Should we support the Winter Olympics?

CONGRATULATIONS to the BBC on its coverage of the Winter Olympics, especially the decision to present the coverage from Salford. This must be saving a lot of licencepayers’ money. It should do the same for the football World Cup in Russia. There is no benefit in putting up Gary Lineker and his overpaid pundits in expensive hotels in Russia to report from a studio well away from the stadiums where the matches will be played. JOHN PEERS, porthaethwy, anglesey. BBC coverage of the Winter Olympics? I am fed up to the back teeth with snowboard half-pipes, which are repetitive and boring, and curling, which is just Scots sliding stones. Face the fact: we’re not a winter sports nation. Even australia has won a silver medal. In spite of much cosseting, posing and expectancy, the Brits have proven to be embarrassingly weak. It’s time to curtail spending on these jollies.

PHILIP EVANS, Wrexham. DON’T sneer at winners of ‘easy medals’ at the Winter Olympics (Sportsmail) because most of the world has no experience of snow and ice. If a European team wins the Rugby World Cup next year, will it be pointed out that to be top dog in the northern hemisphere it is necessary to be champions of the Six Nations? By way of penance, critics of the Winter Olympics should try the skeleton track, face down and head first, at 80mph. GERALD SINSTADT,

Tittensor, Staffs. WHY not introduce a platinum medal for not only coming first, but for smashing a world record? Receiving gold doesn’t give enough recognition for the amount of work and dedication needed to achieving this feat.

Jo Grant, Crawley, W. Sussex.