Olympic fever

I don't think I've ever been gripped by an Olympic Games quite like this before.

I can't remember getting up at 7.30 on a weekend morning to watch the Athens games, or the ones in Sydney in 2000 (but, I was still a student that year, and nothing was going to get me out of bed early then... sometimes not even my lectures)

But I'm well and truly addicted to the events in Beijing 2008. Maybe it's because the Chinese have put on a real spectacle. Maybe it's the amazing display of global talent. Or maybe it's just sheer pride and excitement at a Team GB which is doing so unbelievably well (by our usual standards anyway) and exceeding all expectation.

That kind of sporting performance can't help but inspire in some way, shape or form.

Which is why I've ventured back to my local swimming pool. The swimming pool I joined in May and have used exactly 4 times since - the idea of an extra hour in bed always seemed to win the argument I had with me in our head every morning.

But that changed this week. The incredible performances of Rebecca Adlington, Michael Phelps et al made me reconsider my laziness.

Not that I think or hope I can match their power, speed, stamina or records. Of course not. But it did make me think "it might be quite fun..." which is something I never thought I'd hear myself say... or think.

So I went at the beginning of the week, and came away after half an hour rather tired and a bit weak-limbed, but also rather pleased with myself. The high stayed with me for the rest of the day.

I forced myself out of bed to go this morning too, and you know what ? It feels quite good.

And, if it inspires me who's a bit rubbish at sport, hates the gym and has a tendancy towards laziness, then just think what it will do for a host of sport-mad and talented youngsters (and not quite so young-sters) who, having seen what they've seen in Beijing, may well turn out to be the Team GB stars of 2012 and beyond.

Blog Update: 26th August 2008

It looks like I'm not alone. Tesco's reported a 135% increase in sales of swimming costumes and goggles during the Olympic fornight.

Horse-riding related products have also been boosted, along with bikes, and sports foods, supplements and drinks.

Maybe our reputation as a nation of couch potatoes is about to be lifted.