If Usain Bolt really is underwhelmed by the Commonwealth Games, the performances of three Olympic champions on Wednesday may have challenged his thinking.
On a day when Jamaican sprint superstar Bolt angrily denied a newspaper report he called the event "a bit shit", Kirani James, Greg Rutherford and Valerie Adams brought touches of genuine world class to Glasgow.
Track star James won the men's 400m to give Grenada its first Commonwealth Games gold as he became the first man to take out that event at both Olympic and Commonwealth level.
"I am happy for my country and everyone affiliated to us," said 21-year-old James, who fended off a strong challenge from South African Wayde van Niekerk.
Englishman Rutherford provided the ideal response to the critics who branded his Olympic gold a fluke by landing the Commonwealth long jump title.
The 27-year-old launched himself out to 8.20 metres to take victory over South Africa's Zarck Visser and put the memories of his injury-ruined 2013 season firmly behind him.
"I think a few people had written me off, thinking I was a one-hit wonder," Rutherford said.
"But I'm here again and will be here again many more times."
Defending champion Fabrice Lapierre from Australia finished fourth with 8.00m.
New Zealand shot put legend Adams was well below her best but still won gold easily to continue her unbeaten run in the sport since 2010.
The 29-year-old threw 19.88m with her nearest rival, Cleopatra Borel of Trinidad and Tobago, more than a metre behind.
Canada's Derek Drouin won the men's high jump to add to his Olympic bronze.
Elsewhere David Katoatau won the tiny Pacific island nation of Kiribati's first ever medal at the Commonwealth Games as he claimed gold in the men's 105kg weightlifting competition.
England won two gold medals in diving and dominated the men's and women's gymnastics events to build a handy lead atop the medal tally.
They now have 38 gold medals, three more than Australia, whose only gold medal on Wednesday came from Kim Mickle in the women's javelin.
Meanwhile, The Times' newspaper's Scotland editor Angus Macleod stood by a report in which Bolt was quoted as saying the Commonwealth Games are "a bit shit".
According to the newspaper, the world's fastest man - and the Games' biggest drawcard - also said he is "not really" enjoying himself in Glasgow.
"The Olympics were better," he reportedly said.
But the Jamaican runner flatly denies the report.
"I'm waking up to this nonsense..journalist please don't create lies to make headlines," he said via Twitter.
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