Olympics: Can Britain win a gold tonight?

Great Britain is not winning medals because they're "being polite", London Mayor Boris Johnson says.

While there was plenty of gold on their jackets at the opening ceremony, Olympic hosts Great Britain are still yet to find any in the competition.

Four days into the Games, Team GB has two bronze, two silver, but no gold.

However Johnson, arguably the Game's biggest cheerleader, believes he knows why.

"I think we are showing great natural restraint and politeness as host nation in not hoarding the medals more so far," Johnson told the Daily Express, while enjoying the beach volleyball (presumably looking out for half-naked women "glistening like wet otters)".

The gold drought has sections of the local media getting restless.

The Sun lead the charge with the headline "Wanted - Gold Medal".

"Historic bronze for our brilliant gymnasts but please, can we have one gold. Any Sport. We're not bothered. As soon as possible. Please. COME ON TEAM GB!" Tuesday's front page blared.

And French President Francois Hollande has had a jibe at his British counterpart, boasting to Prime Minister David Cameron about France's four gold medals.

"The British have rolled out a red carpet for French athletes to win medals," he told the media. "I thank them very much for that, but the competition is not over."

However British Olympic Association chairman, Lord Moynihan, is not fazed just yet.

"I'm comfortable with where we are, absolutely. We need to be patient and we'll see that the medals and gold medals will follow," Lord Moynihan told the Guardian.

"When you look at the rowing finals, the cyclists and the sailors, we'll begin to have that core delivery of success. We're beginning to see, as we forecast, more medals in more sports - we delivered on the gymnastics."

Team GB chef de mission Andy Hunt echoed Lord Moynihan's assurances, saying the athletes remain confident.

"There is no sense at all among the team that we are not delivering. We are on plan," he told the Guardian.

Despite the optimistic outlook of officials, the lack of gold has UK Sport, who are responsible for funding Team GB, considering reducing the overall medal target of 70 by 10.

The Daily Mail's Jonathan McEvoy urged Briton's not to panic.

McEvoy said the country has got carried away with the success of Beijing four years ago, and with the games on home soil expectations have been raised.

"In Beijing, Britain had won their first gold by now, through cyclist Nicole Cooke in the road race. But it has not always been easy. In 1984 and 1996 the first gold did not arrive until day nine," he wrote.

"That one in 1996, for Steve Redgrave and Matt Pinsent, was the only British gold medal of those disappointing Atlanta Games."

McEvoy reassured readers, saying Britain's strongest events, such as track cycling, and rowing and sailing finals - are yet to begin.

The host country not claiming gold is not unthinkable; In 1976 Canada failed to win the top prize even once in Montreal.

- HERALD ONLINE