Dave and I are not sports fans. I do not have to sit through endless football, golf or hockey games while my husband cheers on his favourite team. The only sport I like to watch is figure skating so, when fall rolls around, I just glue my self to the screen and admire triple axels, flips and all sorts of impossible jumps and spins.

However both of us love to watch the Olympics, not necessarily to cheer on the home team, we just enjoy the competition of all those talented athletes.

I do think it is a very uneven playing field, as some countries spend countless millions on training their athletes, no expense is spared in making sure that their men and women get the best training so they can go out and face the world and bring home medals. Other athletes get practically no help and have to hold down regular employment, whilst training in their free time.

It used to be that professional athletes could not take part in the Olympics, it was just amateur facing amateur, all intent on doing their very best for the honour of competing and representing their country.

Rules change and what used to be a genuine sporting event is now spoiled with the cloud of drugs being used to make athletes stronger and faster. How disheartening to the genuine athlete who relies purely on his ability to do his utmost to win the event.

Countries spend multimillions on building facilities to house the events, more millions on opening and closing spectacles and even more on security. They then have to charge so much for tickets that most people cannot afford to go. So, like Dave and I, most of the world rely on the TV to bring the Olympics to the masses.

Despite the interruptions of ads, the television gives us an excellent view of the athletes in action. I especially like diving and gymnasium events and the close up views and instant replays are marvellous for the armchair critic to give his opinion. The concentration of a man, holding the “iron cross” position, on the rings, is so visible that I can almost feel the strain. What an immense amount of training it took for him to be able to hold that position. The camera shot of the diver who stands on his hands, at the very edge of the board, is so close that I can see his fingers splayed out on the board. Such is the power of TV.

The brevity of some of the outfits worn by the athletes, seems to be pushing the limit of gravity. Beach volleyball must be very uncomfortable when you fall on your bare backside on sand. Same with the triple jump, a short run, two large strides then a long jump over the sand. Quite often landing, and sliding, on your rear. Why then do women want to do this while wearing a bikini? Isn’t sandpaper meant for removing the surface of something, if so, why do you want to rub your bare skin on sand?

Compare the bikini of dry land sports to the Victorian looking swimsuits of some of the swimming heats. Sleek, half body suits and cap, sometimes two caps, may shave off a millisecond but that speck of time may make the difference of winning or not.

The importance placed on winning a medal is a terrific pressure, is the wonderful achievement of making it to the Olympics not thrill enough? You have to be one of your country’s best, at your sport, to be included. A wonderful honour in itself.

The results of the final matches at team sports are quite strange. The team fighting for bronze is ecstatic when they win, hugging and cheering and generally so happy with their performance. Quite different attitude from the team who loses the gold/silver match. The losers of this game are disappointed and really upset to be second. They have just won a silver medal, how disappointing is that?

Whatever sport they participated in, job well done! To the athletes, coaches and parents of these spectacular young people, you gave us two wonderful weeks of watching your achievements, long may you continue to enjoy your sport. However, the Whalley household can now go back to Coronation Street five nights a week and wait for the winter Olympics.