If Simon Jenkins can’t postpone his evening news fix, he can switch to ITV or Radio 4 (The Olympics hysteria shows Britain has turned Soviet, 18 August). The rest of us managed to survive the delay, thoroughly entertained by the anticipation and performance of a thrilling race played in real time by athletes who are driven by the quest for excellence rather than the darker ambitions of those we see on the news.
Yes, £5.5m per medal is a lot, but Australia spent half as much again, and for the good it makes us feel about ourselves and our country it is far more cost-effective than (for example) HS2, Hinkley, Trident, or the Duke of Westminster’s inheritance tax avoidance scheme, and two-thirds of it comes from the voluntary funds of the lottery rather than taxes. I admire his journalism, but Jenkins needs to lighten up sometimes.
Richard O’Brien
Highbridge, Somerset
• Do you have a Guardian meeting every morning when you all gather to sing “Always look on the dark side of life”? I struggle to find any positive articles these days and can only assume that you must be a miserable bunch after reading Simon Jenkins’s article. Yes, there are faults in the Olympic system that need to be addressed, but can we not just for a few weeks enjoy the success of our talented sports people without the carping and nitpicking that Jenkins seems to relish? Lottery money comes from people who buy the tickets so why should they not celebrate the fruits of their spending?
All around the country, young people are seeing what can be achieved in sport and are inspired to emulate their heroes and heroines. Some of the gold medal winners in these games have told us that this is what started them in their chosen sport. For me, that beats sitting in a room playing online games or being glued to a mobile phone.
One final point. Money can do a lot but it cannot conjure up the dedication to hard work and sheer guts that are needed to be the best. I hold no brief for boxing, but I take my hat off to Nicola Adams for her enthusiasm, sheer joy of living and for always thanking those who support her.
Janet Jobber
(Comer-in to Yorkshire, now lying 11th in the medal table) Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
• As the Rio Olympics comes to a close, it is worth applauding our competitors: those who have won medals and those who haven’t. We can all be churlish and perhaps criticise blanket TV coverage, over-enthusiastic commentators, generous lottery funding and some outright jingoism, but the fact remains that there is much to admire about what decent men and women have achieved. Compare this to the chaotic, back-stabbing, duplicitous and fractious nature of British politics over the past few months. Would that our elected members were so organised, focused and inspiring. We can but dream.
Toby Wood
Peterborough, Cambridgeshire
• On 29 June you ran a feature in G2 (Can you cure the Brexit blues?). The answers seemed pretty much in the negative. Now comes along Team GB’s stunning success in Rio, and what do you do? Run an article by your chief naysayer Simon Jenkins and a clutch of letters (18 August) rubbishing the whole thing. Thank you, Guardian.
Peter Watson
Chester
• Many thanks to the National Lottery for supporting our brilliant athletes (Opinion, 19 August). Next “intelligent investment” the NHS?
Barbara Patterson
Leatherhead, Surrey
• Eleven million people watched the Rio cycling on TV. Less than half a million watch England Test cricket. Reason? It begins with M.
Ken Brown
Slough, Berkshire
• What a surprise: Simon Jenkins disapproves of the Olympics, to go with his disapproval of HS2, Hinkley Point etc. Is there anything, apart from the National Trust presumably, he does approve of? There is such excitement and joy in almost every Olympic sport. My wife says it has made her August in London fun and the 2012 UK Olympic legacy appears to be paying off in performances at Rio.
Don Macdonald
London
• Simon Jenkins is right. The sight of UK athletes wrapping themselves in the union flag is somewhat undignified. Winning like we are now is just not British. We are used to being a bit rubbish. We like being rubbish. The English football team knows how to do it.
Tony Cima
Winstone, Gloucestershire
• I have but one response to the miserable carping of Simon Jenkins and his attack on the baffling hysterics from our BBC commentators over such issues as the hamfisted draping of the union jack. Thank you. I now feel less alone.
Dr Tudor Rickards
Woodford, Cheshire
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