Great Britain has struck gold 8 times in a single weekend, the biggest medal triumph since World War II, London tabloids heralded. Yet again the lucky number 8 turns up just as it did with Michael Phelps 8 gold medals. The number 8 has significance in Chinese culture.

"With the UK enjoying great success in this summer's Olympics, the British bookies are bound to start seeing heavy action," points out Payton O'Brien, Senior Editor of the Gambling911.com website.

Among the beneficiaries: Sportingbet.com, which was offering odds on just about every event and offers payouts in Euros, Pounds, and just about every other denomination.

And the betting will be brisk on everything from the triathlon to rowing to the pommel horse.

Great Britain's sudden surge in medals helped place that nation in third for most medals won during the 2008 Summer Olympics.

With silvers and bronzes, the total weekend tally was 17 - including Britain's first individual gymnastics medal for a century.

According to the Daily Mail, some £400million of funding, £100million a year until 2012, has already been earmarked for Olympic sport. Decisions on where 75 per cent of it goes will be made in December - and based on performances in Beijing. Swimming, sailing, cycling and rowing will almost inevitably benefit.

There are also hopes that success in China will attract more youngsters to sport.

Teenage gymnast Louis Smith is one of the stars on whom hopes for the future will rest.