Ryan Giggs the most skilled athlete at these Olympics games then, you happy with that ?

The Chinese athletes are trained into the ground, and their government throw money at even the smallest sport, just so that they are the best in the world, it's hardly surprising.

I am sorry I refuse to believe the Chinese dont 'bend' the rules.

They may well do, they may have super chemists with undectable drugs or body enhancements but at the same time regardless, their athletes still have to train very very hard.

They don't need to though - they have a massive population to draw athletes from, they have vast sums of cash to throw at every sport in the olympics, and they are all about nationalism (same reason North Korea are punching above their weight in the medal table). Nationalism is great for getting your population behind your government when they might otherwise object, and international events like the Olympics are the perfect focus for this - take a look at the medal table for the 1936 games for the best example.

Yes and also the Chinese have a hard work ethic as well.

As people have said on here, the sheer weight of numbers and population, combined with the huge state support, guarantees that in a lot of sports China are going to put world class players out.

It's just like the Aussies in rugby league compared to us. To get to the level where they are 'noticed' by national selectors in those countries you have to have been the best of the best of so many layers of district competition.

But also the same goes for the USA as China. It's exactly the same situation, large participant population and government support.

Then why are we behind france? Smallish pop, don't give a about sports, always drunk or ing?

[Gallic shrug]Ce la vie?[/Gallic shrug]

I’ve got a massive issue with the horse event thing. When looking through the history books at previous Grand National winners, it’s full of the names of horses. If you ask anyone who won the National they’ll name you a horse not the rider. Why is this different?

Everyone doe-eyed over Zara; I won’t let it, but it nearly ruined the whole Olympic thing for me.

Every sport I’ve watched so far, and really enjoyed today, canoeing, rowing, cycling, shooting, basically any sport that requires the use of some piece equipment is still a level playing field.

Every other sport strives to keep this level playing field. There are strict rules on said equipment, which means that the winner does so on merit. If you take drugs that enable you to go through the pain barrier, and continue training through the sweat and tears for ten hours a day in the pouring rain when people like me are pontificating, you are rightfully banned.

But! If you get the best two horses in the world to fornicate, then purchase the resulting offspring for mega money that is way beyond the reach of the majority of your fellow competitors, that’s ok! Is it?

Inspire a generation, my !

Daughter: Daddy can I ride a horse in the Olympics?

Dad: No, even if you were the best rider in the world, the only horse I could afford would probably die trotting across our garden and be turned into glue, sorry darling.

Son: What about me dad?

Dad: Yeh you can be in the Olympics, get on your bike and go shoot some canoeists.

While there can be little argument that equestrianism is generally practised by wealthy people, the same could be said of loads of these Olympic disciplines - shooting, sailing, rowing, fencing and archery in particular.
The thing that makes the equestrian events of interest is that it appears to be the only part of the Games where men and women compete together. It seems to me that this could easily be extended to other events where physiological differences are not relevant - archery, shooting, even diving could have men and women competing against each other.

No. It proves that few British wendyballers are anywhere near as dedicated to perfecting their 'skills' as are our Olympians.

We're only just behind France, and they have a bigger population than us too. My points more apply to China and the USA, who are (every games) miles out in front in the medals.

I notice one of the GB men's sprint team has been in England about as long as Rangi Chase has. I can't see the national outrage with his selection. Mind you this guy obviously brought the "win at any costs" attitude with him with his fall due to "mechcanical fault" to get a re-start after his first poor start, borderline cheating at the very least.

At least Hindes is actually a Dual National via his British father - Chase has no British nationality at all, other than living here for a few years.

For once mr Youane and I singing from the same hymn-sheet.
Not the very least, btw, he admitted to cheating. Should be stripped of the medals.