Farewell Beijing

Did you watch the amazing Olympics closing ceremony at the weekend?

Beforehand, when I read how London's 8 minute slot was to feature a double decker bus that turned into a hedge, I have to admit my heart sank. It did sound a bit, well, tacky compared to the phenomenal spectacle Beijing was planning.

Having watched it on Sunday night though, I really think we pulled it off. As the commentators said, London simply couldn't hope to match the impeccably choreographed, multi-billion pound show that the Chinese made look so easy.

But it was fun and quirky: Leona Lewis looked amazing (how nervous must she have been?) and it felt like it involved real people, compared to the Chinese dancers who looked like they'd been trained for that moment since birth.

Of course London 2012 won't be perfect. I suspect it'll be a bit like the handover party in The Mall: a few gaps, the odd technical glitch here and there - but overall a good, fun show that left people feeling happy and proud.

But I fear that the next four years will see the papers full of doom-mongers predicting a disaster in 2012. Will the transport cope? Will the stadia be finished? Why is it costing so much?

In fact, if the papers had their way, they'd probably make whinging an Olympic sport in 2012!

Yes, the Olympics will cost us a lot of money, and there will no doubt be some hitches over the next 4 years. But if Team GB can repeat (or even, dare I say, better) their amazing performance in Beijing, on home soil, won't it all be worth it?