In fact, almost as soon as Danny Boyle’s wonderful opening ceremony began, just 12 short days ago, the entire country has been united in a way we’ve not seen for some time.
Whether it’s the tens of thousands of fans in Olympic venues roaring through the national anthem after another British gold, the ten deep crowds who have lined the streets of the South East to grab a glimpse of cyclists and marathon runners as they hurtle by or the rest of us screaming at the television at home, the entire country has come together in an incredible way.
Of course football is our national sport, it always will be, but that’s something that divides the country rather than unites it, with the summer tournaments rarely featuring a home nations representative other than England.
Even then it’s obvious that a quarter-final penalty shoot-out is about as good as it’ll get, before the players head home with their overpaid tails between their underachieving legs.
The list of medal winners takes in every corner of the country, each of them dedicated to their respective sports and genuinely the best in the world.
Scotland’s Chris Hoy became the most decorated British Olympian of all time, England’s Jessica Ennis took glory in the women’s heptathlon, Welshman Geraint Thomas and his team won gold the men’s pursuit in the Velodrome while Northern Irish duo Richard and Peter Chambers helped the rowing team win silver in the lightweight men’s fours.
The Olympics has also been far from the London-centric event that people predicted. Events have taken place across our isles, from the sailing on the south coast in Weymouth to the football in the south of Glasgow, via Cardiff and several English cities.
Every single town, no matter how small, which has produced a gold medal winner has had one of its post boxes painted gold by the Royal Mail to celebrate. Stamps which feature each winner are being created and will no doubt be winging their way around the country within days.
Doubts about the transport system and potential security chaos at venues proved completely unfounded. The only problem is, with 22 gold medals and counting, we’re probably going to need to buy more paint.
