New countries on the Olympic medal table

While attention has been on true olympic greats like Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt three nations are celebrating their first ever Olympic medals"

On Saturday Erick Barrondo became the first Guatemalan to reach an Olympic podium when he won silver in the 20km walk

Yesterday afternoon Pavlos Kontides won the first medal for Cyprus when he came second in the Laser sailing class

Last night Grenadan Kirani James won the men's 400m title in emphatic style. He is now the reigning world and olympic champion.

Congratulations to all three sportsmen

Old Jews Telling Jokes again

Meanwhile

Ach my uncle took a fall in hospital. Although no bones broken (and the hospital is not at fault at all). I wnder if it won't be long before he is a hospice.

Britons continue to sit their way to olympic glory

Another good day so far t the Olympics with the GB winning their 40th medal so far(18 Golds, 11 Silvers and 11 Bronzes) with two more medals absolutely guaranteed (boxers that have so far reached the semi-finals of their events)

As in Beijng Britain seems to excel in sports which involve sitting on or in something, be it bike horse or something that floats

Of the 18 Gold Medals, 13 have been won sitting down (in Canoeing, Cycling, Showjumping , Sailing and Rowing) versus five standing (in Athletics Shoting and Tennis)

Of the 11 silvers the situation is a bit more even with six sitting medals (in Canoeing, Sailing, 3 Day eventing and of curse cycling) against five not sitting (gymnastics, judo, swimming tennis and athletics)

Amazingly when we look at the bronzes not sitting sports are in the majority with five from sitting (Rowing and cycling) and six from non-siting events (Judo, Gymnastics, and swimming)

That makes a total of 24 medals for sitting, and 16 for standing! 

yes I know it's more complicated than that but why spoil a good stereotype!

And a bit of Robert Calvert

Meanwhile back at the Olympics

For a Briton the first half of the games have been a delight well after a shaky start and a few early disappointments and six gold medals yesterday in sports I actually enjoy watching.

But analysis etc can wait. Today's Guardian coverage of the one medal being decided in the velodrom today - in the Omnium (a cycling version of the heptathlon or the decathlon)

The omnium is about to start. The only Olympic discipline named after a flight of fancy by Flann O'Brien, incidentally, who had "omnium" down as the stuff of life in his novel The Third Policeman. In that novel, the scholar and philosopher De Selby set up a complicated mechanism featuring postcards and shipping equipment which allowed him to travel all around the world without ever leaving his bedroom. His theories were never disproved, according to O'Brien.

 

Glad to see the author of my favourite novel getting a mention.

 

Meanwhile one hurdler who crashed out of the women's 400m hurdles having hit one of the hurdles had the unfortunate name of Vania Stambalova.....

Well close enough!

A busy day

Spent a lot of time today dealing with my parents and my uncle who is back in hospital. He has gone downhill fast but at least he will have a palliative care nurse when he comes out of hospital. That should be a big help for mum and dad who really won't be able to cope if, rather when, things go really start to get worse.

Relations between ourselves and Izzy' owners are not going well  but then the husband considers rudeness to be a virtue.

Another Yellow Pink

From Morning Glory to Afternoon Shame

Deformed Hollyhock