As we approach the end of the summer season here at Excel English, we are taking the time to think about the summer of 2012 – referred to by the Mayor of London as a “Summer like no other.”
He was certainly right. Beginning with the celebrations for Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee in June, and continuing through the Olympic and Paralympic Games and events to celebrate the Cultural Olympiad, London has never hosted so many spectacular events in one summer.
So how has London coped? Some cynical Londoners (there are many of them) felt that London simply would not cope with so many visitors, so many events, with so much security needed and so many people already living and working here.
Others were confident that, as last year’s Royal Wedding between Prince William and Catherine Middleton proved, London loves to put on a show – and that we are good at doing things right when the world is watching.
I think that majority of us just hoped for the best. An admirable British trait perfectly illustrated by the Monty Python song “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life” – which coincidentally (or maybe not so coincidentally!) featured in the Olympic Closing Ceremony. Although we might not always get things right, a positive attitude is the key to success.
So who was right? I don’t think that it is for those of us who live and work here in London to decide. We know that all the planned events took place in a great atmosphere at venues which looked fantastic. We know that London’s public transport system (mostly) behaved itself and carried our guests around the city quickly and safely. We even had a break from the rain that our country is so famous for, so that medal winners could celebrate in beautiful sunshine.
But will our international guests look back on London 2012 as something they will remember for the rest of their lives? Will they tell their friends and family to come to London – the greatest city on earth – to see it and enjoy it for themselves? Only time will tell – but we have had a great summer!
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