Despite the Many Reasons I Should, I Don't Hate the Olympics

There are many reasons why I should hate the Olympics and Paralympics Games. For those of us who describe ourselves as Londoners, lane closures and heaving trains will send routine capital travel into chaos. The bulging city is about to get a whole lot fatter.

There are many reasons why I should hate the Olympics and Paralympics Games. For those of us who describe ourselves as Londoners, lane closures and heaving trains will send routine capital travel into chaos. The bulging city is about to get a whole lot fatter. In the interest of self-preservation I hope visitors stand to the right and avoid asking for directions before 9am.

Even those escaping the madness aren't safe. The Daybreak camera crews are no doubt already at Heathrow, primed and ready to pounce at the first sign of delays or lost baggage. All in all we're in for a jolly old time.

Despite all this I think London 2012 is a really great thing. Honestly. Yes, things may get a little chaotic. Television schedules and morning routines will be disrupted. Let's not even think about the public spending used to fund the event. Instead we should focus on the positives and kill the cynicism. Think of it simply. Hosting the Games is actually pretty cool.

My new found love (maybe a bit strong) for the Games began with the Channel 4 Paralympics trailer. If you've not watch it then I urge you to YouTube it now. Sport and particularly watching sport generally doesn't interest me. But the Channel 4 ad sent a little shiver down my spine. Aside from the amazing music, it shows what the Games should be about. Team work. Passion. Excitement. Determination. What's not to like? Yes we've spent a lot of money but at least it's going towards something great.

Along with the athletes featured in the Paralympics ad are a whole host of potential new role models. Maybe just for a while, we won't have to see holiday snaps of Tulisa or think about the TOWIE 'crew'. Great performers at the top their game like Rebecca Adlington and Tom Daly are already out there showing young people an alternative to the X Factor dream. I recently met 400m Gold medallist Christine Ohuruogu. What struck me about her is how totally normal yet extraordinary she is. I watched kids asking her questions about her rise to becoming a sports champion. They were in awe of her. Not because she's 'famous' but because her success is down to sheer hard work and determination. My fingers and toes are all crossed for her.

So what else makes London 2012 great and Lord Coe's pay check acceptable? I don't have the answers. In reality, I'll be as grumpy as the next Londoner over the coming weeks. But I will try my best to hold on to the positives. This is a once in a lifetime event. In my country. In my city. If nothing else I will be able to say I was there, part of it. If it means my journey to work takes a little longer or I can't race through the tube station in my normal 'London busy' fashion then so be it. At least we all have a valid excuse to be late for work over the next month.

Events like the Olympics and Paralympics give us something to talk about now and in the future. We don't forget moments like Sir Steve Redgrave winning his fifth Gold medal or Usain Bolt becoming the fastest man in the world. Hopefully a few more memories like these will be created this summer. It will be hard to top the memory of Will.I.Am tweeting in his white torch bearing tracksuit but I think it's possible. Cost, ticket scandals, security hassles - they are all important but they shouldn't cast a grey cloud over something that is essentially brilliant. Last year's Royal Wedding proved that. Speaking of which, the Games should guarantee us a few more sightings of the Duchess and Pippa Middleton. And for the ladies (and probably a few gentleman) there is David Beckham in a suit. Enough said.

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