Phew, the Games are over: I can't take any more expertise
The Independent|August 12, 2024
Well, it’s all over.
WILL GORE
Phew, the Games are over: I can't take any more expertise

Team GB has done its country proud, winning more overall medals at this year’s Olympics than at any Games since 1984.

And, despite the limited coverage on the BBC, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed tuning in over the last fortnight.

However, with the Games having now drawn to a close, I can’t help breathing a major sigh of relief.

Much as I love it, the Olympics always makes me feel inadequate. All those bulging muscles and toned physiques throw into sharp relief the shortcomings of us mere mortals (or should that be podgy relief?). Most of the heroic participants rub it in further by having plenty of hair, perfect teeth and, above all, oodles of youth. At least our skateboarder, Andy MacDonald, had the decency to be 51.

So, there they all are, looking like gods and goddesses, and then they go and bash out a few thousand metres in the time it takes me to walk downstairs and make a cuppa. Or they do things which appear to defy all physical logic, as well as any sensible advice: the pole vault, for instance, or anything involving a high diving board or pommel horse.

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