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I was not in favour of the Olympics coming to London.  The UK, sure, but not London.  In 2005 we were all being urged to "back the bid" but I was one of the many sceptics who thought that it was a Bad Idea.  On 6th July 2005 I, like many Londoners, just shrugged instead of rejoicing.

And then came 7th July 2005, and the games went from everyone's thoughts for quite a long time.

And then there were the years of preparation. Lots of my friends became involved, JJ is an assistant for one of Team GB's sports and Rock Chick and four other friends are"games makers". 

My "bah, humbug" about the games just kept increasing, especially last week when it took almost twice as long to get to work.  To add insult to injury, London buses started to play recordings of London's buffoon's mayor's voice reminding us to allow for travel disruption over the PA. And don't get me started on corporate sponsors or on tv advertising (especially this sponsor of the games and this wretched ad campaign).

Even when I knew that some of my colleagues were going to be in the opening ceremony I couldn't get properly enthused. And then two things happened in quick succession. First, I met the cousin of someone I vaguely know, who is a member of Team GB and just listening to how hard he had trained and how beside himself with joy he was at competing in London 2012 chipped a huge whole in my cynicism. Then I watched the opening ceremony and cried in a very un-British, uncynical way.

I may be easily led, but I've been completely converted (apart from the corporate sponsors but that's another story).  And, dammit, I'm proud of my city :-)