Quiet return for British team

THEY emerged into the arrivals hall, looking tanned and relaxed and content with the events of the past two weeks. Then came the British Olympics team, quietly slipping in among the hordes of tourists returning home at Gatwick Airport yesterday morning.

"They're taking their time coming out," quipped one tourist.

"Well I suppose they're used to coming last," replied his friend, adding that the best part of spending the last two weeks in Turkey was that he hardly saw any of the Atlanta Olympics.

"Even Turkey won more gold medals than we did," he added.

The dearth of medals ensured that the British team was given a tepid reception by a handful of supporters and a slightly larger group of holiday makers, most of whom were only loitering around waiting for lifts home.

The team's arrival went virtually unnoticed but a small cheer did go up when Roger Black, who won two silver medals, and oars man Matthew Pinsent, Britain's only gold medal success, emerged to greet the small but loyal band of well wishers.

But, with Britain finishing 36th in the medals table, there was little time to dwell on their victories.

Black called on the government to invest in British sport and was quick to defend his colleagues.

He said: "We did everything we could. The world of sport is getting tougher and the British athletes did their best.

We have not put enough money into British sport, whereas other countries have done so and seen the results . . . If younger athletes are encouraged then we will see Britain getting more gold medals and in ten years time we will be celebrating when the right people make the right decisions.

Javelin thrower Steve Backley, who won a silver medal, claimed that the British team was not responsible for its poor performance.

"It is not that we did not do so well, it is that everyone is getting better," he said. Most team members however, were left comforting themselves with the Olympian adage that participating is just as important as winning.

Soma Singh, a member of the British hockey team said: "It was an excellent experience. It's the world's greatest tournament and it was fantastic to be a part of it.

"We are disappointed with the medals count but morale within the team has been very good. If you look at other teams and the financial support they get then it's no wonder that they are picking up the medals."

Fencer James Williams, who reached the last 16, was busy drinking a glass of champagne as he was greeted by his family.