Merlene Ottey ... how many Olympic medals?

Every four years, at this time, each man, woman and hound on the planet becomes a sports expert.

Despite the fact most couldn't pick a starting block from a block of ice, they still wax lyrical about their country's medal prospects.

Here, in Jamaica, it's pretty much all about the Olympic Games' second week and track and field - in which the island excels.

Each Herr, Frau and hund can tell you to a hundredth of a nano-second the best times of the likes of Usain, Asafa, VCB, et al and also, if you want it or not, their opinions about how many medals the team will win and which Jamaicans will stand on the podium to hear the national anthem and see the island's flag raised high.

To sort the wheat from the chaff, take this little test of 29 questions for the 29th Games in Beijing and see if you are a true all-round Olympic Games expert or merely one that just comes up for air every four years.

- Tym Glaser

Michael Phelps ... will be chasing how many gold medals in the Beijing pool? - File photos

Correct answers: 25-29 - gold medal. 20-24 - silver. 15-19 - bronze. 14-10 - barely got out of the heats. Nine and below keep very, very quiet.

1. The first ancient Olympic Games were held in Greece in which year?

a) 796 BC

b) 792 BC

c) 776 BC

d) 772 BC

2. Only one event was held at the first Games; what kind was it?

a) wrestling

b) javelin

c) running

d) discus

3. The first modern Olympics were held in Athens in which year?

a) 1892

b) 1896

c) 1900

d) 1904

4. Jamaica first took part in the Olympic Games in which year?

a) 1932

b) 1936

c) 1948

d) 1952

5. How many Olympic Games have been cancelled due to war?

a) None

b) One

c) Two

d) Three

6. Jesse Owens turned Adolf Hitler's idea of Aryan supremacy on its head in 1936 by winning how many gold medals in Berlin?

a) Three

b) Four

c) Five

d) Six

Lennox Lewis ... did he strike gold at the Games?

7. Since joining the Olympic fold, Jamaicans have only failed to medal at two Games, where were they?

a) Helsinki (1952) and Melbourne (1956)

b) Melbourne and Tokyo (1964)

c) Melbourne and Rome (1960)

d) Tokyo and Rome

8. Merlene Ottey won how many Olympic medals?

a) seven

b) eight

c) nine

d) 10

9. Who ran the anchor leg on Jamaica's record-breaking men's 4x400m relay team?

a) Arthur Wint

b) Herb McKenley

c) George Rhoden

d) Les Laing

10. Legendary US swimmer Mark Spitz won a record number of gold medals in the Munich pool in 1972. How many?

a) five

b) six

c) seven

d) eight

11. New American swim sensation Michael Phelps is chasing how many gold in Beijing?

a) seven

b) eight

c) nine

d) 10

12. Which of these cities has NOT hosted the Games twice?

a) London

b) Paris

c) Los Angeles

d) Tokyo

Dara Torres ... the old lady of swimming, but just how old?

13. Track-and-field great Carl Lewis won 10 Olympic medals. How many of them were gold?

a) All 10

b) nine

c) eight

d) seven

14. The all-time leading Olympic medal winner with 18 is?

a) Jenny Thompson

b) Boris Shaklin

c) Mark Spitz

d) Larissa Latynina

15. Which of these tennis players has not won Olympic gold?

a) Andre Agassi

b) Venus Williams

c) Serena Williams

d) Roger Federer

16. Which of these football powerhouses has not won Games gold?

a) Brazil

b) Italy

c) Great Britain

d) Argentina

17. Which of these heavyweight greats did not win Olympic gold?

a) George Foreman

b) Joe Frazier

c) Lennox Lewis

d) Larry Holmes

18. Jamaicans have won how many Olympic gold medals?

a) five

b) six

c) seven

d) eight

Herb McKenley ... did he anchor Jamaica's 1952 4x400m relay team to gold?

19. Jamaica has won 42 medals in total at the Games which places it where overall on the international list?

a) 22nd

b) 32nd

c) 42nd

d) 52nd

20. American swimmer Dara Torres will be how old when she dives into the pool in Beijing?

a) 38

b) 39

c) 40

d) 41

Serena Williams ... has she won Olympic gold?

21. Which female athlete has won the most Olympic silver medals with six?

a) Merlene Ottey

b) Shirley Babashoff

c) Larissa Latynina

d) Dara Torres

22. And who has won the most bronze with five?

a) Ottey

b) Babashoff

c) Latynina

d) Torres

23. How many countries have won Olympic basketball gold?

a) Two

b) Three

c) Four

d) Five

24. How many disciplines comprise an all-round gymnastics performance?

a) Three

b) Four

c) Five

d) Six

25. In how many sports will Jamaica be represented at the 2008 Games?

a) Two

b) Three

c) Four

d) Five

26. Jamaica's only Games medal outside of track and field has come in what sport?

a) Swimming

b) Badminton

c) Boxing

d) Cycling

27. Herb McKenley won how many Olympic medals?

a) Two

b) Three

c) Four

d) Five

28. In which sport do men and women compete equally?

a) Rowing

b) Yachting

c) Sail boarding

d) Equestrianism

29. The next Olympic Games will be staged where?

a) Barcelona

b) Rio de Janeiro

c) Milan

d) Manchester

Answers: