Forecast for Gold

Despite all the glitches and pre-Game pessimism, the Olympics have finally arrived, and the UAE is going for gold.

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Build-up to the London 2012 Olympics has been, to put it mildly, decidedly dour. Like London's notorious drizzle, the weeks of non-stop media coverage has cast a soggy blanket on the pending festivities, focusing less on the spirit of the Games than the missteps, errors and failures leading to them.

Sure, there were plenty of negatives to be found, from security concerns to traffic nightmares. But when ceremonies commence tonight, the pessimism will thankfully give way to the once-every-four-year ode to global understanding through sport. Despite all the glitches and pre-Game pessimism, the Olympics have finally arrived.

More than any other televised sporting event, the Olympics bring together people from every corner of the world, regardless of age, gender and nationality. The Olympics highlight what years of hard work and dedication can yield. And this year's Olympics boast a particular milestone the world should be proud of: for the first time in the history of the Games every nation competing has a woman on its team. The UAE's very own Khadija Mohammed, who qualified for weightlifting, is among them.

Despite all the bad press, we think there's plenty to look forward to with the Games of the XXX Olympiad. Like London's sunny skies of late, the next two weeks promises plenty to cheer about.