Winter Olympics 2010: London must try to capture Vancouver Games magic

By Jacquelin Magnay Published: 6:46PM GMT 01 March 2010

Superb spectacle: The Vancouver Games" shutting rite put the topping on a smashing fortnight of Olympic movement Photo: EPA

What"s more, they kick the Americans in the ice hockey.

Commentators here are articulate about a change in attitude, a seismic change in the approach Canadians perspective themselves and their place in the world.

Team GB contingency "Own the Podium" similar to Canada did Canada goes wild after Olympic ice hockey bullion London"s difficult action to follow Austrian skiing goes downhill Coe warns athletes over vigour Sport on radio

Before these Games no one approaching that the complete British Columbia race would reserve for dual hours to buy a Canadian shirt or celebration so tough in the streets, that the authorities had to close ethanol stores at 4 in the afternoon.

But what does the rest of the universe think? Sure the ski cranky was a outrageous hit, Shaun "Flying Tomato" White a sensation, Britain"s new golden lady Amy Williams was dauntless and fast and Canada"s Joannie Rochette showed huge restraint underneath the complicated weight of pique following the remarkable genocide of her mother.

The subsequent Winter Games hosts Russia are confronting a opening crisis, the Australians are creeping up the winter award tally, focusing roughly to one side on the hip function universe in the freestyle elements. And Bode Miller edged out swim suit indication skier Lindsey Vonn for American airtime.

What will be the lasting images of the London 2012 Olympics? What will visitors have as their major sense when they lapse to their homeland.

Will it be the athletes who constraint the aptitude à la Cathy Freeman at the Sydney Olympics, Usain Bolt in Beijing, or will it be the success or differently of the ambience in that the Games are conducted?

Britain does resplendence and rite so well. Will that be a lasting memory? London organisers are formulation on carrying a little events in that Britain is world-leading such as triathlon or cycling for an early Games award hit. Seeing the initial Briton on the dais will certainly be a special time.

London 2012 authority Lord Coe talks about Britons being delayed burners in their impasse in the Games. But he expects that the unrestrained will some-more than compare what he has seen in Canada.

It is a big ask and Londoners competence not think they are utterly ready to enclose a Union Flag T-shirt to compare their Union Flag and hat down the streets of Mayfair.

But if a smidgen of the smiles, laughter, jubilant and cooperative tantalizing of the Olympic Canada crosses the Atlantic, Britain might find the own square of Olympic magic.