30 Olympic questions spilling out of the XXXth Games

20 – Whenever athletes ties for third place, as happened with American gymnast Aly Raisman twice, is it really that important to resort to some arcane tiebreaking procedure? Wouldn’t it simply to be better to reward two bronze medals?

Comical moment

21 – Has there ever been a funnier predicament for an Olympic VIP than that experienced by good-natured London Mayor Boris Johnson, who got stuck suspended above Victoria Park  while riding on a zip line? Johnson, the chief cheerleader for the Games, was waving two Union Jacks and having a ball when the malfunction occurred.

Pair of Michaels

22 – Since Michael Phelps has said on numerous occasions how much he admires Michael Jordan, would Jordan be well advised to connect with Phelps in some way? Perhaps by making him a partner in running the NBA’s lowly Charlotte Bobcats. Phelps would bring a winning aura, even if just as public ambassador.

Net height

23 – Is it time to raise the height of the net in men’s volleyball? The top of the net is shade under eight off the floor, yet there are seven-footers playing the game. Russia’s team is actually taller than the men’s US basketball team.

Team branding

24 – Was there a more inspired idea for naming a national squad than calling Great Britain’s medal-wining contingent Team GB?

Amazing marksman

25 – How inspiring must it have been for the world’s visually challenged population to learn that legally blind South Korean archer Im Dong-hyun won a gold medal while setting a world record?

Environmentally friendly

26 – Will London’s decision to build large, recyclable temporary venues for some sports lead to more such facilities at future Olympics? The Basketball Arena, nicknamed “The Mattress” because of its appearance, is the largest temporary arena ever constructed for the Olympics. After the games parts of it will be reused or relocated. 

Spitting image

27 – Was that Dominican gymnast who spit in her hands before vaulting possibly influenced by the batting routine of David “Big Papi” Ortiz, the Dominican slugging star of the Boston Red Sox, who spits on his batting gloves between pitches?

On-route race watching

28 – Did any TV coverage put viewers more in the middle of the action than that provided in the cycling road races? The shots from a motorbike were a testament to high-speed driving skills and fearless camera work.

Royal couple

29 – Wouldn’t you love to know what the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (Will and Kate) most enjoyed watching as they made their Olympic rounds – that is beyond cheering for fellow royal Zara Phillips in the equestrian competition?

Stunning scenery

30 – Will there ever be another Olympic host city that makes such spectacular use of its urban backdrops as London?

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