FIVE RING CIRCUS

The close of the Beijing Olympics highlighted how the fickle finger of sporting performance can enhance, trash or merely reinforce reputations of individual athletes and the countries they represent.

China proved its value as host with magnificent venues and a medal table-topping haul of gold, silver and bronze. However, faced with ‘fake’ singers, digitally-enhanced fireworks, allegedly underage gymnasts and officials for whom the concept of flexibility simply didn’t exist, the Games underlined many sinister suspicions – unfounded or otherwise – which many people have about the world’s biggest nation.

Greece showed how far its stock had fallen since Athens hosted the Olympics only four years earlier. Having been praised for bringing the Games back to its spiritual home with élan, the country’s fortunes took a dive when the bulk of its weightlifting squad were barred for drugs offences. Even 2004’s golden girl, hurdler Fani Halkia, fell foul of the dope testers in a very modern Greek tragedy.

The competitive showing of the Cuban team was perhaps a metaphor for the country’s current political pickle and for the health of Fidel Castro. Once virtually unbeatable in many of the boxing divisions and a credible challenge to the superpowers on the track, its athletes returned home with just a brace of golds. The frustrations were perhaps most vividly displayed when a tae kwon do athlete kicked a referee in the face after being disqualified.

Of reputations enhanced, there were many. From Usain ‘Lightning’ Bolt’s triple triumph to Michael Phelps’ eight victories, the 2008 Olympics produced many fine and deserved champions. Team GB’s unexpectedly golden Games delivered a very British take on success. Of all those associated with a fourth placed finish – from velodrome dominance to Rebecca Adlington’s being peerless in her two disciplines in the pool – there were stories of reputations made and sporting careers redeemed.

But the real reputation requiring as much vigilance as athletes put in training year-‘round is London. Now the Olympic host to-be, Britain’s capital needs to guard against failing to fully exploit its moment. Mayor Boris Johnson may have struck a positive tone in declaring that ‘ping-pong is coming home’ shortly after taking delivery of the Olympic flag but he and his colleagues have much work to do.

If not managed properly, ticketing, construction projects, funding and support for athletes can all impact negatively on their handling of the biggest event in world sport and determine whether 2012 will see Britain taking gold or merely fool’s gold.