Olympic diary: Day seven

By Phil Gordos and Andrew Fraser
BBC Sport in Athens

The British flags were out in force

British support in the badminton arena on Thursday caught everyone by surprise, not least the Chinese.

Union Jacks were everywhere as Gail Emms and Nathan Robertson walked out to take on Ling Gao and Jun Zhang in the final of the mixed doubles.

Realising they were in danger of being swamped by their British rivals, the China camp sent out for reinforcements.

And just before the match got under way, another 10 flags were hastily despatched to fans in the crowd.

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It is strange, but as Michael Phelps becomes even more successful at the Athens Games, so the interest in the 19-year-old American seems to wane.

Perhaps the world's media are getting tired of asking how the Baltimore bullet is feeling after landing another gold.

He now has four and is still in sight of an Olympic record.

He may not equal Spitz's tally of seven golds but he could become the first swimmer to win eight medals in a single Games.

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It was a real privilege to watch the archers compete in the amazing setting that is the Panithinaiko Stadium.

Used to stage the first Olympics of the modern era back in 1896, it is truly an inspirational venue.

But the historic ambience was tarnished by the choice of music used to entertain spectators.

You Can't Hurry Love by Phil Collins, Gloria Gaynor's I Will Survive and Men at Work's Down Under were just three of the tunes blaring over the loudspeakers.