It’s bread and circuses on a monumental scale. It clouds real issues of social injustice and environmental degradation. It highlights specific people with specific sporting abilities and elevates them to celebrity status, or ignores them completely. It mirrors life, in that the rich (both financially and in terms of time) get the rewards and the poor come last.

On the other hand it’s great television. At times, anyway.

So what about these Beijing games in particular? China’s a repressive regime, sure, but gee they’ve come a long way in a short time. I can remember President Nixon (of all people) brokering the deal that sold them Boeing 707s for gold bullion back in what must have been the early 1970s… they were very much keeping to themselves before that and not open to change at all. To move such a large number of people from total state-control to a (yes, imperfect, but aren’t we all) semi-empowered state is the remarkable and inspiring thing. That they haven’t conquered their fear of letting strategic locations like Tibet “go” is certainly lamentable and oppressive. But full credit to the Chinese people for making a huge stride forward from obscurity to the world stage in just 30 years or so. That’s me trying to be balanced about it!

And yes, let’s keep the pressure on all nations to improve their care for and of their people, their rights and the planet and its non-human cargo as well. Maybe the showy excesses of big events like the Olympics cloud the real issues at times, but perhaps also it moves us all closer together in understanding. That’s if we bother to think about it.

It’s bread and circuses on a monumental scale. It clouds real issues of social injustice and environmental degradation. It highlights specific people with specific sporting abilities and elevates them to celebrity status, or ignores them completely. It mirrors life, in that the rich (both financially and in terms of time) get the rewards and the poor come last.

On the other hand it’s great television. At times, anyway.

So what about these Beijing games in particular? China’s a repressive regime, sure, but gee they’ve come a long way in a short time. I can remember President Nixon (of all people) brokering the deal that sold them Boeing 707s for gold bullion back in what must have been the early 1970s… they were very much keeping to themselves before that and not open to change at all. To move such a large number of people from total state-control to a (yes, imperfect, but aren’t we all) semi-empowered state is the remarkable and inspiring thing. That they haven’t conquered their fear of letting strategic locations like Tibet “go” is certainly lamentable and oppressive. But full credit to the Chinese people for making a huge stride forward from obscurity to the world stage in just 30 years or so. That’s me trying to be balanced about it!

And yes, let’s keep the pressure on all nations to improve their care for and of their people, their rights and the planet and its non-human cargo as well. Maybe the showy excesses of big events like the Olympics cloud the real issues at times, but perhaps also it moves us all closer together in understanding. That’s if we bother to think about it.

Well, maybe, maybe not. For every one caught in testing, how many are missed? We are led to believe that a “catch” is a sign that “the system works”. However if we don’t know who is getting away with it how can we claim success? All we can say for sure is that those who are caught face humiliation and varying degrees of punishment, depending upon the severity, any past infringements and the sport concerned. Fair? Maybe, maybe not?

Ukraine’s Olympic heptathlon silver medallist Liudmyla Blonska has failed a drugs test, the IOC confirmed. The 30-year-old’s A sample tested positive for a banned substance, but the IOC source said they were still awaiting the results of the B sample.Blonska’s is the fifth drugs case of the Beijing Games. Spanish cyclist Maria Isabel Moreno tested positive for EPO, North Korean shooting medallist Kim-Jong-Su (betablockers), Vietnamese gymnast Do Thi Ngan Thuong (diuretic) while Greece’s rarely seen 2004 Olympic 400 metres hurdles champion Fani Halkia, tested positive for steroids at a training camp.

Well, maybe, maybe not. For every one caught in testing, how many are missed? We are led to believe that a “catch” is a sign that “the system works”. However if we don’t know who is getting away with it how can we claim success? All we can say for sure is that those who are caught face humiliation and varying degrees of punishment, depending upon the severity, any past infringements and the sport concerned. Fair? Maybe, maybe not?

Ukraine’s Olympic heptathlon silver medallist Liudmyla Blonska has failed a drugs test, the IOC confirmed. The 30-year-old’s A sample tested positive for a banned substance, but the IOC source said they were still awaiting the results of the B sample.Blonska’s is the fifth drugs case of the Beijing Games. Spanish cyclist Maria Isabel Moreno tested positive for EPO, North Korean shooting medallist Kim-Jong-Su (betablockers), Vietnamese gymnast Do Thi Ngan Thuong (diuretic) while Greece’s rarely seen 2004 Olympic 400 metres hurdles champion Fani Halkia, tested positive for steroids at a training camp.

