Olympics Behind Golf In Betting Stakes, Says Bookmaker

Sports betting firm claims that gambling activity is more frequent for golf events than it is for Olympic Games.

The Olympic Games are still a long way behind the Major golf tournaments in terms of gambling, according to Ladbrokes spokesperson Nick Weinberg.

Next month's showpiece event in the Chinese capital of Beijing is expected to rake in around £10 million for bookmakers, just a third of the money taken for the recent Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.

This has prompted Mr Weinberg to state that the Olympics are "catching up" with golf regarding betting activity, but they are ultimately "still a long way off".

Commenting on the effect of London hosting the athletics event in 2012, he added that he is "sure" there will be an upturn in interest shown in the sport.

Many athletics experts and sports correspondents in the UK press have identified triple jumper Phillips Idowu as Great Britain's best chance of winning a gold medal in the track and field events at the forthcoming Games.

His jump of 17.58 metres at the British team Olympic trials in Birmingham earlier this month is the longest distance recorded anywhere in the world this year.