As former Olympic hosts, many Park City residents have a good idea of how their counterparts across the pond are feeling as Londoners vault toward the final days of their own Games: elated, exhausted, running on fumes, and trying to grab a personal best of their own while under the intense international spotlight.

Hosting the Olympics is both an enormous privilege and a daunting test. As host of nearly half of the 2002 Winter Olympic venues, Summit County received an unprecedented amount of media attention that paid off in subsequent years with a big boost in tourism.

But Utah's post-Olympic fame and fortune came with a hefty price tag. Utahns spent more than two decades investing in the bid process and then building venues, many of which had to be in place before the International Olympic Committee made its selection.

Once chosen, Utah's real work began with major infusions of time and money, public and private, at all levels. And that work goes on today as local organizations continue to support their Olympic legacy facilities, including our own Olympic bobsled and Nordic ski jumping park. Londoners are likely holding their collective breath too, hoping their investments will pay off.

With 26 elite-level summer sports to present, three times more than the winter version, we can only guess at the sacrifices and challenges that Great Britain's citizens have made to pull off this spectacular event.

Ten years ago it was "all hands on deck" as Park City pulled together to ensure the world's top athletes were able to showcase their talents. We know, from personal experience, that Olympic-caliber efforts go on both in front of and behind the cameras at each event.

This week the media has highlighted many of the athletes' personal struggles to reach the Games. But less has been said of London's challenges and the valiant commitment of its citizens to ensuring the Games would be safe and spectacular.

From sailing to cycling, from dressage to gymnastics, London has provided a stunning playing field and we hope its citizens will be able to revel in their success for many years to come.