The Week in Focus: Olympics flame reignites London passion

The Week in Focus: Olympics flame reignites London passion
By admin


Before I’m accused of being biased, I’ll be up front. I am. Pure and simple.

But seriously, is there anyone out there who can genuinely say, with hand on heart, that Britain has not wowed everyone these past two weeks?

And I’m not talking about the 25 (at time of writing) gold medals that Team GB has snaffled at the Olympics.

I’m referring, of course, to how Britain has presented itself to the world.

From the quirky, imaginative and very British opening ceremony to, hopefully, the equally impressive closing of the 30th Olympiad this weekend, the nation has been showcased in a way that VisitBritain tourism officials could barely have dared dream about.

The venues around the country, and most strikingly in London, struck a chord and stirred hitherto dormant pride among even the most cynical Londoners I know. You can only assume an international audience would have been blown away by some of the images beamed across the globe.

Apart from the spectacle of a jumping Olympic Stadium and neighbouring venues in the Olympic Park, many other locations in London and surrounds have reminded us – reminded me – of just what a wonderful city it is.

I watched 24 crazy but tremendously courageous women swim for two hours in the Serpentine last night. It was not only the nature of their achievement that captivated me but Hyde Park itself, bathed in sunshine – yes, the sun does shine in Britain – and packed with spectators.

The equestrian at Greenwich Park, beach volleyball at Horse Guards Parade and rowing at Eton Dorney were also stand out venues while the cycling through rural lanes and towns, and the marathon which took us past so many London sights showcased Britain at its best.

Even our vandals caught the Olympic bug. A post box painted gold in the home city of Jessica Ennis to mark her Hepthalon achievements was defaced not with the usual four letter expletives, but with the words “Go Jess”.

The mildly terrifying mascot, Wenlock, he of the giant one-eye, even grew into an endearing character as the games wore on, even though his intense, unrelenting gaze continued to unnerve me.

Last summer, London was the scene of serious rioting when areas of the capital became no-go zones and “London burns” headlines circulated around the world. Not a great image as VisitBritain prepared to launch its pre-Olympic “you’re invited” marketing campaign.

The only flame burning this year has been the Olympic one, in a city that has embraced the Games with a fervour not many us were expecting. What a difference 12 months makes.

The run up to the Games was pockmarked with security issues, transport worries and – as is the norm at any major sporting event – stories of ticketing fiascos. But when the action started, seven years after London was awarded the games, Britain came to the party.

Traditionally, tourism has stagnated in host cities in the aftermath of major sporting events. But VisitBritain has been given a gilt-edged opportunity to buck that trend and capitalise on the extraordinary publicity generated by the Olympics.

Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

Latest News

  • Cruise

Silversea sets sail on its 2025 World Cruise

Experiential luxury and expedition travel brand, Silversea, has set sail on its 2025 World Cruise, Controtempo, taking guests to 59 destinations over 136 days. The cruise set sail from Tokyo on 13 January and arrives in New York on 29 May 2025. Guests will experience many of the most iconic cities and off-the-beaten-path gems in […]

  • Hotels

Dusit International announces two new hotels in the Philippines

Thailand hotel and property development company Dusit International has strengthened its presence in the Philippines with two new hotels in Mindanao, set to open in late 2029. The company, represented in the Philippines by Dusit Thani Philippines Inc., has signed hotel management agreements with IDC Prime. IDC Prime is a wholly owned subsidiary of Italpinas […]

  • Destinations
  • Hotels

Elite Havens adds luxury new villa to its portfolio

Elite Havens, a premier luxury villa rental and management provider, has added a new villa to its existing portfolio of over 250 villas now available for rent in Phuket, Thailand. The Surin Seaview Villa is a three-storey hillside retreat nestled on the hills of Phuket’s beautiful west coast and offers breathtaking views of the Andaman […]

  • Destinations
  • Events

Lunar New Year celebrations across Asia

As the Lunar New Year approaches, various destinations around Asia have announced the different celebrations they have lined up. Fire show, live band, instrumentalists, and bartenders flair show The Anam Group’s two beachfront resorts in Cam Ranh and Mui Ne will celebrate the most significant time in the Vietnamese calendar, Tet, with a broad spectrum […]

  • Conferences

The Australian Tourism Exchange heads to Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre from 27 April

The Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE) will be held at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre from 27 April to 1 May 2025. Tourism Australia requires all sellers attending the event to submit a front panel graphic with one image representing their business for marketing purposes at ATE25, while Destination NSW requires sellers to submit a […]

  • Appointments
  • News

New acting CEO of Destination NSW appointed

Karen Jones has commenced her role as Acting CEO of Destination NSW, taking the reins for an interim period of approximately six months. During this time, the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport will recruit for a permanent CEO. Jones brings over 27 years of leadership experience in state and local government. Most […]