So the Brits are gloating over their “superior” medal haul at the Beijing Olympics.

A total of 47 medals, compared to 46 for Australia. Wow, one extra medal (5 more Gold, 2 less Silver and 2 less Bronze). Yet if you look at it compared to population numbers, they have nearly three times the population — 61 million Brits versus 21 million Aussies — but nowhere near three times the “superiority” on the dais.

From another perspective, Great Britain is made up of four separate countries (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), versus just one country (Australia).

Australia competes on its own at both the Commonwealth Games and the Olympic Games — so why don’t England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?