Halfway through London’s Olympics, the medals table has taken on a familiar look. China and the US are way out in front and scrapping between themselves to end the games on top. Britain, host of the games, is third, its athletes now poised to deliver over and above the expected return on ￡235m invested in them. A cascade of gold medals over the weekend has generated waves of national euphoria and goodwill.

France is having a surprisingly good games. Germany, Russia and Australia – traditionally strong Olympic competitors – are not. 

The Olympics has long been regarded by rulers as an outlet for the expression of national pride and virility. This has continued into the 21st century though without the undercurrent of geopolitical tension of games from the Cold War era. Fran?ois Hollande goaded David Cameron over which of their countries would win the most gold medals. Vladimir Putin pointedly declined to attend the opening ceremony but came in an unofficial capacity to watch judo.