大象传媒

Watching sport should be fun. And usually it is. Unless you're watching an event where you have a vested interest.

Like Sunday's women's archery team tournament at the Olympics in Beijing.

As the media adviser to Archery GB, I know Alison Williamson, Naomi Folkard and Charlotte Burgess, and have a great deal of time and respect for all three of them.

So obviously I was willing them to win a medal. Gold was a tall order - the Koreans are quite simply phenomenal, but silver was a possibility; bronze I'd have settled for.

Alas, , after defeats to China in the semi-finals, and then France in the bronze medal shoot-off. I was mortified.

But if I was disappointed, then how must Alison, Naomi and Charlotte have felt? The tears said it all.

I think what made this even more disappointing is that I know that Alison, Naomi and Charlotte justify their world ranking of number two, and if I am totally honest I suppose my expectations were high.

But that reflects the faith I have in all three of them. Oh, and if I'm brutally honest, I was also thinking of the great publicity and profile for archery that winning a medal would bring!

That said, it was wonderful to see archer featuring on live television. And though the result wasn't what we wanted, it was certainly a gripping watch, when I could bear to look!

But I am an eternal optimist, and the three Brits will bounce back. Indeed, sometimes a kick in the proverbial teeth can make you more resolute, and I have no doubt that they will turn up for the individual tournament in the week more determined than ever.

, and they have the ability individually and collectively make up for Sunday's disappointment.

I'll be a cheerleader in chief once again. But will I able to cope with the tension?