So 2012 will be the year.  1426 days to go for the biggest sports event coming to town.  One week ago we saw the handover of the Olympics to this city.   In four years, it will be its turn to play host to even more worldwide visitors than already has living in it.

This story started three years ago.  I still remember vividly the day watching at home the news: London had won the Olympics! Good news that was short lived...In less than 24 hours the jubilant atmosphere turned in completely shock because of the terrorist attacks.  Next day, newspapers featuring photos spreading the big news were flying all destroyed on empty streets free of commuters and the normal buzz because of the terrible events earlier that day.

Nowadays, the story was very different.  This city has healed the painful wound and 40,000 happy people cheered to welcome the event at The Mall with the iconic Buckingham Palace as background (and even Prince Harry looking at it from the roof).  It was good to see too an outstanding performance of London in its eight minutes participation in the Beijing Closure ceremony.  Many Londoners are of the opinion that it was not as spectacular as the Chinese but hey!, it was indeed very London!  It had the beloved double red decker bus, umbrellas, vibrant dancers, the biggest British sport star and a singer picked up in one of the multiple talent TV shows: London showed its true character and performed in the way it does best...music.

Yes, London perhaps is not going to give the astonishing performance given by the Chinese.  Firstly because it doesn't have the same budget but secondly, because it simply has another personality and atmosphere.  An Olympic City host precisely has to show to the world what it has to offer and London has plenty and more. 

To begin with, this city didn't need the publicity of hosting the Olympics.  London is one of the most famous cities and actually perhaps that is why it actually won, precisely because of this global appeal and many nationalities calling it "home".  Even the new publicity for the "Visit London" website is "See the world, visit London" and a photo of the planet showing the river Thames along it.  It tries to represent that: This city's amazing diversity.  London, I am sure, will play a great host in 2012 to the world as it already does.  Furthermore, I think that London has plenty of experience at handling big and important events.  There is always something happening here. 

In terms of the Olympics site, I am glad to see a positive transformation of the area that will be the Olympic Villa.  Located in one of the most depraved locations in this capital and it will be good to see its restoration.  At the moment, East London is not a place a tourist would like to visit. 

London as well has to sort out other domestic issues before this event:  Its transport (it just can cope with the amount of normal commuters and tourists, let alone the massive increase during Olympics), accommodation (if London is already one of the most expensive cities in the world to visit and live, I can see stratospheric prices in 2012) and street violence (I have seen in 10 years such an increase in knife crimes that now this problem is becoming a national concern) for mentioning a few.

As for the British athletes this year, what a performance!  It was very good to see the British people welcoming with pride to their heroes as they deserve, after an outstanding participation.  Is a good start and kick off for an enormous task ahead for all of them, London and this country.

Personally, I am looking forward to the day.  I really hope being here to see it and live  it.  I always wanted to attend an Olympic Games, let alone being living in the hosting city itself. Mexico City, hosted the Olympics in 1968 but I was born 5 years later.  And ironically, now that the Olympics are coming to town, perhaps it would be my turn to migrate before...but who knows? 

As this city is one of the most desirable places to visit on Earth, I just wish to continue being part of this Olympic City by then and finally to live some Olympics.  What a better time than being in the place that has been my home for nearly 10 years and in 2012 perhaps 14?