by Chris Jones

Created on: September 03, 2008   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

So the Olympics jamboree has now finished and we can now sit back and digest what we have learnt from the sport that has taken place.

There have been some truly memorable and spectacular performances both individual and by teams. We've seen Usain Bolt and Jamaica destroy three world records on the track, we've seen the British cycling team seemingly own the cycling velodrome and Michael Phelps win all.

All three of those dominated in their area of expertise so much so that others barely got a look in if at all. So is that a good thing ?

Sport is all about competition and trying to be the very best you can be and hope that you are better than your rivals. In a strange way, it could be argued that there was no real competition on the track, in the pool and on the cycling track when Bolt, Phelps and the GB cycling team turned up.

Looking at Usain Bolt, he was so far and away the best athlete on show in his events that it raises some questions. With the way the events turned out, he could have run relatively badly for him and still won at a canter or should that be sprint ? The best of the rest are only chasing second place and it certainly makes you wonder how the other athletes must feel knowing that however well they may run, they have no hope of winning. It must be very demoralising and demotivating to know you cannot win. To take that a step further, is Usain Bolt's amazing performances hurting competition in those events ?

The GB cycling team won all but three gold medals on the cycling track a truly amazing performance. Add to that, two silver and a bronze and other medals given up by riders who concentrated on team events rather than individual ones and you see the complete dominance of the track. Its staggering how one programme can be so far ahead of everyone else. In the men's team pursuit, the GB team beat their nearest rivals by nearly 7 seconds a huge amount. The vast majority of that team will be around for London 2012 and the unofficial aim is to win gold at all events on the track and who would bet against them doing just that ?

It was interesting to hear members of the French and Dutch cycling teams question whether it was worth them continuing for another 4 years to the next Olympics when they knew they would be very unlikely to beat the British riders. So are the GB riders so good that the opposition won't bother to turn up ? How can that be good for competitive sport ?

Michael Phelps is clearly a swimming phenomenon. He has become untouchable so it

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