The flame has been extinguished and the Olympic mantle passed to Rio de Janeiro where the youth of the world, and those of older vintage, will gather again in four years time.  This has been a wonderfully hosted games, putting other events into the shade for 17 days and it has given us many lessons which we can take back for Irish sport.
There are a number of themes we will return to in the coming weeks and months but for now here are six elements of the success that stand out for me.
1. The power of people
When I first heard the 70,000 volunteers helping to keep London moving were to be known as Games Makers it seemed a trite and corny motif to hang around them alongside their lanyards.  Never could I have been so wrong.  The purple and cerise clad army of willing unpaid volunteers were at the heart of why this games was so well organised.  They are the equivalent of those who mark the pitch, make the ham sandwiches and run the training stations at every Irish sports club every week of the year.  In London they were fun, they enjoyed themselves, they did a great job and they were recognised.  Harnessing afresh the power of volunteering should be on every sporting agenda.
2. Star Quality worn lightly
The joy of sport and of victory is seen every day but often at the highest level it somehow gets lost behind endorsement deals and the seeming need to corral sporting stars into a pen of regulation comment and ‘focus’. The hard work is done away from the spotlight but seeing the ways in which Usain Bolt in particular but so many other winners and losers conducted themselves was a real pleasure.
3. Team GB
Britain has generally treated the Premier League as the best in the world and worn an air of superiority in sport.  It seemed to feel that having invented or at least organised many of the main events that it had some right to be at the top table. That sense of superiority meant few others could really cheer its athletes to victory.  All that changed these past two weeks.  It was as delightful as it was surprising to see Irish fans cheer with absolute abandon for the performances of Team GB from Jessica Ennis to Nicola Adams, Jade Jones to Mo Farah.
4. Legacy
Perhaps the most used phrase in the closing days but one which genuinely forms a central part of these games as it has never done before.  Michael Johnson summed it up saying most host cities wanted to enjoy the party and get away with it costing less than feared.  London 2012 seems determined to use the success of British athletes and organisers to ‘inspire a generation’.  Ireland needs to be just as ready to promote the values of sport to those who will benefit most, to welcome new members to new sports and reverse the trend of youth obesity and drift that is a major challenge to all modern developed societies.
5. Old and new media combined as one
This was the first ‘Socialympics’ and the way it was followed and consumed was new, inclusive and better than ever before.  The most social element though is not an isolated tweet or facebook comment but the shared experience that unites people in a common interest.  Sport succeeds in this like nothing other than perhaps war and is obviously of greater benefit.  RTE did a fine job as did many other media outlets but the effort of the BBC in terms of making everything, and I mean everything, so simple and easy to follow was genuinely worthy of the highest praise.  The red button coverage was exceptional.
6. The power of excellent coaching
Behind every gold medallist there was a team of proficient coaches that helped to produce the goods on the day.  The Irish boxing success has rightly been credited to a great structure as well as talented individuals.  British cycling and rowing have two excellent coaching set ups and led the way.  Mo Farah spoke of the important ‘one or two things’ that his coach introduced that made all the difference.  It may be less romantic but having the right structures and the right blend of technical excellence and inspiration really is the key to success at any level of sport.