It’s been 4 years since Brad McGee finished 8th overall in the Giro, and – hmmm – 3 years since we last saw him absolutely flying. It’s hard to remember some of the details, what with the constant drug-related Tour “lowlights” of the past few years, but Brad looked to have the goods back then and was, to some at least, looking to claim his stake on the Tour lead back then. I remember he was in a break, flying up and down mountains, taking a few risks. He was putting his hand up as a contender. But he crashed instead.

But he’s fixed his physical problems – a cyst behind the knee, not the back problem he thought he had – and is ready to go. And he’s only 32. The slightly revamped CyclingNews.com has a good interview today: McGee may have been some way off gold in the world championships but, with his injury problems now appearing to have been resolved, with a new team and a good race programme helping to build his form and with over four months to go until Beijing, he could have a very successful Olympic campaign. All going to plan, Bradley versus Bradley fighting it out for the gold medal is a real possibility.

Which brings me to what I feel could happen in Beijing. Britain is on a high, they have peaked for their home World Champs after all – and it is very hard to maintain that level, or even to peak again in 4 months. It’s certainly do-able, but it won’t be the same. Not every rider who medalled in Manchester will reach the same peak – and let’s face it, the riders from other countries will be peaking as well. And they may well be aiming higher.

So I’d expect to see Britain drop slightly overall but still be picking up medals aplenty. Thy may just be silver or bronze rather than gold. Which leaves the door open to the French, Dutch and Australian riders to pull out some outstanding performances. They know the gap, and they have the time. Let’s see who can bridge the gap and beat the Brits in Beijing.

It’s been 4 years since Brad McGee finished 8th overall in the Giro, and – hmmm – 3 years since we last saw him absolutely flying. It’s hard to remember some of the details, what with the constant drug-related Tour “lowlights” of the past few years, but Brad looked to have the goods back then and was, to some at least, looking to claim his stake on the Tour lead back then. I remember he was in a break, flying up and down mountains, taking a few risks. He was putting his hand up as a contender. But he crashed instead.

But he’s fixed his physical problems – a cyst behind the knee, not the back problem he thought he had – and is ready to go. And he’s only 32. The slightly revamped CyclingNews.com has a good interview today: McGee may have been some way off gold in the world championships but, with his injury problems now appearing to have been resolved, with a new team and a good race programme helping to build his form and with over four months to go until Beijing, he could have a very successful Olympic campaign. All going to plan, Bradley versus Bradley fighting it out for the gold medal is a real possibility.

Which brings me to what I feel could happen in Beijing. Britain is on a high, they have peaked for their home World Champs after all – and it is very hard to maintain that level, or even to peak again in 4 months. It’s certainly do-able, but it won’t be the same. Not every rider who medalled in Manchester will reach the same peak – and let’s face it, the riders from other countries will be peaking as well. And they may well be aiming higher.

So I’d expect to see Britain drop slightly overall but still be picking up medals aplenty. Thy may just be silver or bronze rather than gold. Which leaves the door open to the French, Dutch and Australian riders to pull out some outstanding performances. They know the gap, and they have the time. Let’s see who can bridge the gap and beat the Brits in Beijing.

What does it mean? Not a lot. Evans was 2nd in the test RR and now Evans and Rogers are 1 and 2 in the test TT. Against good but not the best competition. As a result it shows little but as a test of how Beijing will cope with the road cycling events it’s a step forward. The Aussies weer there to test the facilities and scope the course, so it’s job done. It at least means they know the course more intimately than the likely top-flight competition.

CN reports here on the 23km TT.

What does it mean? Not a lot. Evans was 2nd in the test RR and now Evans and Rogers are 1 and 2 in the test TT. Against good but not the best competition. As a result it shows little but as a test of how Beijing will cope with the road cycling events it’s a step forward. The Aussies weer there to test the facilities and scope the course, so it’s job done. It at least means they know the course more intimately than the likely top-flight competition.

CN reports here on the 23km TT.