I may be in a minority of one in the United Kingdom right now, but I have always found the Davis Cup a rather unsatisfactory and unsatisfying competition.

Two historic events of global significance at the weekend have left British sport punching the air.

First, Tyson Fury’s impudent acquisition of Wladimir Klitschko’s triple world heavyweight crowns seems to have "shook up the world" just as another underdog, Muhammad Ali, did when he upset all the odds to dethrone the so-called unbeatable ogre that was Sonny Liston half a century ago.

Then Britain's Andy Murray-led Davis Cup tennis squad defied the spectre of terrorism to claim the sport’s biggest team prize, one that had eluded the nation for over three quarters of a century.

Last night’s referendum result in Hamburg was another huge blow for the Olympic Movement.

Life is pretty good for World Karate Federation (WKF) President Antonio Espinós at the moment.

Among tragic events that grab the world’s attention, such as what happened in Paris (and Beirut) a couple of weeks ago, there are always good things that happen and good people that give solace, courage and hope. You read something, listen to something, watch something - and just say ‘wow’.

Sebastian Coe's decision to finally give up his ambassadorial position with sportswear company Nike should allow him to drown out what he described as the "noise" which had become "intolerable and a distraction" from concentrating on sorting out problems at the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

So the race is on to design a new logo for the Tokyo 2020 Games, with a million yen and a place at the Opening Ceremonies on offer to the lucky winner.

I can’t be the only European sports follower of a certain age who last week, when the Brussels suburb of Molenbeek hit the news for the reasons we all know about, thought that the name of the place rang a vague bell.

The ring of steel that has encircled the vast majority of major sporting events since September 5, 1972 is having to be re-enforced because of the latest horrific acts of terrorism.

I felt a little out of my depth on arrival in Tokyo last week for the finale of the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s (WBSC) inaugural Premier12 tournament.

Leading up to the US hosted 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup I served as the chairman of the organising committee. As one who had spent decades in the Olympic World it was both a daunting challenge and a privilege to take part in what would become the most successful Women’s World Cup in history. 

The Olympic Games are considered the pinnacle of any athlete’s career by many, but for some, an appearance on the grandest stage of them all barely tops their ever-growing list of priorities.

Nearly a week has passed. Enough time for the shock to subside – at least for those of us who did not have the rank, diabolical bad luck to be in the wrong place when a swaggering gang of Kalashnikov-toting nihilists went on the rampage.

Jonah Lomu, the All Black winger who died suddenly this week aged 40, never won a Rugby World Cup winner’s medal.