Olympic Update: The World Is Sick of China

I watched plenty of Olympic coverage today and what struck me the most was the commentators', and indeed the world's, increasing frustration with China.

Even Britain's 14-year-old diving superstar Tom Daley managed to say twice in an after event interview how happy he was that a Chinese athlete didn't win!

Listening to the commentators' often undertoned remarks was a real surprise to me. I believe there is certainly a view from those involved with the Olympics that things aren't quite right in Beijing.

Let's be realistic, these feelings haven't just sprung up over night.

It started with the mess surrounding the torch relay and the protests over China's questionable human rights record. That was more than enough for me to question the selection of Beijing.

Next up were the rumours about the opening ceremony and the news that so much of it was fake. A pretty face to a song, special effects in the fireworks display, and busing spectators in to fill the empty seats.

If that's how it started, what would they do for a gold medal? Where would it end?

I think people (commentators included) who I'm sure have always wondered about these things, are starting to voice their concerns out loud. Don't get me wrong. No one is saying that during the action the Chinese are cheating, but they're certainly asking the question.

Today in the 67 kg women's taekwondo quarterfinal, Britain's Sarah Stevenson defeated her Chinese opponent Zhong Chen in the final seconds with a thunderous kick to the face. You could see the moisture leave her face. It was so obvious she'd made contact.

But the judges said no (even after an unusual deliberation) and awarded the match to China. There was complete uproar among the British coaches and throughout commentating circles. It was hard to see anything but cheating!

Thankfully, though, sense prevailed, and after a protest Stevenson was awarded the win. But what happened with the judges?

The Brit didn't have time to prepare for her semi and was beaten convincingly by a woman she'd beaten twice before. She did recover, however, to claim the bronze medal. Well done to her. I can't imagine competing surrounded by such controversy.

All I can say is that it must surely be the end of the day for Olympic taekwondo. No matter where I turned after that moment, I could hear the anti-Chinese sentiment and it was deafening.

There is still some good news to report, however. Britain now have 19 gold medals.

Tim Brabants won gold in his kayak yesterday and recovered to claim a bronze today. True grit and class. How lucky is Brabants that he competes in a sport without judges, I wonder?

Britain are also back on top in a more traditional sport.

Boxing is still a major British sport and once again we have an Olympic champion. James De Gale won the middleweight gold with a narrow but secure 16/14 point win over Cuba's Emilio Correa.

Well done to him and well done again to Team Great Britain. You have been fantastic!

To China I say, I really hope you're couture.