This is the moving element of these Olympics and Paralympics.  Most of us won’t win medals for living life but we can all draw from the sportsmen and women from this Summer.  Sebastian Coe touched on this in his speeches throughout the ceremonies – sport contains everything that is human – winning, losing, fighting pain, living triumph, making sacrifices and learning to love yourself as well as give a great deal to others.

Jessica Ennis on the Victory Parade on 10th September in London

The paradox is that in these athletes – from the UK and across the world, in their being super-human in their efforts and achievements, they are also simply being fully human and doing what is natural: most people crave meaning – London 2012 has provided this and at the same time brought us together in the process.