And now...the end is near.
It only seems like yesterday the torch was being lit by Naomi Osaka and Tokyo 2020 was officially opened at the opening ceremony.
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But Saturday marked the final night of athletics inside the Olympic Stadium, and only one day of official competition remains.
Which means, this is the penultimate Daily Diary from Stats Perform's man on the ground Peter Hanson...drink it in folks, all good things must come to an end.
FAREWELL OLYMPIC STADIUM...
So, this is it. After a long (very long) few weeks, my final trip to the Olympic Stadium has been and gone.
There have been some great moments I've witnessed here - not least Elaine Thompson-Herah's exploits and Marcell Jacobs' shock 100m win.
It's been a pretty great place to work at this past week.
One last trip here for me tonight.
— Peter Hanson (@PeterHanson89) August 7, 2021
It could rain…hope not…hope not.#Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/rVueMYuUfs
THERE'S SOMETHING I DON'T GET...
The pandemic has, of course, caused chaos with the sporting calendar now for well over a year.
But, there's an Olympics museum right next to the stadium just before you go through security to get into the stadium...and it's always packed.
The queues to get in are long, the outdoor area always has a limited amount of social distancing.
It's not a criticism...it's just well why not open up the stadium doors, have limited capacity and plenty of social distancing? Appreciate that particular horse has now bolted, but still...
This is the Olympic museum just next to where we walk in.
— Peter Hanson (@PeterHanson89) August 7, 2021
Struck me as odd the place has been packed all week but they wouldn’t allow limited and socially-distanced numbers inside a 68,000-seater outside stadium. #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/mvHi0fXwvZ
CASTANEDA DIVES HEAD FIRST INTO TACKLING FEARS
You need a lot of skills to be adept at diving. Poise, athleticism, timing and crucially bravery.
Which is why Colombia's Sebastian Villa Castaneda deserves so much credit every time he takes to a 10m board given he has a crippling fear of heights.
"When we were at the (2015) Pan American Games in Toronto in the CN Tower, I couldn't even cross the part of the floor that's made of glass," he said. "I looked down and I couldn’t even cross it. But in the pool, it’s different. I don’t even think about it.”
"It's not easy to be 10m up in the air, but the truth is that I love my sport. Love, passion, heart, challenge: everything comes together in this moment."
Castaneda failed to make the final of the 10m platform...but still, you have to applaud that kind of nerve!
TEAM GB ATHLETE SELLING TOKYO 2020 MEMORABILIA TO FUND COMMONWEALTH BID
It's not easy forging an athletics career, especially if your chosen sport is not particularly well funded.
Take Team GB hammer thrower Taylor Campbell, who had to dip into savings to get to Tokyo 2020. He was previously working as a receptionist at a sports facility but lost his contract due to coronavirus-enforced closures.
So, in order to help get himself to the Commonwealth Games next year, Campbell listed a Samsung Galaxy S21 with the Olympic rings etched into the phone and wireless Samsung earphones on eBay to raise funds.
"I get some funding from UK Sport but it's not enough to live off," Campbell told Sky News. "Unfortunately making it to the Olympics doesn't get you any more money, you do it for the pride.
"I am an iPhone guy and the Samsung will have just sat in a box as memorabilia, so I put it on eBay.
"It has blown up a bit and there has been an overwhelming amount of support."
To help fund my preparations into 2022 commonwealth Games I am selling my Olympic Games Limited Edition Samsung Galaxy S21 (256gb) + Galaxy Buds Pro + Olympic Buds Case on eBay check it out! https://t.co/UdYPztz7sC
— Taylor Campbell (@TaylorLC1996) August 6, 2021
