London fans finally warming up to Games

Reporter's Log | Cecily Liu

Sitting among tens of thousands of Britons to watch the men's gymnastics team finals on Wednesday was an ecstatic experience.

Claps and cheers for three hours straight almost deafened me .

And crowds waving the Union Jack flag as they walked out of the O2 arena made my heart jump with a feeling of festivity.

"Is this the same crowd that moaned and whined about the Olympics just a few weeks earlier?" I asked myself.

I still vividly remember the experience of talking to grumpy grandmothers, who dislike crowds, bankers going on holiday to escape the "mess" and disgruntled commuters wishing the Games were over.

Worse still, the recent news that security contractor 4GS was unable to find enough troops, that the newly opened Emirates Cable Car left tourists suspended in the air for 40 minutes and that transport workers were threatening strikes cast a shadow over the big party.

That's not to mention the unexplained bad weather this year, which some say are creating "the world's wettest Olympics".

But one week into the Games, the transport networks have few delays, lines to get into venues aren't too long and the weather has improved. So, when the music plays, Britons are suddenly waking up to the fact that the Olympics only last for three weeks - so better get on with it.

"This is our third and possibly our last in my lifetime," the man sitting next to me said.

In his eyes, I saw genuine happiness behind an appearance of calmness.

Indeed, Britons are conservative about emotions, as sophistication and composure are virtues of ladies and gentlemen that date back a long time.

Although things have somewhat changed in today's Britain, one only needs to see the way Britons criticize Americans' constant enthusiasm as "shallow and vulgar" to understand history's influence.

Hence, while the Americans adhere to Barack Obama's slogan "Yes we can", the Britons enjoy the subtle wit of Sir Humphrey Appleby in the BBC sequel Yes, Prime Minister.

Added to this historic difference is that Britons generally have a habit of worrying about things going wrong, so they reduce their expectations to prevent potential embarrassment.

But when the Olympics finally arrived and exceeded their expectations, they no longer had time to worry.

Thousands of locals gathered to watch the Games on big screens inside the Olympic Park, Hyde Park, Victoria Park and other dedicated venues.

And when the Olympic road cycling took place last weekend, spectators crowded both sides of the track, from Central London to Surrey, to cheer for their stars.

Indeed, calmness does not equate to insufficiency. While Beijing's Olympics showcased China's best treasures in an extravagant way, London presents an organized and orderly Game in a human fashion.

In this sense, Boris Johnson's vision for London's Olympics to be "understated but confident" is very British.

Like Beijing 2008, I feel certain London 2012 will leave a firm mark in Olympic history.

Contact the writer at cecily.liu@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 08/02/2012 page11)