Looking forward to 2012

For a sports nut like me it was quite a nice way of spending time, even if just a few of the events weren't exactly up my street.

I saw Usain Bolt (you get the impression his name rather decided his profession for him don't you?) smash sprinting world records while making himself a metaphorical cuppa, became addicted to the hypnotic back and forth of top level table tennis (don't call it ping pong) and tried desperately hard to share in the commentator's excitement when it came to sailing. And failed.

I rather enjoyed the modern pentathlon too. I was quite amused by the term 'modern', given three of the disciplines are pistol shooting, duelling and horse riding. I snapped on the TV unsure if I was watching a period drama or top class sport. All became clear the next day with the final two events; chimney sweeping and opium den endurance ...

Much as I joke about it, the Olympics is a truly great spectacle in the way it brings together a host of people with different talents and promotes sportsmanship and fair play (for the most part).

A shame then, as many people have pointed out, it's being held in a country which doesn't share quite the same ethos.

Plenty has been written about China's appalling human rights record and dictatorial leadership.

As an aside, there was this brilliant banner I saw being carried by a protestor: 'Would we have given the games to Nazi Germany?' Erm, yes, we did actually. Jesse Owens and 1936 ring any bells?

It has been a memorable Olympics though. Say what you like about a country run by unelected communists, at least it leads to good organisation.

Which really puts the pressure on London in 2012 doesn't it? You'd like to think a cradle of democracy like ours can put on a better show when the eyes of the world fall upon it.

However, and I do feel a bit guilty for saying it, I have my doubts when it comes to our forward planning as a nation. Millennium Dome, anybody?

At least people seem a bit more positive about the whole experience now though.

As the comedian Marcus Brigstocke has pointed out before, surely we must have been the only potential host nation in the world which needed to put up posters saying, 'Back the Games.

So I shall look forward to four years time, albeit nervously, and hope we have even more medal success.

I'll be 30 then, and probably past my physical peak. Perfect then for an assault on darts gold if we can get it included. It will be a British Olympics after all ...