大象传媒

While the at the Games, for individual countries, it is of huge significance.

For Britain, and with the 2012 Games being held in London, the pressure is on to deliver in Beijing.

The target is to finish fourth in the medal table in four years and an estimated total of 18 golds is needed to achieve that aim.

Indeed, a tally of 18 gold medals would have put Team GB in the top four at any previous Games.

And maybe fourth on the medal table is as good as GB can hope for, considering our returns from recent Olympics and the domination of USA, Russia and China.

America boasts the best record having never finished lower than third in the medal table, apart from in 1980 when they boycotted the Moscow Games.

In fact, America has only finished third on two occasions, both times because of the

The first time was at the 1976 Games.

The Soviet Union, helped by the gymnastic feats of and (pictured above), won 49 gold medals in Montreal to top the table.

And although USA secured the second highest total number of medals with 94, the East German team, which was later proved to have embarked on a massive doping programme, finished above them in the table by virtue of having won six more golds.

East Germany again pushed America into third at the 1988 Seoul Games, but since then, normal service has been resumed and Team USA has topped the table at the last three Olympics.

But coupled with home advantage, threatens to usurp the American domination again.

However, back to Britain - if you consider that, apart from the 56 golds in 1908, the most gold medals GB has ever won at a single Olympics is 15 in 1900 and 1920, is 18 gold medals a realistic target for 2012?

And while you're at it, how about a prediction for medals for Beijing?