大象传媒

With less than a month to go to the Beijing opening ceremony, the cards are appearing on the table.

UK Sport have played their hand: It is neither bullish nor pessimistic but they might be wishing a few more of the best Brits were going for the top of the podium in the first week of competition.

Checking out the sports programme, it looks a bit lean, on days one to six, and let's face it, our

We got off to a flyer in Sydney when on day one, Jason Queally came home with an unexpected cycling gold, and that moment is often credited as being the great catalyst in the holding camp for settling some of the doubts, and girding a few loins for what was to come.

So, this time it falls to judo player on day one in Beijing to give GB an early confidence boost.

He's a former world champion in his weight category, and on his day is as good as anyone. It would be good for morale if he's actually better than everyone on Saturday, 9 August.

Realistically, the archers are medal prospects on day two, but gold's asking a lot.

might manage it in the women's cycling road race, but any medal would be a result.

Teen sensation spins off the high diving platform with in the men's 10m synchro on day three, but there'll be a national inquiry if the hosts don't sweep the diving golds.

All eyes on Hong Kong by midweek with the climax of the , should be relief and a gong or two but it'll hardly be an avalanche.

There's the chance of a couple more judo medals on Wednesday, but the hue might not be so lustrous, ditto in the pool. Lots of effort, but probably not a huge reward.

On Thursday, could conceivably weave his canoe down the slalom course quicker than the field, but again, that would be a helluva job well done.

Friday looks hopeful, with the men's team favourites for the cycling sprint, but nonetheless the headline writers of the Saturday sports supplements are going to be twitching, with what might well be an anaemic first week return.

They'd better pace themselves however, because if all goes according to plan, the Sunday hacks are going to be overwhelmed, reporting on a gold rush akin to the when the rowers, cyclists and sailors begin to bring home the bacon on

The question is, can we all hang on that long?