By Mike Rowbottom There is just a little suggestion of poacher-turned-gamekeeper about the overall team coach/manager for the Australian team at this weekend’s IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Bydgoszcz. Twelve years ago, this team manager went directly against team orders in going for the double at the World Cross Country Championships in Marrakesh - and won both her events.

hellip; "I have never  not felt Irish, even though I have lived in the UK, Australia and USA

March 10 - The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) will utilise the University of East London (UEL) as its base of athlete performance services and logistical operations for the London 2012 Games, it was announced today.

" USA Track & Field have already signed a separate deal for their athletes to base

March 1 - Houston will host the United States marathon trials for the London 2012 Olympics, it was announced today. 

Doug Logan, the chief executive of USA Track & Field (USATF), said:  "As we expected

USA Hockey’s Dave Ogrean is a former  ESPN executive, USOC director of broadcasting, assistant

US Skiing’s Bill Marolt was an Olympic skier, Team USA coach at the Sarajevo Games in 1984, and

Skating’s David Raith comes from a background that includes a rich involvement as an executive with USA

USA Luge chief executive Ron Rossi has devoted more than three decades to his sport and its development

success of our skiers, through the compelling skating of Apolo Ohno (pictured), Steve Holcomb’s USA

By Duncan Mackay in Vancouver February 24 - Michael Phelps (pictured) has been chosen as the first official Ambassador of the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) despite being photographed last year taking drugs and being told by International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge he had failed in his duty as a role model.

eight Olympic gold medals at the Games in Beijing 2008, was banned for three months last year by USA

February 21 - Britain’s top wheelchair racers David Weir (pictured) and Shelly Woods will be seeking revenge at the Virgin London Marathon on April 25 where two of the best ever wheelchair marathon fields are set to battle for the coveted title.

London debutants Adam Bleakney of USA and Tomasz Hamerlak of Poland will also be in the mix, as will

By Duncan Mackay February 19 - Birmingham expects to reap more than £15 million in economic benefit out of hosting the Jamaican and United States teams before the London 2012 Olympics, the city's Leader Mike Whitby (pictured with Usain Bolt) claimed today.

;s fastest athletes [Jamaica] together with the world’s most successful track and field Team [USA

boost to the local economy – with conservative estimates suggesting the economic impact of the USA

official contract with Jamaica for London 2012 October 2009: Birmingham signs official contract with USA

By Duncan Mackay February 18 - Michael Phelps (pictured), the most successful athlete in Olympic history, has clinched his first new multi-million dollar endorsement deal since the British tabloid News of the World photographed him taking drugs more than a year ago.

behaviour "regrettable" and "inappropriate," and was suspended for three months by USA

February 14 - Jamaica will officially seal a deal next week for its athletes, including Usain Bolt (pictured), to hold its pre-London 2012 Games training camp in Birmingham.

Related stories October 2009:Birmingham signs official contract with USA for London 2012 September

By Duncan Mackay in VancouverFebruary 10 - The British Olympic Association (BOA) have hired the former United States Olympic Committee (USOC) chief communications officer, Darryl Seibel (pictured left), as a consultant for the Winter Olympics here and may extend the relationship to the London 2012 Games.

He has spent most of the last 20 years in the Olympic Movement, having previously worked with USA Wrestling

, USA Hockey and the Colorado Springs Sports Corp. before joining the USOC.

February 9 - World Championship silver medallist Fran Halsall (pictured) will go up against her Rome conqueror Britta Steffen as the teams were announced for Great Britain's head to head against Germany in Swansea later this month.

competition at December's British Gas Duel in the Pool in Manchester when a European select side took on the USA

February 9 - The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) today launched a new scheme that allows Olympic fans to earn up to 15 per cent back from hundreds of on-line retailers while at the same time helping its team, including Lindsey Vonn (pictured), win medals at future Games.

For each dollar a member earns, a matching dollar will be donated to the USOC and Team USA.

perfect time to introduce this wonderful programme, designed to give back to our fans and to support Team USA

to them - or they can choose to donate all of their earnings to provide additional support for Team USA

The USA has numerous commissions with different rules.

  In the USA the authorities have certainly soft-pedalled on boxing’s drugs issue, notably

February 2 - Polo Ralph Lauren today officially unveiled the official uniforms inspired by the 1932 Olympics in Lake Placid to be worn by the United States team during the opening and closing ceremony's at the Games in Vancouver, which open on February 12.

"They truly understand the honor bestowed upon Team USA athletes who will represent our nation at the

By Duncan Mackay January 15 - Chicago withdrew its bid to stage World Cup matches if the United States campaign to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup is successful because the city refused to underwrite a guarantee of $10 million (£6 million) following its doomed attempt to host the 2016 Olympics, it has emerged today.

There was widespread surprise on Tuesday when Chicago was not among the 18 cities announced by the USA

David Downs, the executive director of USA 2018-2022, has revealed that Chicago Park District officials

[email protected] Related stories January 2010: Chicago snubbed again - this time by USA