While the London 2012 Olympics have been generally hailed as an outstanding success, there is some lingering skepticism as to what legacy the Olympics have left for the UK’s LGBT community – are there more openly gay or lesbian elite athletes? Is there more grass roots participation in sport by LGBT people? It is perhaps too early to know.

Air New Zealand's joke about a female Olympic shot putter's testicle has failed to take off, with Twitter followers claiming it is transphobic.

Christmas crackers are known for their bad jokes, but the airline's free gag for travellers entering its daily competition on grabaseat.co.nz was deemed in poor taste.

'What large heavy ball was responsible for Valerie Adams' gold medal?' the joke read. 'The Belarusian's left testicle.'

Australian swimmer Ian Thorpe says he's not so much bothered by persistent speculation that he is gay but more that people would think that he's lying about it.

'The thing that I find hurtful about it is that people are questioning kind of my integrity and what I say - that's the only part that I find hurtful,' he tells Australian Broadcasting Corporation reporter Leigh Sales. 'Like is that ... is something that I would be embarrassed about, that I would hide or whatever else.'

Thorpe did the interview to promote his new autobiography, This Is Me.

After narrowly missing out on a place in the diving final yesterday (11 August), it looked like it would be the last time we would see gay Australian athlete Matthew Mitcham at the Olympics.

Not a chance, as the 24-year-old is now considering reinventing himself as a springboard diver, primarily to reduce the impact on his battered body.