It's the Olympigs

It was not held in Hamburg, Trotterdam or Porksmouth. Instead, Shanghai had the honour of hosting the 2005 Pig Olympics yesterday.

Thousands of betting-mad Chinese turned out at Heping Park to wager their hard-earned yuan on 20 porcine athletes streaking along an obstacle course and showing off their diving.

The pigs, a midget species from Thailand, begin training soon after birth and perform professionally from about a year old.

Pig-racing is a popular pastime in rural China but rarely takes place in big cities - hence the interest from spectators in Shanghai.

Eight-year-old Tan Yizhou said: 'It's incredible. I never thought a pig could be so clever and versatile.'

The Olympigs has yet to attract the attention of Sty Sports and, sadly, Britain was unrepresented yesterday.

However, perhaps Linford Crispy, Matthew Pigsent or Steve Ham are in secret training at a farm near you.