PR FROM THE BEACH

All over now

So the Olympics concludes. I had recorded the closing ceremony to watch later - and later turned out to be last night. Found myself squirming with embarrassment when the London 'entertainment' began. Jimmy Page, David Beckham, a little girl via Blue Peter and a double decker bus - what were they thinking? And as for the dancers in the bus queue - when, oh, when will the UK move on from tireless references to the 1960s? But then we should remember that behind the naff dancers lurk the shady and controlling event organisers. Organisers who, for example, kept a tight rein on the 'blog' they set up to supposedly take post-launch feedback on the London Olympic logo that apparently caused people to have seizures. The fact that they only allowed 'nice' comments to appear about the logo speaks volumes. People may have thought that China had an iron grip on publicity surrounding the 2008 Olympics - just watch as the grip tightens around the London 2012 games.

My only other observation concerns Boris Johnson. I am a big fan of Boris - when he is at work as a journalist. He is a superb writer and commentator and I have enjoyed his observations for many years. But I still have doubts - serious doubts - as to his capability as a politician and Mayor of London at that. As he twirled the Olympic flag and got very excited waving to the crowd, I couldn't help but be reminded of another famous Mayor, also called Boris. As Boris Johnson strolled down the red carpet with the other officials, the person he reminded me of most was Boris Yeltsin, erstwhile Mayor of Moscow if my memory serves me correctly. Hmm. Wonder how it will turn out for London's Boris in the end. Can't say I am too hopeful. Still, he can always go back to journalism and no doubt he will have some good stories to tell when he does. I just worry about what will happen to London, and the City's reputation, in the interim.

Has US medal mania surplanted good sportsmanship?

Like many millions, I have been watching the Olympics at a distance, full of admiration for those who simply compete as well as those who win. Those dedicated individuals who have trained, worked and sweated their way to be there, often overcoming considerable obstacles in the process. The discussions around the opening ceremony where the singing child was reportedly replaced by a 'prettier' version were not surprising, nor the digital enhancement of the fireworks - such things were always to be expected.

However, I have been both mildly amused and very disappointed by the manipulation of the medal tables by the USA. A recent Guardian blog post showed how USA media is manipulating the medal figures so that it looks like the States are 'in the lead' over China. How silly. Perhaps it is due to my British upbringing, but 'fair play' and 'being a sporting loser' were given as much emphasis as the winning itself.

People often, in my experience, manipulate reporting mechanisms to create favourable perceptions, rather accept and learn from the reality of a situation. As an individual, does it matter to me that China has more golds than the USA? Of course not - I simply admire each of the individual athletes and competitors who have done so well and think all this table manipulation makes those undertaking it look like complete losers.

I heard of another 'table' via a friend - although I can't track down the link - that ranks medal winners proportionately depending on the population size. Slovenia wins on that one, with my adopted homeland, New Zealand, coming a close second. Apparently, per person, the UK would have to win something like 126 medals to equal the NZ achievement. I don't know how true this all is and personally, I take it with a large pinch of salt. But one thing I do believe to be true is that media commentators - and the media moguls who control them - should think carefully before they get into the type of manipulation and misrepresentation visible on the 'tables' they put before their audiences.

Ultimately, they damage their country's reputation, demonstrating only a petty, small-mindedness, just when their talented citizens have achieved so much for the nations they represent.