I think it has a lot to do with selling off playing fields in the 1980s. Everywhere you look there are 'No ball games allowed signs'. Asbos for kids playing football in the streets.

What I found really interested is that with the exception of sailing most of our medals came from Rowing, swimming and cycling. Things that can be done in most gyms and fitness centres rather than running around in parks and fields. In Athletics we seem to have gone backwards

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I don't think there is anything underhand going on. Countries can target medals with certain schemes (lottery funding) and in certain sports (cycling). It doesn't mean anything except good and specific planning.

Team GB have done well. I think Brits should be proud of their efforts, they truly have punched above their weight.

China have emerged too, but then that's China all over at the moment.

Home teams like to do well, let's hope it continues into 2012.

Well said Jamie.

At the begining of the games we were asking where the medals would come from.

The stalwarts like sailing and rowing delivered, but the relatively new one of indoor cycling blew the rest of the world away, and this appears to be put down to a large extent to (lottery) funding.

Swimmers did well, but athletics is still hit and (more so) miss.

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It surprises me that we have enough people involved in the sport to make up a track and field team.
It’s not for want of more or better facilities. It’s that many athletics clubs need more members Now.


On the other hand, cycling has always been popular in this country, though I believe more so in the north of England. Loads of em’ out for a ‘spin’ over the weekends up North, (in fact, most everywhere ) so it’s no surprise that we had strength in depth to find a team. It’s just how well prepared they were.

The improved facilities with the Manchester set-up didn’t make good cyclists. It helped make bloody good cyclists world beaters.
Presently, there are around 22 cycle tracks in the UK, 4 of which are covered wood.
I can see more being built as this aspect of cycling takes off.



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I am not massively into sport, but it is always great to see us getting awards.

Bit of topic here but did I hear the news right a tikwando competitor kicked a judge in the face because he didn't like the result? That's well out of order

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Saw it- naughty boy, and has been banned for life.

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One or two shady decisions in the ring based disciplines. Britain's Sarah Stevenson had her chances of getting top honours undermined by poor marshalling. It’s not to say she would have won in the final anyway, but this cock-up didn’t do her preparations for the unexpected fight for the gold any good.

Now, it seems taekwondo is fighting for survival as an Olympic event, and apparently thanks to Angel Valodia Matos and his kick out at the referee.

AFP: Kick in the face has taekwondo fighting for Olympic survival


I watched Ireland's Kenny Egan take on the big bruiser from China and it was clear he would need to pull out all the proverbial stops if he was to win. The Chinese fighter had the better rounds, but it was clear that Egan had points not scored.

The fight might have been closer, and who knows? He might have taken the Gold after all!




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You can watch it (or avoid it) here BBC SPORT | Olympics | Taekwondo | Matos rage overshadows Cha gold

I do wonder what future subjective events have in the Olympics. There is a big anti-contact sport brigade wanting to dump Boxing and the like form the Olympics this Matos chap and the Romanian boxing Official have handed them a case on a plate.

It would be a shame to lose Diving and Gymnastics from the games but Citius, Altius, Fortius applies not who can impress the judges most and while there are subjective opinions deciding medals there will always be arguments

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