All over now

So the Olympics concludes. I had recorded the closing ceremony to watch later - and later turned out to be last night. Found myself squirming with embarrassment when the London 'entertainment' began. Jimmy Page, David Beckham, a little girl via Blue Peter and a double decker bus - what were they thinking? And as for the dancers in the bus queue - when, oh, when will the UK move on from tireless references to the 1960s? But then we should remember that behind the naff dancers lurk the shady and controlling event organisers. Organisers who, for example, kept a tight rein on the 'blog' they set up to supposedly take post-launch feedback on the London Olympic logo that apparently caused people to have seizures. The fact that they only allowed 'nice' comments to appear about the logo speaks volumes. People may have thought that China had an iron grip on publicity surrounding the 2008 Olympics - just watch as the grip tightens around the London 2012 games.

My only other observation concerns Boris Johnson. I am a big fan of Boris - when he is at work as a journalist. He is a superb writer and commentator and I have enjoyed his observations for many years. But I still have doubts - serious doubts - as to his capability as a politician and Mayor of London at that. As he twirled the Olympic flag and got very excited waving to the crowd, I couldn't help but be reminded of another famous Mayor, also called Boris. As Boris Johnson strolled down the red carpet with the other officials, the person he reminded me of most was Boris Yeltsin, erstwhile Mayor of Moscow if my memory serves me correctly. Hmm. Wonder how it will turn out for London's Boris in the end. Can't say I am too hopeful. Still, he can always go back to journalism and no doubt he will have some good stories to tell when he does. I just worry about what will happen to London, and the City's reputation, in the interim.