SPORTS LETTERS

From John Matthey

"We need more money if we're going to compete" is the customary bleat from our athletes. How strange you never hear such cries from the Ethiopians of the Kazakhstanis - just two of the poorer nations that beat us in the gold medal tally, in spite of their lack of facilities.

More money to improve what? How not to false start twice? How not to drop the relay baton? I remember my father telling me, "A bad workman always blames his tools."

JOHN MATTHEY

London