports I had never seen before, talking tactics on
the 100m sprint and half way through the Murray/Federer match looking up tennis
rules so I could understand what was going on!
By the end of the weekend “God Save the Queen” was practically running
through my veins and I was more proud to be British than I ever have been.
You can say what you want about Great Britain. Yes, we are usually a nation of moaners. We expect the worst to happen and presume
that it will. We are self deprecating
and constantly pick ourselves to pieces.
We are allowed to do this. It’s
our right, we live here. But God help
someone on the outside who tries to take us down.
It is exactly one year since the riots occurred and the
spirit the supporters have shown in Olympic games really shows how far we have
come since then. I think that the riots
happening shocked all of us and made us wonder just how fractured as a nation
we had truly become. The clean up
organised afterwards was the first sign for me that people were standing
together and refusing to let us fall apart.
One thing Great Britain is truly good at, although it has
been some time since it has happened, is joining together as one. There can be no better example of this than
when Jessica Ennis was in the final stage of the Heptathlon running in the
800m. I have never in my life seen,
heard or felt anything like what happened that night. The roar of the stadium which grew and grew,
the overwhelming feeling of pride and support for one of our own, it was truly
unbelievable and something I don’t think I will ever forget.
You will always have the idiots of course, like Tom Daley’s
Twitter troll and the Daily Mail (no explanation needed is there?). Overwhelming though this weekend our sports
men and women and the supporters both in the stadium and watching at home have stood together as a
nation and reminded us that Great Britain truly is great. We need to remember this feeling and carry
it on. Be proud to be British.
I concur - earlier this evening you could have found me bouncing up and down on my sofa shouting "Go, Mo, go"!
ReplyDeleteI don't usually watch any sport although I used to be keen on watching Olympic track and field.
I was only planning to watch the opening and closing ceremonies but I've been drawn in by the whole thing. Like you I've watched sports that I would never imagine I'd be interested in - rowing fours anyone? - and enjoyed every exciting minute.
Not only does it make me proud to be British - especially considering the contrast with the riots a year ago - but also it is heartwarming to see that the spirit of sportsmanshop can bring so many nations together in honest and healthy competiton.