Be dismissive of the hype that goes with the Olympics by all means, but top level sport and sportsmen - especially in the less glamourous or lucrative sports - deserve more respect than that.

I think there is a slight misunderstaanding here, perhaps due to the title of the thread.

Most large Games - Olympic, Commonwealth and World Student for example, have a cultural festival and an opening ceremony associated with them.

It is this we are talking about - not morris dancing as a competitive sport. I am sure no-one is dismissing top level sports people. As a retired morris dancer (knees gave way) I know what it is like to practise for years and suffer for it later.

Missed out the ice baths though.

Dave