What a lovely Saturday I had. It started with a football game on top of an Auckland volcano. The Mount Albert Grammar versus Western Springs Second 11s played in the championship round on top of Mt Albert. Why there's a football ground on the top of a volcano I'll never know but it's a stunning ground and it was a great game (2 all with both sides repeatedly hitting the crossbar.)

It was cold and bleak but the football warmed the crowd's hearts. It was great to see 17 year olds throwing themselves around in the mud with such vigour.

At midday the sun came out and the day turned into the first harbinger of spring. I walked around the garden and counted the buds on my peach tree and the first inkling of life on my grapes and apples.

LISTEN ABOVE: Andrew Dickens speaks to Minister Johnathan Coleman above

At 1 it was time to watch Val Adams win her 3rd gold. Surprisingly the best coverage was on Prime free to air. So we watched from the kitchen as we prepared a slow cooked pork dish for dinner. Second throw Val smacked the crap out of the shot. 20.42. Best of the season. The house erupted in whoops and cheers. We never watch shot. It's the magic of the Olympics.

She's got it. We knew it. Until the second to last throw and the American Carter, whose Dad won silver many moons ago, smacked even more crap out of the shot for a phenomenal 20.63. Our hearts sank. Val's did too probably but she didn't show it. Again, the magic of the Olympics.

Then a friend of mine from Mt Eden phoned. She said lets talk about High Performance Sport funding on Sunday.

We've spent hundreds of millions for what. A few silvers? We're too small and not good enough. We should spending that money on arts and culture, she said as she was picking up her daughter from trumpet practice.

Has she got a point?

Let's have a look. High Performance Sport New Zealand has spent $135 million in the last 4 years on about 20 sports. Another $35 million has gone to athletes themselves. That's 6 flag referendums which is the new gold standard of government spending.

It sounds a lot but then again it's what they've also spent on Radio New Zealand, the Ballet, the Orchestra and New Zealand On Air. So culture hasn't missed out, because there's loads of other arts grants on top of that.

I also put the point to Sports Minister Jonathon Coleman, who's in Rio, on Friday on Early Edition. $19 million on Rowing. $17 million on Cycling. $4.5 million on Men's Sevens. $3.7 million on Women's Sevens. $20,000 on Natalie Rooney who actually got a silver. Is it all worth it? Trying to pick winners? Absolutely said the Minister. It's not just winning metal - it's providing motivation to participate.

It all sounds a bit liberal PC. It's all about participation. But, you know, I agree. When did participation become an ugly word? Oh that's right. It's what I call right wing political correctness. Participation is the key because not participating is opting out of life.

At the end of the day despite some disappointments I love seeing Kiwis battling with the best and being the best at the sports we love. And ask yourself how many kids rowed at the Maadi Cup because of Mahe? If you don't participate you'll never find your magic skill.

Life is all about participation. Standing around watching because you're not going to be a winner is a loser attitude. Teachers get it. Reward winners and reward participants. It's not either or.

Which brings me back to the 26 boys playing football on top of a volcano on a dreary winter's morning. They're never going to the Olympics. They're participating because they see the world participating through sport. I actually think this so called disappointing games is proof that we should spend even more on sports. The more who participate, the more we'll find who lift a nation.