Do you remember that sketch in Monty Python where John Cleese asked his band of subversives: "What have the Romans ever done for us?"

"Aqueducts," yells one of his followers.

"Yes, all right aqueducts."

"Roads."

"Irrigation."

"Medicine."

To the chagrin of Cleese’s character it becomes obvious the Romans delivered a host of benefits that changed society forever. I’m starting to feel that way about the 2012 Olympics.

For once our TV screens carried images of role models who didn’t fling themselves to the ground feigning injury, indulge in childish racial insults or cheat in order to get others disqualified.

For two glorious weeks we saw real athletes competing at the very highest level across multiple disciplines without the pathetic whingeing and complaining we see every week during the football season and our athletes actually won.

Our Olympians dedicated body and soul to achieve this success. I won’t pretend to know how much an athlete earns but I doubt it’s a fraction of the grotesque sums handed to the bunch of petulant failures masquerading as sportsmen in the England soccer team. (I did hear one Olympian say on the radio he had struggled to find the money to fix the second-hand car he needed to get him to and from training.)

The likes of Wilmslow’s Victoria Pendleton must be a godsend to parents and teachers anxious to find role models whose celebrity comes from dedication, effort and excellence to replace the vapid talentless nonentities of reality TV.

Wasn’t it wonderful to hear a capacity crowd cheering the house down without the manic prompting and scripted reaction compulsory for TV ‘talent’ shows?

What a brilliant antidote the Olympics have been to cheating greedy bankers and disingenuous politicians. SNP leader Alex Salmond must be gutted at the unity of Team GB, which won’t have done anything for his divisive devolution plans. Does it make any sense, given the relentless drive for a federal Europe to set the people of Britain against each other? For once we were able to fly our flag with pride along with the rest of the world without incessant accusations of racism from those obsessed with self-flagellation.

We have welcomed the world and, it would appear, the world has embraced us. From Her Majesty the Queen (apparently) sky-diving into the Olympic arena during the brilliant opening ceremony to the army of welcoming volunteers, Britain has demonstrated a sense of fun along with an ability to organise a world-class event.

Now just watch our politicians try to claim glory. They’ll be lining up to tell us how they contributed to the success of London 2012, but they need to deliver more than promises in the future.

If this Olympics has shown us anything it is that achievement means delivering results rather than talking about them. Our Olympic athletes didn’t rely on obfuscation to disguise failure, they didn’t go into denial or blame others – they simply won or lost (and did both with dignity).

It’s a concept we need to embrace. We’ve been let down, duped and ripped off by too many of the organisations we once respected. We need to adopt a more pragmatic approach to those in public office who believe us to be naive and easily manipulated.

You can’t sell-off school playing fields then pretend you were part of Team GB’s success as our politicians are doing. It blows any semblance of credibility. You can’t squander money the way Cheshire East has done then urge others to make sacrifices. Not if you want respect.

You can’t pass the buck in sport. It’s an edict we need to apply to our politicians.

London 2012 ground cynicism into the dirt delivering exactly what it promised and we can do it as a community and as a nation. We need leaders delivering results instead of childishly blaming each other for failure.

It’s early days I know but I’ve never heard so many people of all nationalities say such positive things about Britain. Our leaders need to embrace the wave and capitalise on the national enthusiasm for success.

Let’s use London 2012 as a benchmark for what can be achieved with determination, dedication and hard work. We can make Britain a nation to be proud of once again. Surely it’s better to be seen as land of achievers than a bureaucratic bunch of apologists with no faith in our own ability.

Hasn’t it been wonderful to see genuine achievers on our TV screens instead of ‘celebrities’ you’ve never heard of, politicians you wouldn’t trust to walk the dog and thieving bankers?

Victoria Pendleton didn’t get a gold medal as an ex-gratia payment for falling off her bike. She got it as a reward for delivering results. Ben Ainslie didn’t become the greatest sailor in the history of the Games by trying to cover up monumental blunders. He achieved his title by exceptional results.

Note the word ‘results’ versus ‘excuses.’ It’s time we started rewarding success not failure. We can do it. Our Olympians proved that but we need to embrace the winning spirit and believe that all things are possible.

So, what have Olympians ever done for us? Unity, Pride, Renewed our faith in Britain, Achievement, Global recognition, Self respect.

The message to bickering politicians and arrogant bankers is clear: On your bike.