![]() are emotional,” marvelled the Italians, traditional champions in the heart-on-sleeve stakes. When it comes to parties, festivals and ceremonies, no one can match the British. Recalling prophecies of doom, about terror and traffic and Londoners’ deep reserves of cynicism and, well, reserve, Italy’s Corriere della Sera declared: “Thank you, London - A lesson to the pessimists. More importantly, though, it gave Britain - and Britishness - a reputational boost, at home and abroad, at a time when few who are younger than the 86-year-old Queen can recall its days of imperial glory 2012 has showcased a new, modern London as a tolerant, welcoming and multicultural city that simply works.īritain delivered or, as otherwise rather beleaguered Prime Minister David Cameron put it on Sunday: “We showed the world what we’re made of we reminded ourselves of what we could do.” 2 spot after dominating its home Games in Beijing four years ago. ![]() The government, citing figures it knows are all but unmeasurable, says it will even deliver monetary benefits, to the tune of some $20 billion, though others are sceptical.Īs for sport, the cash delivered a gold rush of medals for the somewhat startled hosts - placing them third, their best result since 1920, if well behind the table-topping United States and China, which returned to the No. It proved a timely shot in the arm, spiritually if not financially, for a bruised nation struggling with an economic recession. Instead, British Olympics organisers spent that sum - nine billion pounds - to create a magical and ambitious wonderland of London venues, where fans were thrilled across a capital whose grime and grandeur alike got a makeover of global glamour. ![]() You might even pay Britons’ old age state pensions, if only for a month. ![]() ![]() You could buy all of the Queen’s castles, as well as all the rolling royal estates that stretch across her island realm, and still have some cash left over. Britain's Jessica Ennis reacts after she won her women's heptathlon 800m heat at the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in this Augfile photo. ![]()
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