Now that the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow 2014 have drawn to a close, it is a good time to reflect on eleven days of competition. There is general agreement that the Friendly Games have delivered an exciting sporting spectacle, leaving some quarters to acclaim it the best ever. Whilst not attempting to match London's Olympic experience of two years ago - and it is not comparing like with like - it is not just British commentators being overly partisan. His Royal Highness Prince Imran, the president of the Commonwealth Games, delivered this assessment in his final address.
Questions of the validity of the Commonwealth Games always hang over the tournament. It is clear that the pool of athletes across the 71 competing nations and territories is not as deep as you would find at the Olympics or the World Championships.
To name the absent countries that could have provided more realistic competition is futile. As a consequence, the qualifying standard required for athletes is not as challenging. For some of the athletes who could have competed, other competitions such as the European Championships are a higher priority. Mo Farah withdrew from the Games to focus on the Europeans, although only illness had prevented him from competing in both. Even the highest profile sprinters Usain Bolt and Johann Blake were conspicuous by their absence in the 100 and 200 metre races.
Blake admitted to being "disappointed" after a hamstring injury ruled him out and he is targeting Rio 2016 for his rehabilitation. Bolt chose only to help Jamaica to 4x100m relay success, but his season has been hampered by a foot injury. His compatriot, Olympic champion Shelley-Ann Fraser Pryce, only competed in the relay rather than the individual sprint events.
Despite these notable absentees, and the late withdrawal of Farah, Glasgow could still boast nine of the twelve Commonwealth athletes who won individual track and field gold in London 2012. Alongside Bolt and Fraser-Price, you could also add Gregg Rutherford, David Rudisha, Kirani James, Sally Pearson, Ezekiel Kemboi (3,000m steeplechase), Kershorn Walcott (javelin) and Valerie Adams (shot put).
Jessica Ennis-Hill is enjoying spending time with her new son Reggie and marathon champion, Stephen Kiprotich, cited fatigue. Glasgow still had plenty of big names for the Games, including the highly decorated Paralympian David Weir, who chose to forego retirement for a chance of Commonwealth gold.
Outside of athletics, notable stars included Sir Bradley Wiggins, Anna Mears, Tom Daley, the All Blacks - the list could continue. There was certainly no shortage of personalities. Credit should be given to Glasgow's determination to run the parasports simultaneously with their able bodied equivalents. Making the events part of the same schedule and therefore more inclusive is definitely a big step forward, with 22 parasport medal competitions made available in Glasgow.
Indeed 20 of the home nations' medal return came from the parasports. For sport to be truly inspirational, you only have to watch those who overcome their own physical challenges and who then still have to beat their competitors. Stand-out moments include Scotland's Libby Clegg, running with her guide runner, Mikail Huggins, and clocking 12.2 seconds for the hundred metres, England's Thornhill and Scott winning the tandem gold and that smile encapsulating surprise and jubilation from Scotland's 13 year-old school girl, Erraid Davies, following her bronze medal in the 100 metres T9 breast stroke.
Despite the Times reporting Usain Bolt's alleged comments that the games were a bit s***, claims he has since refuted and publicly denounced, it must be said that Glasgow has delivered 11 days of eminently watchable sport, assisted by the BBC's wrap-around coverage.
People's opinions will vary on their most memorable moments. It was the appearance of Bolt and Fraser-Pryce which seemed to galvanise the audience. Everyone in the crowd wanted to have their selfie or high-five moment with the world's biggest star, and it was perhaps his appearance that endorsed Glasgow as a world-class event. The pictures of Bolt dancing to the Proclaimer's "500 miles" certainly helped to dispel any adverse feelings towards him. Once the competition started, the athletes certainly did not consider the competition to be of a lower standard as they set about trying to achieve their goals. Personal bests were improved and Games Records abounded, whilst nine world records fell.
England leapfrogged Australia and ended top of the medals table for the first time in 28 years with a grand total of 174 medals, 58 of them gold. The host nation achieved their best ever performance with 53 medals and an impressive 19 golds, good enough for fourth place, and Wales also had their best haul with 36 medals. A home crowd could certainly be said to have contributed to their success.
For the Games to truly count, the organisers will be hoping for a greater participation in sport across the UK. A year after opening, the recently opened Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome has already been classified as the best used cycling facility, with a variety of user groups already taking advantage of its locality.
The Glasgow Games will be hoping for its own legacy, where the gold rush experienced by the Home Nations translates into more people taking up sport. Ultimately, that will be the standard by which the Friendly Games will be judged.
