The Olympics occupies a special place in my heart. That may mark me as an idealist or soft-hearted but I love the idea of global unity. I watched the Paris 2024 Olympic Opening Ceremony from the iconic location of The Scoop, the outdoor, sunken amphitheatre next to City Hall in London. It was a crowd of hundreds watching under the gaze of the skyline of the City of London and just across the river from the historic Tower of London and the iconic Tower Bridge.

In contradiction to what seems like a unanimous howl of discontent and negative reviews about the opening ceremony, I just wanted to say that I really liked it. Yes, perhaps to have this view is hokey and overly sentimental. I am aware of the issues plaguing the Olympics like doping and budget blowouts. I can see that the opening ceremony could have been better in parts but really, there was a lot that was spectacular and commendable. It was great! Well done Paris!