London 2012 Olympic Diary: Dai Greene reluctant to let Britain hear his singing voice

But world champion Greene, who hopes to hear the anthem played after victory in the 400m hurdles, made light of the issue. “I’ve been on the podium for Wales in the Commonwealth Games and as part of Great Britain at the European and World Championships. I didn’t sing at any of them,” Greene said. “I don’t think people want to hear me sing. I’m not the best singer even though I am from Wales! Hopefully I will be top of the podium listening to my national anthem and I will be just looking around enjoying the moment. I don’t think people should read too much into singing the national anthem.”

• ROWING pair Heather Stanning and Helen Glover’s victory was priceless, but their medals appear to have a more attainable value. Adrian Ash, head of research at BullionVault, the world’s largest physical gold market online, said: “Team GB’s first victory was a golden moment for Britain, but their medals may not be so golden. Their winning medals would be worth £583 in today’s money if they were the actual 15 carat gold medals awarded at London’s 1908 Games, compared to the £411 value of London 2012’s mixed metal gold medal.”

• TEAM GB’s Lizzie Armitstead appears to have given up hope of being re-united with the sunglasses she lost in her road cycle race as she has acquired a new pair. The 23-year-old lost her shades on the rain-sodden 86-mile route and despite a Twitter campaign backed by Surrey Police, they have not been returned to her. But she now has a new pair, courtesy of Oakley, which should provide some consolation. Along with her Olympic silver medal, of course.

• KATE Walsh, Great Britain women’s hockey captain, has returned to the Olympic Village after three nights in hospital with a fractured jaw. The 32-year-old had a titanium plate inserted and coach Danny Kerry did not know how it would affect security procedures and metal detectors at entry points. “I think the army guys will enjoy the body search!” he joked when asked whether Walsh was likely to set off any alarms.

• JAMAICA’S government is going to put some finance behind the country’s leading 100 metre specialist – but the competitor in question is neither Usain Bolt nor Yohan Blake. Swimmer Alia Atkinson’s fourth place finish behind Lithuanian schoolgirl Ruta Meilutyte in the 100m breaststroke has caught the eye of Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, who said: “She was outstanding. All Jamaicans must be proud of her. I am going to speak to the Ministers of Finance and Education and the Sports Development Foundation and appeal to the private sector. We have to find a partner to allow her to continue her training programme. I want to say to her, help is on the way.”