When the Indian contingent arrives from Beijing with three medals, sports administrators in New Delhi, after the cheering and the celebrations, may like to look at London for an answer to what creative planning, innovative funding and accountability can do.

Take British cyclist Chris Hoy. In 1996, he travelled to Moscow for the European Under-23 Championship with his own bicycle and with one set of spare wheels. Britain’s cash-strapped cycling governing body couldn’t afford to send an accompanying official and after his return from Moscow, Hoy had to return his tracksuit so that it could be used by other cyclists.

Now 32 and almost at the end of his career, Hoy is enjoying an unprecedented harvest of Olympic golds in Beijing.

With three gold medals, Hoy became Britain’s most successful Olympian — the first to get three medals in a single Olympics since Henry Taylor in London 1908. “It’s an unbelievable feeling to achieve the absolute maximum you possibly can,” he said.

Similar success stories have been coming from all quarters of Britain’s Olympic contingent. Things got off to a perfect start when 19-year-old Rebecca Adlington won gold in 400 m freestyle and, a couple of days later, created a sensational world record to win the 800 m freestyle. In those moments of glory, she went from being an unknown athlete to the greatest British swimmer in 100 years. “If somebody said to me that I would win two Olympic golds, I would’ve laughed,” said Adlington, still crying in disbelief.

... contd.