What does London need to do to be remembered as a great Olympic
Games? One thing that is guaranteed is the big performances, those
set-pieces that inspire everybody. We are all anticipating these big
events, whether it is Usain Bolt on the track or Michael Phelps in the
pool. The Olympics always gives us these stories and London will surely
give us some new heroes, some new dramas. That is what competing at the
Olympics is about: you have to do it on the day; history means nothing.
I have been to 10 Olympics and every one of them has made for a compelling story. But the Games is not just about the athletes. When you are competing you miss the real flavour of the Games because you are completely engaged in your competition. It is all about training, protecting yourself so you do not get ill, keeping your mental boundaries intact. Essentially you are trying to keep yourself isolated so you do not experience it in anything like the way the everyday fan does. You do not understand the totality of the event, the magnitude of it.
For me, that only hit home when I went to the Barcelona Games in 1992. I was working for the athletes' commission so I had meetings with the International Olympic Committee every day. The rest of the time, though, I was in the city and in the different venues. I saw the Games from a completely different point of view. I experienced the same thing in Sydney. It is what goes on in the streets, in the cafes, bars and restaurants - that's what really makes the Olympics what it is.
That is why I think London will be such a great host. This is one of the major cities of the world and what the Games are about is putting the city forward. It is not just about having a venue for sporting events - it is about the culture, the famous sights, the places to go.
For London to be a great Games the whole city will have to get involved. People who have not got tickets will have lots of opportunity to get involved, even if it is just watching it on TV in a pub with friends.
It all contributes to the atmosphere in the city. It was what makes it special.
To this end it has made a big difference that the weather has changed. I was here three weeks ago and it was wet and freezing - I had come from 105 degrees in the States to 60 degrees in London. Fortunately it has changed to the sunshine we have seen over the last few days - the good weather facilitates everything.
A great Games also needs the support of the home crowd. From what I have seen of the sports fans in London that is not going to be a problem. I was in the Westfield shopping mall last week and it was kind of quiet, just the usual shoppers. Then, on Monday, I was there for the opening ceremony rehearsal, and there was just this massive flow of people streaming in. Suddenly there was this party atmosphere - the Games were starting. People are starting to very much get into it, taking it to a different level.
A decisive factor in making this Games great will be the performance of the British athletes. You need to give the home crowd something to celebrate. The statistics show that competitors improve in front of a home crowd. In Korea they doubled their medal output, in Australia they increased by a third.
I am sure the support of the crowd will have a positive effect on the British athletes. It becomes a virtuous circle: the better the performances the more the crowd get behind the athletes and the more the athletes become inspired.
It can make unexpected things happen. You will definitely have some surprises, some British athletes who will succeed despite the fact that they have not been followed much in the media in the build-up. Those are the exciting moments for me, watching the competitor coming from nowhere to make their own piece of history.
I have been to 10 Olympics and every one of them has made for a compelling story. But the Games is not just about the athletes. When you are competing you miss the real flavour of the Games because you are completely engaged in your competition. It is all about training, protecting yourself so you do not get ill, keeping your mental boundaries intact. Essentially you are trying to keep yourself isolated so you do not experience it in anything like the way the everyday fan does. You do not understand the totality of the event, the magnitude of it.
For me, that only hit home when I went to the Barcelona Games in 1992. I was working for the athletes' commission so I had meetings with the International Olympic Committee every day. The rest of the time, though, I was in the city and in the different venues. I saw the Games from a completely different point of view. I experienced the same thing in Sydney. It is what goes on in the streets, in the cafes, bars and restaurants - that's what really makes the Olympics what it is.
That is why I think London will be such a great host. This is one of the major cities of the world and what the Games are about is putting the city forward. It is not just about having a venue for sporting events - it is about the culture, the famous sights, the places to go.
For London to be a great Games the whole city will have to get involved. People who have not got tickets will have lots of opportunity to get involved, even if it is just watching it on TV in a pub with friends.
It all contributes to the atmosphere in the city. It was what makes it special.
To this end it has made a big difference that the weather has changed. I was here three weeks ago and it was wet and freezing - I had come from 105 degrees in the States to 60 degrees in London. Fortunately it has changed to the sunshine we have seen over the last few days - the good weather facilitates everything.
A great Games also needs the support of the home crowd. From what I have seen of the sports fans in London that is not going to be a problem. I was in the Westfield shopping mall last week and it was kind of quiet, just the usual shoppers. Then, on Monday, I was there for the opening ceremony rehearsal, and there was just this massive flow of people streaming in. Suddenly there was this party atmosphere - the Games were starting. People are starting to very much get into it, taking it to a different level.
A decisive factor in making this Games great will be the performance of the British athletes. You need to give the home crowd something to celebrate. The statistics show that competitors improve in front of a home crowd. In Korea they doubled their medal output, in Australia they increased by a third.
I am sure the support of the crowd will have a positive effect on the British athletes. It becomes a virtuous circle: the better the performances the more the crowd get behind the athletes and the more the athletes become inspired.
It can make unexpected things happen. You will definitely have some surprises, some British athletes who will succeed despite the fact that they have not been followed much in the media in the build-up. Those are the exciting moments for me, watching the competitor coming from nowhere to make their own piece of history.
