London Mayor Boris Johnson has told SBS Senior Correspondent Brian Thomson that Team GB's lack of medal success is down to “natural British restraint and good manners”.
Speaking in London's Trafalgar Square, with tongue firmly in cheek, the irrepressible mayor brushed off the host nation's poor standing in the medal tally.
“It would not be right for us as host nation to be monopolising that medals table, and we're allowing others to score a few in the knowledge that we're lulling them into a false sense of security.”
On day four of the London Games Mr Johnson acknowledged that the security and transport were working well and the infamous British weather was cooperating.
“Even if – which I don't for one moment believe – even if we didn't win a single additional medal it would still be a fantastic thing to have put on a great Olympic Games, plus last night Team GB got their first ever medal in gymnastics for 100 years and that is a stunning thing to do.”
Mr Johnson declined to say whether it pained him more being beaten by France or by Australia in the medal tally.
An army of thousands of volunteers has helped keep the London Games running smoothly, many of them tasked with welcoming visitors and directing spectators to venues. Brian Thomson caught up with some of proud ambassadors who are “the face of London”.
WATCH CLIP VIA YOUTUBE:
Watch Brian Thomson's report on day four of Olympic action on SBS ONE tonight at 6:30pm.
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