CRISIS, crisis, crisis! Fuel, social services, health and hospitals. The summer of 2000 has not been a happy one in many homes around the Faithful City and beyond.

Oh for an opportunity to put it all out of our minds, if only for a moment.

Oh for a fortnight in front of the television or radio, overdosing on everything that's engrossing about the world of sport. Oh for the Olympics!

We're not suggesting that anyone should bury their head in the sand, but let's hope the next two weeks turn into an oasis of hope and anticipation in an ocean or turmoil.

By the time the closing ceremony turns our minds momentarily to Athens, we should at least be returning to normal on the fuel front - even if that new normal, post this fuel crisis, pre the next one, is a less car-intensive way of life.

The Atlanta experience, four years ago, was a low point for those of us whose memories go back to Tokyo, the start of the modern Olympic era if only because the world had just been taken over by television.

One paltry gold medal was the trigger for Britain to start contemplating its navel. How different 2000 could be.

This time, we're pinning our hopes on names like Lewis, Backley, Jackson, Redgrave, Pinsent and Boardman.

But that's not it for the sporting fans of Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

Sydney's a chance for our own Olympians to shine as well.

If the next two weeks fall short of providing Fladbury's Train brothers, Leslie Law, Ceris Gilfillan, Simon Archer and Andy Beadsworth with worldwide recognition - 15 minutes or more - then they've already achieved far more in reaching the Finals than most of us can muster from our own sporting talent.

We shouldn't begrudge them that achievement - or regard our own milestones as unimportant - but we should celebrate them and invest some of our own dreams in their efforts. Good luck to them all.