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By Sarah Holt
BBC Sport in Trafalgar Square
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Just like Team GB's gold rush in Athens, the celebrations in central London to herald Great Britain's Olympic and Paralympic stars took a little time to get going.
With half an hour to go before the Parade of Heroes was due to start, more policeman lined the route than fans.
Two months on from the Olympics and four weeks after the Paralympics, was the British love affair with the Games over?
"The momentum has gone and it hasn't been publicised, which is appalling," said Jody, who travels around the world to watch Britain's athletes.
"I thought there would be a lot more people here," agreed Carol from Lewisham.
"It's Monday, people are at work, most tourists aren't interested. But you have to be here to really experience the atmosphere.
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Slowly, slowly, Trafalgar Square began to fill up and fans started to warmly wave the Union Jacks handed out to them to honour Team GB's sporting success.
After all, in eight years' time the capital's crowds could be called upon to face an even bigger test if London wins its bid to stage the 2012 Games.
And there was a hint of optimism in the crisp, autumn air that Britain had a real chance of winning the International Olympic Committee (IOC) vote on 6 July 2005.
"The support is there for the London bid, it just needs to be spoken about a bit more," said Hayley, who went over to watch the cycling and rowing in Athens.
"I think London has a good chance. When we were in Athens all the Europeans and Americans we spoke to said they wanted it to be held here."
Olympic rower James Cracknell helps son Croyde fly the flag
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Coxless fours gold medallist Ed Coode agreed a good British showing in Greece from fans and athletes alike can only fuel London's cause.
"I heard two people from the IOC say the British were the best supported nation in Greece after the home nation," Coode told BBC Sport.
"I'm sure that will be noticed and will help.
"It doesn't take a lot for a city to make the Olympics even more special than the event already is.
"Athens had the heritage, Sydney had the harbour but how amazing would it be to have diving in Trafalgar Square or the volleyball in Horse Guards Parade?"
There is no doubt support will play a key part in determining whether London, New York, Paris, Moscow or Madrid is given the green light.
The crowd for Team GB's Athens' heroes could not compare with the 750,000 who turned out to greet England's rugby World Cup-winning team in December.
But organisers will have been pleased with the support, with an estimated 15,000 fans in Trafalgar Square alone.
However, with no world-class athletics stadium, aquatics centre or velodrome in London, major redevelopment is needed to facilitate the 2012 Games.
"The Games could be a major catalyst for major improvements and would leave a legacy for London," insisted George from Derby.
"We shown support for our Paralympians too, which other major countries don't, and I think it is time London got a major event."
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Matthew Pinsent visited my school and that planted the seed in my mind that maybe I could one day go to the Olympics
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Synchronised diver Peter Waterfield, who won Team GB's first medal in Athens, is also looking to the future.
"It would be good for London to improve its facilities," the silver medallist told BBC Sport.
"If we won the bid it would give kids the incentive to have a go at Olympic sports and nurture the next generation."
But not everyone who took part in Monday's parade agreed.
"I'm worried about the transport," said Paralympic double bronze medallist David Weir.
"I've come up here on the underground and some stations still only have stairs which are no good for disabled users like me. It definitely needs improving."
Maureen White from Surrey believes London's bid is marred by multiple problems.
"Deep down we know Paris already has everything in situ," White said.
"The stadiums, the athletes' village, the metro. We would have to start from scratch.
"We're proud of our British athletes but our government doesn't do enough for them."
But standing in Trafalgar Square, as fans cheered at re-runs on the giant TV screens, sang the national anthem to eventer Leslie Law and chanted "Kelly, Kelly" to greet double gold medallist Kelly Holmes, it was clear Britain already has much to celebrate.
And Olympic and Paralympic chiefs will view positive steps such as victory parades and bids for future Games as acting as inspiration for the next generation of sporting stars.
"I was at school when Matthew Pinsent won his first gold medal," recalled Coode.
"He came and talked to us and I remember holding his gold medal and thinking it was incredible.
"That planted the seed in my mind that maybe I could one day go to the Olympics.
"And I certainly didn't think I'd be rowing behind him 12 years later."
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