TYLDESLEY'S 2000 Olympic canoeing silver medallist Paul Ratcliffe should have been in Greece to do battle for gold -- but his place had to be given up to accommodate a place for the host nation.

That was the explanation commentators gave on Thursday when Paul, who despite a poor season by his standards had still qualified for the Games event, should have been taking part in the K1 kayak heats. How fair is that?

Paul, who must have been desperately disappointed, may as well have been there because he was mentioned repeatedly. His battling "deputy" Campbell Walsh also finished in silver position but could so easily have won if he had not been too presumptuous.

If Paul was watching he must have wished it could have been him, but I'm sure once the disillusion lifts he'll be back to his winning ways.

It's been a funny old games.

In the first week the supporters were conspicuous by their absence, and, unlike in Oz, there's still seems to be plenty of spare seats.

I wonder how many like me are square-eyed after absorbing every minute available.

I've never watched archery before and was struck by the way the competitors distort their faces with the bow strings. The British lad's nose was so turned up by the way he positioned the string that he looked like Bluebottle "You rotten swine" from The Goons.

There's also a new commentators' language including "medalling" and "a big ask" instead of a tall order.

All in all I've thoroughly enjoyed all events (except boxing), and I have to agree with Wogan who made me laugh when, before Kelly Holmes' 800m track gold, he said we were only good at sitting down events.

It's true, with medals coming thick and fast in the rich men's sports of horse riding, sailing and rowing -- and cycling.