The medal tally after Friday night's episode of the Channel Nine reality show "The 18th Commonwealth Games" reads as follows:

Australia 12 gold, 9 silver, 8 bronze.
Rest of the Commonwealth 17 gold, 19 silver, 21 bronze.

The way Channel Nine are covering these Games you'd think it was really Australia versus the Rest of the Commonwealth. Just think, if it wasn't for the women's weightlifting we'd probably be in front now.

Anyway, I'm supporting Mozambique in Melbourne 2006. I have a perverse admiration for any former member of the Portuguese empire that can jump ship and take part in an anachronistic relic of the British empire. Their women's basketball team has already played its first game, losing narrowly to England by 84 points to 46. They take on the Opals tomorrow night. I can't wait for that one!

Meanwhile, Ximene Gomes finished last in her heat of the 100m freestyle with a time of 1:02.16, the 33rd fastest time overall out of 43 finishers. She'll be back on Sunday in the 50 free. Her idol, according to the M2006 website, is Fidel Castro.

Don't scoff too much at Mozambique, however, for they do have 800 metres track legend Maria de Lurdes Mutola, who will be aiming for her third CG gold medal in Mozambique's third Commonwealth Games. Check out www.flmutola.org.mz if you want to see her official website (in Portuguese, of course!)