Beijing weather

In today’s papers, hot air and fuzzy thinking to match the Beijing climate.

In the Evening Standard, Matthew Pinsent was headlined as saying that for the GB coxless four to fail to win gold would be a ‘disaster’. Not quite what he said, but the sentiment was there. If they are at the top of their game, it will not be a disaster. It will be very disappointing, but another crew was faster on the day. If they are not at the top of their game, they have no place at the Olympics and nor do jingoism or hyperbole.

Likewise, Paula Radcliffe in Athens: it was not a cause for national despondency, it was the disappointment of an athlete who, in the final reckoning, had been found wanting. An athlete who just happened to be British. Radcliffe may have touted as ‘our golden girl’ on the back of some extraordinary performances, but the medal was still there to be won, it was not a right; she didn’t ‘deserve’ it more than anyone else in the race.