Sixteen days of entertainment have just started. And sixteen days of competitor back stories – just like X-Factor.

I’m watching our heavyweight boxer, who worked in a “well known fast food chain”. The commentator can’t even say MacDonalds! Athletes are threatened with losing a medal if they Tweet the name of a non-approved product, or use restricted words. If an athlete’s sponsor Tweets about their athlete, they will have the same problem.

Out of interest, he looks like he is ahead on points…………..

In the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, head guards were introduced for the boxing. And in London 2012, womens boxing was introduced. For the 2016 Olympics in Rio, it was decided that head guards were a bad idea. They increase the size of the head target, and increase the chances of brain injury. The only positive is that they can help reduce cuts around the eyes.

So, the head guard rule was a good one, and very sensible in reducing brain injuries – even though inflicting a brain injury by knocking your opponent out is the ultimate goal. But this is just for the male boxers, in the face of the brain damage facts.

Perhaps risking mild brain damage is the cost of equality.

I’m out of words for today.