SO we have news now that Olympic medals are not all they appear to be (“Scots Olympic champion reveals the shine is coming off his medal”, The Herald May 24). Insulting to athletes, definitely. But also uninspiring and sadly indicative of how elite sport has become show business.

Yet fools' gold is congruent with our national sports strategy, which is not what it purports to be either. To quote Neil Findlay, the convenor of Holyrood's health and sports committee when questioning sportscotland recently, “you say you have a world class system – it's not working". So who is committed to clearing out the stables of privilege and the funded window watchers?

Our politicians seem oddly silent on the crisis of growing inactivity in our kids, and the resultant obesity and diabetes. If you think the health service is challenged by us ageing baby boomers, you ain't seen nothing yet.

John Dunlop,

9 Birnam Crescent, Glasgow.