Our battle with Britain over bragging rights has become one of the amusing sideshows of these Olympics with Fleet Street chest beating about "Team GB" and its great haul of China.

The fact that a country with three times our population has managed to outstrip our tally is not something we would have thought would normally cause such pandemonium.

That said, it's interesting how the British Government has succeeded in "buying" gold, silver and bronze in Beijing. The government has poured a huge amount into grooming athletes for these Games and to build momentum for the London Games in four years.

Naturally, that's led to calls for an injection of funds in Australia as we size up one of our more disappointing Olympic performances in recent Games.

Winning medals is all well and good - and don't we love to see it. But if we are to commit more money to elite sport let's hope there's plenty left to encourage sporting activity at a grassroots level across all communities.

And on another issue ....

We've long said it: Picton Rd is a shocker. Now police are alarmed at the forecast increase in Port Kembla traffic. However, the man meant to champion our cause, the Minister for the Illawarra (and Police), David Campbell, does not seem to see the urgency to act. What is he waiting for? More data or another death?