A message from the British High Commissioner, HE Paul Madden
With all the Olympic and Paralympic athletes now back in Australia from what has been a long and wonderful summer of sport in London, I was reflecting on what the incredibly successful Games tell us about modern Britain.
Whichever city is hosting the Games becomes the centre of the world for a few weeks. But, even with the Olympics now moved on, London remains one of the most important global hubs for things like financial services, media and creativity. And it is one of the world’s most cosmopolitan cities: 50 of the teams competing had a support base of over 10,000 of their citizens living in Britain.
The Games venues were a fantastic mix of old and new from the spectacular new stadium and aquatic centre to the iconic Lords and Wimbledon. And that dynamic juxtaposition is part of the attraction of modern Britain. Universities like Oxford and Cambridge are 800 years old, and have some beautiful, ancient buildings to prove it, but they are conducting some of the most cutting-edge research in the world.
The quirky creativity of the Opening Ceremony was a reminder of the extraordinary strengths of the UK’s creative sector, from music, TV and digital media to the innovation taking place in the university sectors (with four of the world’s top ten universities).
Our medal success in both Olympics and Paralympics was a triumph. But it didn’t just happen by accident. Certainly the roar of the home crowd helped. But the medals came from years of hard work and training, and detailed attention to incremental improvements across many aspects of performance. That’s rather like the supply side improvements the British government is currently embarked on to promote competitiveness and growth: lowering corporate taxes, reducing regulatory burdens and investing in infrastructure like transport and energy.
The UK’s values shone through both Games. The extraordinary opening ceremony with its mix of humour and history (from the industrial revolution to the national health service). The inclusivity of the Paralympics, in the place where the Paralympic movement began. The successful delivery of the greenest games ever, with low carbon construction and operation techniques. The quiet professionalism of all those who worked to ensure the safety of the Games. And the huge number of volunteers who could be seen everywhere.
And everyone I’ve met who was there has told me what a wonderful, friendly welcome they received. That’s why millions of tourists, students and investors flock to Britain every year.
I think most Brits feel pretty proud of the show our country put on this summer. I suppose it shouldn’t be a surprise that the world’s sixth largest economy can put on a great event on time and on budget. But with the mood flat across Europe, the Games worked wonders to restore a sense of confidence and optimism.
3 comments
Comment by Steyer Moore posted on
Very interesting article would agree with most of it ,but it was not all it was hyped to be in some quarters, i.e Rental markets suffered a bit.
Comment by Steyer Moore posted on
Very interesting article would agree with most of it ,but it was not all it was hyped to be in some quarters, i.e Rental markets suffered a bit.
Comment by Steyer Moore posted on
Very interesting article would agree with most of it ,but it was not all it was hyped to be in some quarters, i.e Rental markets suffered a bit.