...the Olympic spirit really does exist....

So it's over and I am devastated. What am I going to do now? The evenings won't be the same with normal television. The vibrancy, excitement and buzz of the games is over. Normal life resumes and the deep funk that comes from the highs of emotions is upon us.
It has been amazing. I was thinking this morning that we have been intent on calling ourselves English, a reaction to the push and pull of UK life, the devolution of Wales and Scotland and our search to find our national identity outside of the UK but I have spent the last two weeks proud to be British.
Britain is a wonderful ideal and national identity within that framework can only be positive so long as we recognise ourselves as British as well.
So, my highlights now that it is done and dusted, I won't mention every medalist, just the standout occassions. All the rowing team, all of them heroes (Katherine Grainger and Anna Watkins).
All the cyclists for amazing performances (Brad Wiggins, Laura Trott and Jason Kenny). The emotional goodbyes to our cycling heroes, Sir Chris Hoy and Victoria Pendleton. There is the slightest hint that Chris Hoy may be tempted by another Olympics, let us hope!
The World's greatest Olympic sailor, Ben Ainsley, incredible achievements and his fight back to win was beyond belief, a nail biter.
Greg Rutherford in the long jump, unexpected but amazingly welcome, and a local boy to me.
Jess Ennis had so many hopes on her, the pressure must have been crushing. We have seen some of our athletes falter under this pressure but she rose to it and made a nation proud.
Mo Farah was another poster boy and favourite of these Games and he delivered, creating two of the favourite moments for the press and commentators across the UK. A brave and self assured couple of runs. He is running my current distances and I have to say that looking at the times, his titles are safe from me this year.
Tom Daly had a rough ride coming into these games, and he had some scary moments, scraping into the final. He fought hard and produced some phenomenal dives, in any other competition he would have won gold but David Boudia was simply out of this World. There are moments in time when people are invincible, I think David Boudia could not have been beaten on that day by anyone ever, he dominated the final.
Finally for me the Triathlon. The UK had two brothers entered and they came in first and third. What an amazing achievement for that family.

I didn't just watch the UK win, I watched David Rudisha win the 800 metres. What an incredible athlete, such a smooth style of running, effortless, I can see why Seb Coe had been singing his praises.
I watched the men's marathon, a fantastic run by Stephen Kiprotich of Uganda. That was an Olympic moment, an athlete that no-one expected to win, from a nation that hasn't won a medal in 40 years, takes on the Kenyan athletes and wins at their distance. His welcome home must be that of a conquering hero.

I watched large nations crushed by island states, heart and soul poured into tired limbs in that effort for more, proud winners and gracious losers and an effort on the part of the authorities to keep the Olympic spirit alive, punishing cheats and reviewing scores and bouts to ensure that fairness prevails. I saw the curse of the Olympics plague the Brazil football team in the their loss to Mexico and in that match, possibly the finest referee'd match I have ever seen. I saw favourites beaten by younger athletes and experience triumph over youth. In this gladiatorial arena we saw the triumph of hope and spirit. Long may the future hold these keys.
It is amazing that the Olympic spirit really does exist, despite the cyncism and pace of modern life, the Olympic spirit is, I am proud to report, alive and well and living in the UK at this moment in time.
Roll on two weeks until the Paralympics start and I can do this all over again!