THE waiting is over and, at last, the Olympic Games will kick off on Friday.

London is not exactly next door to Inverclyde, but we've had people carrying the torch and the Games have also led to 160 temporary call centre jobs being created at IBM.

One of our other major Olympic connections is the Eric Liddell challenge trophy, which can be seen at the McLean Museum.

This great athlete's story inspired my favourite film, 'Chariots of Fire', made in 1981 and appropriately re-released to coincide with the Games.

He ran at the Greenock Glenpark Harriers' annual sports at Cappielow before and after competing at the 1924 Paris Olympics, where he won gold in the 400 metres and bronze in the 200.

Asked about his golden triumph, he said: "The secret of my success over the 400m is that I run the first 200m as fast as I can. Then, for the second 200m, with God's help I run faster." Liddell presented his trophy to Glenpark in 1925, and the club displays it proudly in the museum.

'Chariots' was nominated for seven Oscars and lifted four, including Best Picture.

Its electrifying, Oscar-winning Vangelis theme tune inspires competitors at various races, including marathons. I've heard it while running the San Francisco and London marathons, for example, and it always sets the hair tingling on the back of your neck.

So, get on your marks for the Olympics...