Rings Of Gold

If the facilities at Shanghai for the Chinese Grand Prix are anything to go on then the Beijing Olympics should be a stunning success. Anyone who has been to the still relatively new Grand Prix circuit has been bowled over by its stunning design and modernity. The Chinese being the Chinese, they will make it a matter of national pride to ensure that the Games, which begin on Friday with the opening ceremony inside the “Birds’ Nest” stadium, go according to plan.

• More gold medals for Britain than ever before since the war. Look out for cycling in particular, as well as sailing and rowing, to be our main mines of gold, with maybe a few more coming from the worlds of track and field, swimming, canoeing and boxing.
• Many, many, many medals won by Chinese competitors, quite a few of whom will be virtually unknown. The optimist will put it down to home advantage and national pride. The pessimist may put it down to something else.
• Drugs – as sure as smog follows smog in Beijing we will have the usual cases. Let’s hope they are a) not British and b) not medallists
• Michael Phelps: the potential story of the Games as the American swimmer goes for 8 gold medals and a new Olympic record. And this from a man who was so scared of dunking his head in water as a kid that he learnt the back-stroke first!

Two further observations. Would F1 ever work at the Olympics? Can you imagine the drivers doing it for their country, and for free? Thought not.
Secondly, have just been asked to write about the women’s beach volleyball. It’s a tough job, as they say - but someone’s got to do it!

Ian Stafford is climbing the 19,340-foot Mount Kilimanjaro in October to raise money for The Teenage Cancer Trust and the Matt Hampson trust (a spinal injuries and research trust). All monies go directly to these causes. If you want to make a donation visit http://www.justgiving.com/ianstafford