IT all worked out fine in the end. Actually, it was a lot better than fine… it was a spectacular success.

We were told that it would be a disaster; that nobody would turn up to watch and the competitors would be made to feel like they were performing in some sort of goldfish bowl silence.

Instead the Rio Paralympics proved to be a massive hit, with ticket sales topping two-million and Channel Four’s coverage proving that they can do things right when they try.

I can’t pretend to understand how they work out all the different classifications and, to the untrained eye, it looked as though some of the athletes had a huge advantage over some of their rivals.

But that mattered little. The smiling faces, the camaraderie among the nations amid horror stories like that of the gold medal-winning Chinese swimmer who lost both legs in a road accident at the age of six, made the 12 days in Rio something special.

We can leave the politicians to argue over the financial implications and the after-show effects on Brazilian life in general.

The record gold medal haul of the Great Britain team – something we can celebrate and share – was naturally a major plus from the occasion and the fact that they picked up gold in 18 events only added to the overall appeal of the games.

Naturally, names like cyclist Dame Sarah Storey and swimmers Ellie Robinson and Bethany Firth grabbed most of the headlines as Britain amassed a London record-breaking 64 golds.

Maybe it should have been 65, or at least an honorary gold to the lady on the mike.

How does she keep up her enthusiasm for just about every sport she has covered – from rugby league to horse racing? TV coverage would be a lot less enjoyable without Clare Balding.

THE Germans have a word for it: Schadenfreude… taking pleasure from the misfortunes of others. We have a simpler word: gloating.

A trio of football’s headline-grabbers were in the firing line over the weekend from the phone-in brigade and the press benches.

It almost goes without saying that three defeats in nine days puts Jose Mourinho top of the list from non-Man United fans and perhaps some who are.

Jose’s summary of events after the 3-1 defeat at Watford was that he can’t control luck or mistakes by referees (though that sounds as if they only make mistakes that favour United’s opponents).

United fans must also be wondering exactly what they have got for their £90m, for, as one critic summed up the world record buy’s performance: Pogba’s all style and no substance.

To make up the threesome, there’s old friend Joey Barton, who breezed into Ibrox like a man on a white charger. Now, after a training ground bust-up, he is like a certain other man on a white horse and wearing a mask: The Lone Ranger.

IF you need five reasons to remind you what Leicester City did for the game last season, here they are: Manchester City, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Juventus and Celtic.

If they look familiar, it is because they are the five clubs leading their national leagues coming to the end of September. What’s the odds that they will all still be there by the end of May?

AND finally, that update. Jordon Crawford is not a name on the lips of many football supporters but, as I promised to let you know if and when Corby Town got round to scoring their second goal of the season, his time has come.

Crawford marked his debut by scoring for the Steelmen nine hours and 13 minutes after their last Northern Premier League goal. Unfortunately, it was only enough to give them a 1-1 home draw against Buxton.

PETER WILSON