Sledging is a term used in cricket to describe the practice whereby some players seek to gain advantage by insulting or verbally intimidating the opposing player to disrupt their rhythm.

Waugh (pictured), one of Australia's greatest ever players and who led his country to victory in the 1999 Cricket World Cup, is at London 2012 as one of the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) athlete liaison officers.

The 47-year-old from New South Wales said intimidating the opposition is something that happens in all sport.

"There is always a role for sledging," he said here.

"In any sport there are mind games but cricket is a bit different to most sports because you're out in the field for seven hours but most of these sports are shorter."

During the Olympics, Waugh will be attending the majority of sporting events, but admits he is taking a particular interest in the archery competition because it is taking place at Lord's, widely referred to as the "home of cricket".

Waugh played at the venue on numerous occasions during his glittering career and admitted he has already given some pointers to the team about the venue.

Steve Waugh (right) at Lord's in London in 2001

"I gave some advice to one of the archery team the other day because she didn't really know what Lord's was," Waugh explained.

"I asked her which end is she shooting from and she said, 'The end where there is an old, red building behind us' and I said, 'That is actually the Lord's Pavilion'.

"It is an amazing venue that I hold very fond memories of."

Kieren Perkins, the double 1500 metre Olympic swimming champion, another AOC athlete liaison officer at London 2012, also discussed sledging at the Games, but said it is a tactic that will not be used by top athletes.

"The people who do the sledging generally aren't good enough, so they have to find other ways to slow us down," he said.

"Those of us that are good enough just get on with it."

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