Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has admitted he would rather see Britain top the Paris 2024 medal tally than Arsenal win the Premier League title.
In an interview with Eurosport and discovery+ presenter Laura Woods, the Prime Minister said: “You can’t do this to me, this is really, really difficult, but I’m going to go for Team GB because the whole country is behind them, the whole country.”
In the interview, which will be broadcast in full on Eurosport 1 and discovery+ at 9pm (UK time) on Saturday evening, Woods asked the Prime Minister whether he thinks the British team can finish third in the medal table, a position many consider to be the best.
“I really hope so,” Starmer replied. “We’ve got a great team, so I think so – there’s a sense of knowing that they’ve done the work that they know they need to do to get to that special place, they know the whole country is watching and absolutely cheering for them, so they’ll have all that support, but it’s tough, it’s really tough.”
The Prime Minister added: ‘We’re performing above expectations at Team GB and there’s a reason for that: it’s the hard work that’s been put in and the sense of achievement here, and that’s fantastic.’
In an interview with Eurosport and discovery+ presenter Laura Woods, the Prime Minister said he would rather see Team GB top the medal table than Arsenal win the Premier League title.
The Prime Minister told Woods that Team GB are punching ‘well above our weight’ in the medal tally
Starmer backed Team GB to finish third in the final medal tally – Team GB finished fourth at the 2020 Olympic Games, which were held in Tokyo in 2021 due to the pandemic, behind the US, China and Japan
Starmer sought shelter from the downpour at the Olympic Games opening ceremony on Friday night under a Team GB raincoat, while those around him quickly donned clear plastic ponchos
Starmer has been in Paris since Friday to show his support for the stars of Team GB.
His plans to attend the opening ceremony in Paris were thwarted by a coordinated sabotage attack in France, with the prime minister forced to catch a last-minute flight instead of taking the Eurostar.
Starmer arrived safely in France and was photographed watching the rainy opening ceremony from the banks of the Seine.
The PM was surrounded by other international dignitaries but appeared better prepared than the rest. He wore a raincoat with the Team GB logo, while those around him quickly donned clear plastic ponchos.
Woods asked him if he had been impressed with the British Olympic competitors so far.
There’s a boxer named Delicious [Orie] “He’s fantastic. My son loves boxing so it was really special to talk to him,” Starmer replied.
He added: ‘Of course, with athletes it’s all about the physical side of the drills and training, but now it’s about the calmness and confidence of going into a competition. It’s really incredible.’
Starmer has been in Paris to meet several members of Team GB, including star player Andy Murray
Starmer admitted he was starstruck when he met 27-year-old Team GB boxer Delicious Orie
Despite his soft spot for boxing and love of football, Starmer gave a surprising answer when asked by Woods what his favourite Olympic event is to watch.
“When we were in London, the diving was the most fun. To watch it live, I’ve seen it on TV many times, but to watch it live and see the technique was extraordinary,” he said. “But honestly, I watch every sport, so the Olympics are the most important to me. Like the whole country, I think, I’m only going to watch for five minutes because one of our athletes is doing something and an hour later I’m totally sucked into it.”
When Woods asked the 61-year-old prime minister if he would like to try out any of the Olympic sports he had seen, he joked: “I’ve only seen judo, that’s not going to happen! I’m staying far away from that.”
‘I used to run the 1500m for the province and for the school. I don’t run anymore, I still play football but I don’t run anymore. I used to run the 1500m in three and three quarter laps, the psychology of when to stop, hearing the bell and then going away until that last 200m and then breaking open… I can still do it in my head, but I certainly couldn’t do it on the track.’