Whether it was the 1.5 million tickets sold – more than at any other Commonwealth Games in the UK – or the fact viewers streamed the action a record 57 million times, or the crowds that packed Centenary Square on a daily basis to get a glimpse of the giant mechanical bull that became such a vivid symbol of the event, it is clear that there was serious appetite for Birmingham 2022.
The glorious weather helped, of course. As did the city, its people and the volunteers, surpassing expectations and raising spirits with a friendliness, warmth and spirit that left an impression on anyone who spent time there. There was a real sense that Birmingham wanted to seize its moment and prove itself.
Surrounded by a family-friendly, celebratory atmosphere that drew parallels with the women’s football Euros with which it overlapped, Birmingham 2022 concluded a landmark summer of sport in Britain.
But beyond memories of the many sporting highlights and the inspiration provided by the countless athlete role-models, once the feelgood factor fades, what will the legacy of the Games be?
Will it persuade more people to become active in a way London 2012 failed to do? How will it improve the lives of the communities who live in a city that includes some of the poorest neighbourhoods in the country?
This, after all, was the most expensive sports event to be held in Britain since London 2012 at a cost of £778m. And a quarter of the money had to be raised by the local authority after years of significant strain on council finances.
“There is a commitment to work together that’s better than I’ve ever known in the eight years I’ve been here,” says Mike Chamberlain, the chief executive of Sport Birmingham, the organisation trying to tackle inactivity in the region.
“The legacy plan is not to just focus on the numbers of members at sports clubs, but to do something more meaningful, focusing on inactivity in some of the most deprived communities, where the need is greatest. To work with community groups – the ones that are trusted, not just traditional governing bodies.
“We’ve got to make the most of it and engage with young people.”