WITH each Olympic gold medal for every British competitor the Union Flag is raised and there is a sycophantic dirge inviting God to ‘Save the Queen’.

Why? Did Her Maj win a medal?

What is wrong with composing an anthem more appropriate to the occasion?

The Americans aren’t any better. Yet another gold and up goes Old Glory and what do they sing? Something about the war of 1812.

Still there’s nothing to compare with a lusty American contralto belting out Oh say can you see? at a conference of Barbershop quartets.

As for the French, celebrating a bloody revolution that went sour doesn’t seem a good idea.

But when a French athlete wins a gold medal it’s nice to know that the day of glory has arrived.

Maybe it doesn’t matter.

Maybe the Games’ white elephant will eventually defeat the ‘great bank swindle’ in the bankruptcy stakes.

GL SAMSON, Preston Road, Abingdon