
And yet, so much has happened in that time! Dreams have come true, and hopes have been realised. Commitment, (some might call it addiction) to the desire to be the best of the best, has led to much pain, tears and exhaustion. Those who have medals strung about their necks will know in their hearts their lives will never be quite the same again. Those who walk away with only memories to hold, will hopefully in time, come to realise the important part they played in creating a spectacle that held the attention, respect and admiration of millions across our planet.
As with so much in this life, whether it was good or not so good always comes down to a point of view. There were those in floods of tears from the relief, happiness and joy at having won a medal - any medal - and there were those blissed-out at being able to perform in the stadium at all. And then there were others, who perhaps failed to qualify for their final, or who missed out on the gold by a few fragments of a second, and it was their tears of bitter disappointment, that had them crushed in despair. For some, even the silver medal is tainted with defeat.
Is it possible we bring about our own level of happiness?
I believe we do. If we set ourselves a goal we do not reach, it is only us who gets to feel the pain of disappointment - it is our judgment of ourselves that hurts so much. It is natural to feel unhappy after so much effort, but perhaps it is not so natural to allow it to consume us.
All the peoples of all the nations who came to London in 2012, came because they were 'good enough'.
When they go home, medal holders or not, I hope they will reflect on this truth, and come to remember their true worth.