The world – back from Beijing

The Olympics are finished. And so the world wakes up from the dreamy state of stupor it has been under for the last 16 days. Productivity returns and normal programming resumes.

I think it’s fantastic that we still have an event that can bring the world together in a celebration of human achievement. Say what you will about this year’s hosts, but the achievements of the athletes will live longer in our memories than any political problems.

In fact it’s Olympic achievements that bring generations together. As Phelps touched the wall for his eight medal and became part of Olympics history, Gen Y’s shared this moment with those who saw (or more likely heard) Mark Spitz achieve a similar feat in 1972. 

I was browsing the International Olympics Committee website the other day. It’s a fantastic resource of information and history and really puts the Games into the perspective of human achievement – as opposed to the games as a pure ’spectacle’ –  which perhaps the last few Games have fallen a little guilty of.

Well worth a look.