WHY castigate people for wanting to make a fast buck by selling their Olympic torches? (Argus letters, May 29). They are merely pursuing the modern Olympic dream - hard cash. This “amateur” event is now devoted to attracting huge sums of money, from the bribery and corruption at the highest levels to the moneygrubbing of the athletes.

How many named athletes are daily bombarding us with advertisements ranging from soft drinks to toothpaste and takeaway snacks?

I assume of course, that all the money they make is donated to sporting charities, and none kept by them!

Sadly, the modern games themselves are riddled with corruption and drugs in the pursuit of a gold medal, which will guarantee ever more lucrative sponsorship.

No, these torchbearers are only ensuring their snouts are not absent from the trough. Modern Olympic Games? Bah, humbug!

Lawrence Skuse, Berkely Court, Cwmbran Town council