The Olympics have already proved to be the best for Great Britain in 100 years - and there remain hopes it will get better yet.  What has been astonishing is how even the least sports minded person, me among them, has been glued to the television or radio or internet, waiting to see the latest results. 

Many are asking why, suddenly, it seems Great Britain is leading the world in sports.  It seems to me, that as well as a lot of Lottery money, there is a much more professional approach to the preparation and training of athletes.  Specialists are brought in from a range of fields to assist, from psychiatrists to physios and athletes are much more focused than ever before.  Simply, there is a spirit of elitism.

I wouldn't mind seeing a bit more of that spirit in our schools.  Competitive sport has been an unpopular subject in some quarters of late.  Perhaps seeing so many medals returning from China will start to reverse that trend.  I certainly hope so.