THE FANS
THE worst part about it, for the fans, will be going home.
They loved the glitter of the tourism heart at Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach but even more the community lifestyle of the southern beach spots and the green of the hinterland.
On the Currumbin beachfront, Welsh holiday-makers Steve and Louise Daniels admitted they preferred the foreshore to Surfers because it reminded them of the beautiful Gower Coast in Wales.
“We don’t want to leave. We’d be moving here if it wasn’t for our kids,” Mrs Daniels said.
The athletes became the city’s biggest fans. Canadian cyclist Jay Lamoureux, who finished 14th in the road cycling time trial, went for a swim after his race.
“I thought it was awesome down here having a race along the beach,” the bronze medallist in the team pursuit said.
“It is a beautiful place and I will be telling people back home that they have to come here.”
Carol Golsby, of Glasgow, knew little about the Coast before arriving for the Games.
“My friends have to come and visit because it is beautiful,” she said. “This area here at the beach is wonderful. It doesn’t matter how long the flight is, they have to come and visit.”
Ian Skillicorn, from the Isle of Man, had visited the Coast before but never Currumbin.
“I don’t know why we didn’t come here,” he said. “The beach is beautiful. I would recommend anyone from back home to come and visit here.”
Louise Staunton-Smith, down from Brisbane with her daughter, could not wait for the road cycling combined with such a great location.
“I like the competitiveness aspect to it, the hard work they put in,” she said.
“We came down to see the race walk. How could it be any better than this? The place is gorgeous.”
Cathy Walker, a coach from the United Kingdom who had been at Glasgow, could compare both Games as she walked in to watch the beach volleyball at Coolangatta.
“It’s greener,” she said. “It’s very different. It’s a lot warmer, and marginally drier. The transport network is excellent. I think because it’s the friendly Games it’s just like one big family.”
In the stands, across all venues, the friendly Games were played out.
Aussies obviously had the biggest support, followed by England and New Zealand.
Often those who came last were cheered as much as a gold medal winner in tribute to their never-say-die spirit.