Should Team GB be awarded a team OBE?

THERE were so many stunning performances by our all-time greatest British Olympic team in Rio that it will surely be impossible to decide who should get the individual honours from the Queen. The simple answer is to give an OBE to Team GB 2016. There’s a wartime precedent for such a move to reflect group, rather than individual, worthiness. For bravery against the Nazi onslaught of World War II, the island of Malta — rather than any individuals on the island — was awarded the George Medal. In the same way, the wonderful efforts of every member of Team GB 2016 could be recognised. Otherwise the pride of our nation, made to focus on the relative merits of gold medals and collections of golds, will be diluted by petty arguments and suggestions that one gold is better than another. The number of medals won was due to all-round sporting brilliance. So it’s the team that should be recognised. In addition, a team OBE would also recognise the coaches, physios and other staff who played a major, if less prominent, role in our success in these Games.

WALTER L. JACOB, Borehamwood, Herts. It’s suggested our Olympic gold winners should be knighted. Why? they aren’t heroes. Heroes are our servicemen who risk their lives for their country and people who put their lives at risk to help others — policemen, firefighters, ambulance and rescue organisations. Modern athletes are backed by millions of pounds of lottery money and lead a comfortable life. servicemen fight for their country, and in many cases come back after traumatic tours abroad and receive very little help. they can then be dragged into court on perjured evidence and suffer the consequences for the rest of their lives. they are the ones we should back and support. When have you ever heard of a heroic soldier receiving a knighthood (and I don’t mean an officer)? such people are far more deserving of recognition. these days we prefer giving medals and honours to those who run round in circles, go for a swim, or pedal bikes worth many thousands of pounds. there’s nothing heroic or brave about being good at a sport and it certainly isn’t deserving of further medals.