WITH tonight’s Olympic opening ceremony, the curtain rises on the world’s greatest sporting spectacle.
And despite the glitches, the feat of bringing so many nations together in one place at one time must be celebrated.
I wish the Games well, while simultaneously hoping that the ‘legacy’, of which we have heard so much, materializes.
In South Dorset, we have a relief road, some low cost housing, new traffic lights, laser lights, upgraded broadband and, of course, a sailing academy.
I hope that further prosperity will follow and, talking of which, it’s perhaps worth noting the Games are costing over £9 billion to put on.
Dwell on that figure for a moment and then consider the government is planning to axe our search and rescue helicopter, which costs a paltry £5 million a year.
Surely, retaining this essential asset would be a legacy of real value, although it grieves me to even think like this.
But the fact is that when the glare of publicity fades, both our coastguard co-ordination centre and our helicopter will go.
For now, though, the sun has come out and athletes from around the world are about to compete on our sun-kissed waters.
Team GB’s sailors are well placed to win medals and we wish them well.
Where better to win Gold than in Weymouth and Portland.
As an aside, I was intrigued by one suggestion made to me recently by a Weymouth man.
Bearing in mind the every-growing cost of hosting the Games, he asked why the Olympics couldn’t return to Athens, with competing nations contributing to the upkeep of venues every four years.
Let’s face it, we’re applying austerity everywhere else; why not the Games?
I can’t see it happening myself and I’m sure that, for years to come, countries, some of whom can least afford it, will go on fighting to host this high profile event.
For now, though, let the Games begin.