IF Big Brother has been setting the news agenda this summer, then surely the sports pages have been dominated by the more annoying relation - Auntie Climax!

St George's flags have been flying at half-mast in the aftermath of a heartbreaking Euro 2004, a harrowing Wimbledon, a humiliating Rugby Union tour and a horrendous NatWest cricket series.

Unable to shake off their sporting hangover, the mourning after the plight before continues to cripple patriotic punters' morale, not to mention their bank balance.

But England, or indeed Britain, has one saving grace that can keep the nation's pride ticking over - Paula 'The Human Metronome' Radcliffe.

The Athens-bound marathon runner represents Britain's only realistic gold medal hope in the forthcoming Olympics.

And after a summer of sporting upsets that has included Greece's 100-1 triumph in Portugal and Todd Hamilton's 200-1 victory at Royal Troon, it will be refreshing to see a favourite finally repay the faith of a debt-laden public.

However, odds-on quotes are hardly the calling for the ambitious gambler, so instead lump on William Hill's 6-4 about Britain returning home with just one gold medal in the track and field events, namely Paula's.

In the only other event listing pre-Games prices, America's Maurice Green is the 3-2 (Gamebookers) clear favourite to land the 100m crown.

And although he led the way with a time of 9.92secs in the recent US team trials, his young compatriot Justin Gatlin was only one hundredth of a second behind, and with a price of 9-2, he looks the value for money bet in the sprints.

* After their shock triumph at Euro 2004, Greece have been installed at 7-2 (Gamebookers) to complete a championship double when they take part in the men's Olympic football competition.