The Nagano Olympics were the first Games I truly remember getting into the spirit for. I still have my skiier’s bib from a themed birthday party, where I got this awesome glass.

The Olympics are so freaking cool! I can’t believe the 16 days are over; they passed so quickly. Like I said in my last post, I love the games. The events display an inspirational mix of athleticism, determination, grace and cooperation. Have you all seen the facebook post the Costa Rican triathlon wrote on Simon Whitfield’s wall? Just wonderful.

And as if the jubilation and heartache of the actual Games weren’t enough, there was also a fortnight’s worth of motivating, practically tear-jerking, montages and advertising. It makes you proud to be a global citizen. For your convienence the people at Fast Co.Create compiled a list of the 12 best Olympics ads from this year. I would have included the one from Tide about how it’s not about the colours you go home with, but the colours you arrived with- but, whatevaah.

I spent this afternoon, like many of you, I’m sure, watching the giant global celebration/concert.

Although I was annoyed that there were some repeat acts from the opening ceremonies (and no Coldplay, Rolling Stones, Adele or others), for the most part things were good. STOMP was good, Beefeaters were good, Christine Sinclair was good, dancers were good, Canadian athletes in denim were GREAT! It looked like they were all going to head up to a cottage after the ceremonies, toss back a few Molsons and celebrate a solid effort, eh?

Photograph: BBC

Also great was how the IAAF president oafishly presented the Men’s Marathon bouquets. With less grace than someone picking up after their dog, he grabbed the flowers by the blooms and thrust them into the athletes hands.

I had a lot of reactions to the music. First: the transition from Pet Shop Boy’s 80’s synthpop “West End Girls” to OneDirection’s catchy, yet painfully formulaic “What Makes You Beautiful.” The bizarre leap had me laughing for a solid minute.

Other highlights include George Michael singing “Freedom” …But he ruined it when he got it in his head that he would sing his new single. You crazy, George! “Freedom” and “Faith”- that’s where you live George, that’s it. As Tim Jonze reported “Courage. Guts. Determination. This is what the Olympics have been about. And it certainly takes some bottle to stand up in front of 80,000 and a worldwide television audience of billions and sing a rubbish new song that nobody wants to hear.”

Fatboy Slim?!?! Of course hearing “Rockafeller Skank” immediately had me dancing like it was the 90s and itching to watch She’s All That.

THE SPIIIIIICE GIRLLLLLLLSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  BEST ACT OF THE NIGHT! Enough said.

Too much Jessie J and Tinie Tempah.

Ugh. “Survival.” I’ve already told you my opinions on the official song of the Games.

And a closing gem from journalist Tim Jonze: “Just think: two weeks ago the world thought we were rubbish at sport and great at music.”

Well… goodbye, World. I hope you had fun. See you at Sochi 2014!

“Your Hand In Mine (Goodbye)” [the short version] by Explosions in the Sky