Green and golds in league of their own

Norwegian would: A Norse fan backs his countrymen

When it comes to supporting your country - few do it better than Norway, Korea and home favourites Australia. BBC Sport's Jonathon Moore reports from Sydney.

They are credited with pushing athletes further, higher and faster than they have ever gone before - and in Sydney they are evident in unprecedented numbers.

Tens of thousands of Olympic fans have flocked to the Games from all over the world.

For weeks, Sydney's city centre has been awash with colour - but if spectators were awarded a medal of their own, the favourites would come from just a handful of nations.

Korea's colourful supporters have put their rivals in the shade...

Last week, the internationally renowned Norwegian supporters of women's handball threatened a walk-out at Olympic Park's Binnie Pavilion because they were not allowed to do their regular "bells and whistles show".

Their leader Morten Hagenstuen was incensed by security staff at the handball venue who told the 358 supporters they could not bring in their huge national flag, bang their drums and ring cowbells during the game.

Hagenstuen - complete with Viking helmet, cape and fake sword - hoped to negotiate with pavilion management so Australia could see them in full battle cry.

"We are trained to make a show," he said. "We have been to 37 countries, nine world championships, five European championships and five summer Olympics - this is what it is all about."

Korean might

Korea also make a point of standing out. Marching in white and blue supporters' uniforms, they are led by a group in colourful costumes banging gongs and drums.

At their basketball and baseball games, Korean cheerleaders, dressed in short red tops and skirts, stole the show - singing, chanting and using what can only be described as long blown-up tubes to create a huge noise.

...But no other nation can touch the Aussies for vocal support

Then , of course, there is the home crowd, with athletes continuing to comment on the incredibly vocal and wildly enthusiastic sea of green and gold that accompanies every event.

Head swimming coach, Don Talbot warned the world the Australian fans were in a league of their own before the Games had even begun.

"We are going to try and make our presence felt, we are going to use the Australian crowd and the Australian people as much as we can," he said.

"Just like the Americans did in Atlanta we are going to try and get the best out of ourselves."

But not event Talbot could have anticipated the sheer scale of the Australian support.

Fanaticism

While they understandably back their own athletes, they have embraced many others with equal enthusiasm.

During the opening ceremony, the 100,000 crowd cheered Calisto Da Costa and his three fellow East Timorese athletes during the parade of nations.

"I felt like I was in a dream," he said. "When we entered the stadium it was just silent. I felt that because we're not the top athletes that would be normal.

"Then suddenly, the spectators started cheering. It gave me this energy, just this energy I can't describe. Once I heard it my body started dancing."

Similarly, the 6,000 mainly local spectators at the Dunc Grey Velodrome erupted after Germany broke the "magic four minute" barrier to take gold in the Olympic team pursuit.

And there wasn't even an Australian on the track.

They may have home advantage - and the Koreans and Norwegians undoubtedly come close - but when it comes to sheer sporting fanaticism, gold must go to Australia.