Boris: Stop whining, back Team GB

Boris Johnson has called on those worrying about the Olympics to "put a sock in it", stop complaining and get behind Team GB for the Games.

Writing in The Sun newspaper, the Mayor of London implored the naysayers to look at the positive impact the Olympics are bringing to the city, rather than being gripped in a "paralysing stage fright".

Mr Johnson wrote: "We've got an advanced case of Olympo-funk. We agonise about the traffic, when our transport systems are performing well and the world's athletes are arriving on time.

"We worry about security when we always planned to have a strong military role in making our games as safe as possible.

"We are nervous about our Olympic accommodation - when our Stratford village is already being showered with foreign praise.

"We gnaw our fingernails about the blinking weather, when it seems to be brightening up a bit - and anyway, it's England in July for goodness sake and a spot of rain never hurt anyone."

Ordering people to "cut out the whining", Mr Johnson pointed to the fantastic Olympic Park, which he said was built on time and under budget, calling it a "great global calling card for British construction and engineering".

He also highlighted the free cultural events that will run alongside the Games, and the platform for future prosperity the event has brought, such as improved rail links.

And he applauded the employment opportunities born from the Games.

But he did mention one slight worry.

"Can we do as well as last time?" he asked.

"Can we beat France? Can we beat Australia? Of course we can.

"And if we get it right, we can make the Olympics a big win for jobs and growth as well - so let's get behind our team and the Games."