Chinese media have pointed to British spending as the reason behind China’s disappointing finish behind Team GB in the final medals table in Rio, a result which observers say represents an “embarrassment” and a “terrible bitter pill” for Beijing’s sports-obsessed authorities.

State media previously labelled the Games as China’s “worst Olympic flop”, with official agency Xinhua Tweeting: "You're kidding me? The country which has never finished above China is about to."

And after Team GB heroically confirmed they had achieved that feat by finishing in second place, the Beijing News pointed to ‘media reports’ saying the UK invested as much as £387 million in its Olympic efforts.

“Simply speaking, the theory of ‘high investment produces high output’ also applies to the Olympics Games,” said the newspaper, which also blamed China’s fall on its athletes failing in disciplines it traditionally dominates, such as shooting, gymnastics and badminton.