In the midst of European financial meltdown
and petty national party politics the chattering classes in the UK are focussed
on the parlous state of the economy and the usual Westminster intrigue. In
doing so, they are missing something incredibly significant that is going on
every day in this country at the moment. I am not talking about Euro 2012 or
the Leveson Enquiry; I am talking about the Olympic Torch Relay that is
currently making its way around the UK ahead of the 2012 Olympics in July.
Billed as 70 Days, 8,000 runners, 8,000
miles this meticulously organised journey around the whole country is far more
than a means of conveying a flame to the Olympic Stadium in London for the
opening ceremony. It is about what makes this country great and what gives me
hope for the future, despite all the economic and political doom and gloom.
For anyone watching the live stream of the
relay, and it does become addictive viewing so be warned, it not only provides
an amazing social history of the UK in 2012 (I hope someone is using it to
record this country at this point in its history for posterity), but it shows
the wonderful community spirit that still exists in these islands.
No matter what the weather, and this summer
has been one of the wettest on record so far, thousands upon thousands of
people have lined the streets to watch the torch pass through their
communities. Flags have been waved, children have cheered, and people have
smiled and felt a part of this event in a way that the doubters would never
have believed. They may not all be supporters of the Olympics but they are
supporters of their local towns and villages and have taken this opportunity to
show that to the world.
There is a sense of pride in the air that I
haven’t felt for some time. It has been helped by the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee
of course, but the main driver is the Torch Relay which began on May 19th and
which has so far snaked its way around South West England, Wales, parts of
North West England, Northern Ireland and Scotland, and is currently heading for
my home town of Newcastle upon Tyne on its journey South. For some reason, this
relay has struck a chord with the public who are quietly supporting it in huge numbers.
Credit must go to the organisers who have
battled floods and mechanical breakdown to ensure that the timetable has
largely been adhered to, to the police who have joined in the spirit of the
occasion with such a light touch, and to the torch bearers who have evidently
enjoyed their moment of recognition for good deeds well done. But the real
stars of the show are the general public whose orderliness and enthusiasm has
shone out brilliantly. It is these people who will ensure the future of this
country, they just need a cause that means something to them.
For us to emerge from our current economic problems
it will take leadership that is relevant to the people who live in the villages
and towns and cities of this country, not just to the self serving needs of
politicians. It would be very sad in future years to look back on 2012 and see
footage of this amazing torch relay and remember it only as a forerunner to the
Olympic Games and not as the beacon that relit our ailing economy. I believe the
opportunity to spark that recovery is there now and the people will flock to
support it too.
Does anyone in a position of power and authority have the nous to
recognise this opportunity, the intuition to know how to capitalise on it and
the guts to actually make it happen? Only time will tell but I am not so sure.
