Freddie Mercury, albeit posthumously, Jessie J, The Pet Shop Boys: there was lesbian and gay representation in the closing ceremony. But then George Michael with the song and the word FREEDOM whizzing around the stadium in full white light? Programmers GB were sending a message to the rest of the world and that message was: “Be inclusive and respect diversity!”
With the whole world looking on – and in – the stadium there was a great opportunity to push the button for equality and the button was pushed. This is particularly appropriate with Russia hosting the Winter Olympics in 2014 and Qatar the World Cup.
There’s much talk of legacy. Let’s hope we threw out a message that we have a legacy too. It’s up to the IOC and FIFA to ensure that our LGB legacy blossoms, adopts the T and survives.
Now let’s look to the Paralympics with equal confidence.