Last night’s International Swimming Federation (FINA) World Aquatics Gala took place in the iconic Vigadó Concert Hall here in Budapest. Built in 1859 on the eastern bank of the Danube, the grand old building - the city's second-largest concert venue - required 36 years of renovation following the destruction of World War Two, but is now fully restored and filled once again with elegant arches and beautiful paintings.

What a fascinating insight into FIFA we had last week.

If Gianni Infantino is successful with his bid to replace disgraced compatriot Sepp Blatter as the President of FIFA, he may look back at these last couple of weeks as one of the main reasons.

The visit to Morgedal this weekend is a significant staging post in the journey of Lillehammer’s Flame for the 2016 Winter Youth Olympic Games (YOG). It was here in the early 19th century that Sondre Norheim, considered the father of modern skiing, grew up in a tiny cottage at Overbo overlooking the valley.

With Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur currently viewing their options as they plan major home improvements, the subject of ground-sharing has returned as a talking point.

"Oh shut up, silly woman," said the reptile with a grin
"You knew damn well I was a snake before you took me in"’

From The Snake by Al Wilson

The English Football Association have just appointed Baroness Sue Campbell as their new head of women’s football. Now I have a lot of time for Sue, who has been one of the most formidable, influential and successful females in British sport.

Whisper it softly, but our sporting scandalometer was slightly steadier last week.

We had the odd moment here and there: a Russian European Games boost and more FIFA Presidential manifestos, and tennis stepped up to the breach, of course, with a new spin placed on old allegations about match fixing.

But the lack of major developments in the ever-escalating athletics and football dramas gave us more time to focus on other issues, including the still uncertain preparations for Rio 2016 after another chaotic week, which began with celebrations marking 200 days until the Opening Ceremony.

During the past 12-months we worked hard in our efforts to raise the image of table tennis worldwide. Our sport continued to be ranked in the top five by all online sports-ranking agencies.

On an August morning at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, England’s netball team suffered a devastating loss at the hands of Jamaica in the third-place play-off. Their dream of having a medal draped round their necks was over.

They are Olympians at opposite ends of the spectrum but the stories of Jesse Owens and Eddie "The Eagle"  Edwards will both hit cinema screens later this year.

One of the best things about Andy Murray having won grand slams, the Olympics – and indeed BBC Sports Personality of the Years – is that he has to put up with less and less rubbish when he speaks with his characteristic candour.

The FIFA Presidential election hotted up a tad over recent days, with a contretemps in Kigali involving the two Asian candidates, Shaikh Salman Bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa and Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein, and publication of UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino’s manifesto.

I see that Lord Sebastian Coe has followed the hirsute trend of sporting celebs by sprouting a small beard.