A different Olympics

It couldnt have been easy for London to prepare for the Olympics. Heres a city with a skyline the world recognises,one that is littered with frequently filmed iconic images. When even the street-corner seems to evoke a sense of familiarity in strangers,it can be a steep challenge to surprise the visitor,much less stun her the way Beijing was able to do four years ago. That is why,perhaps,London opted for the less-travelled,or the never-travelled,organisational road. The search for the spectacular was called off,as Games organisers discovered the sober and the sensible.

Instead of outsmarting and out-sizing Beijings opulent Birds Nest,therefore,London has opted for a smaller and lighter main stadium that will be shrunk further after the Games. The diet version will then be leased out to a local football club. Other venues too havent been freshly commissioned for the Games. The boxing complex happens to be at an exhibition centre where new businesses are displayed every week. As for the hockey arena,it is scheduled to disappear after the closing ceremony. The archers are temporary tenants at the home of cricket,Lords. Some of the makeshift stadiums have such amazing portability that,in case Brazil agrees,they can even be dismantled,bubble-wrapped and shipped for use at Rio 2016. It makes sense. When your football stadiums inspire awe and wonder in English Premier League-addicts around the world for the most part of the year and the blades of grass at a tennis venue are referred to as haloed turf,building new iconic sporting arenas could be a waste of resources.

Most importantly,as the third-time Olympics host,London doesnt appear to suffer from the anxieties of a debutante. Londoners arent bending backwards or hastily pushing the dirt under the carpet to please or impress the guests. Unlike Beijing,for London the Games arent an inspection of sorts. A lot less rides on the Games in 2012 as compared to 2008. As one of the worlds most visited cities,London will continue to attract tourists,investors and immigrants regardless of the success of the Games. Thats the reason Londoners arent overly bothered by the oft-asked question: Can they match the Beijing show? A less regimental attitude may result in the occasional glitch but London can be expected to come up with some unforgettable sparks that make the mundane look magnificent. And maybe,the fortnight ahead will give the world a new template for the once-extravagant Games.