In today's Financial Times How To Spend It magazine, the sailor Ben Ainslie, holder of three Olympic gold medals, is asked for his view on how the organisers of the sailing at Weymouth have tried to pander to television companies to make the races more visually appeal for the armchair spectator. The final race in each class will take place far closer inshore than normal and, depending on wind direction, may not make a fair course. Ainslie is quoted as saying, 'Organisers want more races closer to the shore because that is the future commercially. But at the Olympics the purity of the sport should come first'.
Fine sentiments. Turn the page, and there is a full-page picture of B. Ainslie, advertising a pair of expensive sunglasses.