"My pitch to the International Olympic Committee was to do something a bit different for the London Games: to stand back, to always have an elevated view, and to gain more of a perspective. I was the only "art photographer" to be granted access. These events are usually recorded close up: you can spot the sports photographers with their big lenses in this picture.

 

As this shot attests, there's no doubt the Olympics were a highly successful advert for Britain, although the question remains as to what their legacy will be. I feel lucky to have experienced them at close hand. Like everybody, I wasn't sure what they would be like – and they were extraordinary." - Simon Roberts for The Guardian.