If being 'the best' means continuing the present move toward evermore-larger and expensive games for full-time and 'professional' athletes, then these games have probably been 'the best'.

In terms of the number of medal won by UK athletes, the games are being looked on here as being the most successful since the 20s. This is largely being attributed to the provision of lottery money, which has enabled more of our athletes to compete on more level terms with full-time athletes from other countries.

We seem to have accepted that more money being spent, results in more medals won and I would expect there now to be calls for even more money to be spent, toward this end. The true test of the popularity of this measure would be to suggest that a rise, say on petrol duty, would enable us to spend even more on our elite sports persons, thus ensuring even more future Olympic success?

I may sound cynical but I am just a romantic really. The thought of athletes struggling and succeeding, despite their country's support, gives me far more joy than watching success obtained because of it.

Having said all that, the staging of these games in Sydney has been a great credit to all those involved. What am I going to do without them?