(7 Aug 2012) STORYLINE
Fans streamed into the Olympic Park on Tuesday, delighted to be part of the London 2012 Games - no matter what the cost.
The long-term benefit of staging an Olympics are endlessly debated every time a city wins the right to stage the Games.
But more often than not during the event itself, national pride, euphoria and a feel-good factor take over.
The Battistuzzi family from Australia's Gold Coast said they had spent between 15 and 20-thousand Australian dollars (15,869 and 21-thousand US dollars) to travel to London for the Olympics.
But they said it was well worth the money to be a part of the "awesome" event.
"It's certainly not a big waste of money. It's an awesome event for all countries and it's really good to see the whole world come together and have an awesome time," said Claudine Battistuzzi.
Briton Dan Lammin said the Games had been a "great morale boost" at a time when the UK and the rest of the world were struggling to stay positive in the light of the financial crisis and other headline-dominating bad news stories.
"Even if it's just temporary, it's been a nice sort of thing to escape...and actually just enjoy two weeks of sports and everyone coming together," the Team GB supporter said.
The Davis family from Canada said that based on Vancouver's experience in hosting the Winter Olympics in 2010, London and the rest of the nation stood to benefit from the experience.
"It's a lot of fun. It brings the country together, so I think it's a great thing to do," said Bryndon Davis.
Among the crowd making their way to the Olympic Stadium were two fans of Jamaican gold medal hero Usain Bolt.
They said London 2012 had brought nations - and generations - together.
"It has certainly inspired a generation...and yes, there's a legacy I think will hold and sustain," said one of them, 24-year-old Robin Milton.
Judging by the reaction of spectators, it was the thrill, not the bill, that was uppermost in their minds as Day 11 of competition got into full swing.
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