Indeed I was going to slag off cycling and rowing, but then the Premier League football season started and I realised I'd rather watch competitors giving their all for their country rather than prima donnas motivated by fame and wealth.

Now I admit I don't understand the appeal of rowing. It looks dead simple to me as long as you're about nine foot tall with Schwarzenegger-style muscles.

You don't even have to steer the boat that much, unlike canoeing down and through rapids, which looks far more exciting and skilful.

Bizarrely this water-based sport also has an indoor version when competitors don't even move anywhere, but I can't help but admire the selfless dedication which goes into preparing yourself for the greatest sports meeting on earth - even the nauseating presence of 'up himself' presenter John Inverdale can't ruin it.

It's the same with the cyclists. You can't fail to be impressed with the ability of Bradley Wiggins, Chris Hoy and all those fit women, even if the sport is baffling.

Cycling is a sport tainted by drug abuse, although I'd need a strong dose of something myself if all I was doing was going around in circles.

The cycling events all look the same, but with different names. It's speedway without engines.

A cycling sprint is nothing of the sort, but at least the rules are clear, unlike the Madison event which is like a real life version of Wacky Races.

All the same it's been superb watching GB pile up the medals, especially our own Louis Smith, who almost made gymnastics watchable, almost.



AND who on earth created the phrase 'Team GB'? What's wrong with Great Britain?

Nothing is the answer, but no doubt in this world of slogans and glib catchphrases, someone was paid a fortune to come up with a term more naff than Clare Balding's wardrobe.



THE BBC are doing their best to ruin the Olympics with some of the most biased commentaries I've heard since the last speedway grand prix.

Paula Radcliffe, a regular Olympic failure, was treated as a heroine for managing to finish 23rd in the ladies marathon.

The race commentary was all about her, even to the exclusion of GB team-mate Mara Yamouchi who finished sixth, an Olympic record for a British woman.

But pride of place so far has gone to cycling commentator Hugh Porter who memorably used Oscar Wilde's immortal quote - 'I have nothing to declare but my genius' - to describe Bradley Wiggins.



ANDREW Murray's early demise from the tennis was predictable. He clearly has no interest in improving his miserable public image.

It was bad enough losing to a nonentity in the first round of the singles, but to then admit that you were unprofessional in your approach after losing easily in the doubles as well was unbelievably irritating.

If Murray didn't want to be there - and judging by his facial expression at the opening ceremony he clearly didn't - he should have withdrawn and let someone who enjoys representing his country compete instead.

The Olympics may be the greatest sporting event on earth, but the financial rewards, for tennis players at least, are not great. Doubtless Murray's preparations for the US Open, when he will be competing on a pure selfish basis, will be spot on.