More words have been spilled about the coming confrontation between Floyd Mayweather Jnr and Manny Pacquiao that any previous episode of unarmed combat in history.

It is a lovely day in Britain today. Blue sky, blossom and an air of gentle optimism that only spring can bring.

As I made my way to today’s eagerly-anticipated London Marathon, a rather odd thought popped into my head.

It suddenly hit me that I had something in common with both men’s world record holder Dennis Kimetto and eventual men’s winner Eliud Kipchoge - they were making their debut at one of the most prestigious races on the distance running calendar and so was I.

Of course, my athletic involvement stretched no further than plonking myself in the media centre, taking in all the constant goings on, while the two marathon powerhouses were out there competing for one of the top prizes in the sport.

Some may say that my association with Kipchoge and Kimetto is hugely vague and largely irrelevant - I would hasten to agree - but it nevertheless provided me with my own connection to the world’s greatest distance race.

And I don’t think I could have picked a better race for my first taste of the London Marathon.

The men’s field was widely regarded as the most stellar in the event’s illustrious 35-year history, with five of the all-time top 10 quickest runners on the start line to the delight of fans and media alike.

Billed as a straight shootout between last year’s winner Wilson Kipsang and Kimetto, who broke the world record at the Berlin Marathon in 2014, it was Kipchoge who broke away in the final few miles, taking the title by crossing the line in 2 hours, 4 minutes and 42 seconds. 

The race itself was gripping, breathtaking and dramatic in equal measure.

It seemed the field, which also included the likes of Emmanuel Mutai and last year’s runner-up Stanley Biwott, could run whatever pace they saw fit as they upped the gears with consummate ease in the early stages, racking up the miles in rapid style. That speed had eventually slowed but by that point, sole attention had turned to who would break the red tape by crossing the line first.

It seemed discussions of this contest being more a time trial were premature.

Talk in the lead-up to the race had centred on whether Kimetto’s blistering world record of 2:02:57 was in jeopardy but difficult conditions put paid to those who harboured hopes of another historic finish.

Kipchoge in fairness came into the event slightly under the radar, with Kipsang and Kimetto taking the majority of the spotlight in the build-up to the contest, and even he admitted that he was perhaps “underrated”.

Few can argue with that after he kicked towards the end of the 26.2 miles and left Kipsang in his wake, while Kimetto was further back in third.

The fascinating men’s race followed a tantalising women’s affair which saw Tigist Tufa of Ethiopia spoil the supposed Kenyan party by taking victory in a relatively steady 2:23:22.

But it wasn't just the actual races themselves which caught the eye.

There can be no doubt that the event as a whole is an inspiration, encapsulating the key mantras of sport itself.

Participation, perseverance and in the case of some of the runners, sheer bloody lunacy.

The marathon sees the elite athletes in particular test the limits of their bodies over the gruelling distance, yet it is the mass participation that truly makes this race special.

Where else do you see people dressed as water bottles or running while bouncing basketballs run the same course as the likes of Kipsang and Edna Kiplagat?

Yes, there are of course other marathons in the world, but it’s difficult to match the spirit that emanates from London, both from the competitors as well as the thousands who braved the elements by lining the streets of the capital.

From a personal point of view, covering my first marathon was as exciting for me as running the 26.2 miles themselves.

Journeying in early on a Sunday morning, the train was packed full of runners of all shapes and sizes, ages and abilities, all desperate for their own taste of the London Marathon experience.

They were not alone.

Targets and times were discussed, laced with an undercurrent of optimism mixed with a growing sense of nerves as the train neared its final destination.

Some were looking forward to the end and the taste of a cold pint in their local pub and spending a hefty proportion of their wages at their chosen fast-food establishment, while others insisted they would revel in every mile.

They would savour every moment thudding the tarmac of the nation’s capital.

For most of the 37,000-odd runners had trained for months on end for this moment, sacrificing several of life’s luxuries all to complete a truly arduous task.

“I said to myself I would never run this again and here I am,” one passenger, running the race for the second time, said to one of his fellow runners.

“I haven’t had a drink in three months so I hope it was all worth it!”

Attention where I was housed was focused largely on the elite races - that is of course not a revelation - but this year there was a certain name who the British press were particularly interested in who wasn't in among the top racers.

World record holder Paula Radcliffe was competing in her last London Marathon, and she attracted a great deal of the spotlight before, during and after the race.

Regular updates on Radcliffe's progress filtered through to those of us lucky enough to be sat in the media centre and the emotional Briton crossed the line in tears to mark the end of an era for the 41-year-old.

She found herself in among the mass participation runners, all of whom would have had a target time of around two-and-a-half hours, and crossed the line hand in hand with a runner she had met on the course in a fitting tribute to the sentiments provided by American Dick Beardsley and Norwegian Inge Simonsen in the first-ever London Marathon back in 1981.

“I didn't have any times in my head and I just had so much fun out there,” Radcliffe, who finished in a time of 2:36:55, said afterwards.

“It was so hard to reign the emotion in.

“There’s a magic about this race that helps you get even more out of it. There was so many people out supporting me on the route and to pick out one special moment is very difficult.

“The reception from the start was really moving and I thought it was louder than the times where I have been racing before.

“I felt a lot more relaxed coming in to it and I didn't want to embarrass myself and I wanted to give it a good go.”

While Radcliffe's marathon career appears to have come to a permanent halt, here’s hoping my appearance was the first of many.

The phrase “this doesn’t normally happen at SportAccord Convention” is one that I’ve heard on numerous occasions this week.

Ronnie O’Sullivan - Olympic champion. Could that ever become a reality? In terms of ability, you bet. But snooker’s bid for inclusion in the 2020 Tokyo Games, for all the flexibility of events promised by the International Olympic Committee's recent Agenda 2020 deliberations, is a long shot into the far pocket.

There is no doubt who is ahead in the early stages of the grudge match between two black belts of global sports that those of us who travelled to the shores of the Black Sea have been gawping at this week with a mixture of bemusement and rapt anticipation.

Have you caught the election bug? We are not talking Cameron v Miliband here, that messy political punch-up which seems to be heading for a bore draw, or at best a split decision, when Great Britain goes to the polls on May 7.

After several attempts at arriving in Sochi yesterday were halted by uncompromising weather, our plane was forced to land 200 kilometres to the east in the wonderfully named Mineralnye Vode airfield, before resuming its journey four hours later once the conditions had calmed.

As representatives of 109 International Sports Federations gather this week in Sochi for the SportAccord Convention, one question is likely on all participants’ minds: how to ensure that, at a time of pressing economic and political issues, their sports keep developing in a sustainable and healthy way?  

Perhaps the very same question was among those that prompted the International Olympic Committee members to unanimously vote in favour of the Olympic Agenda 2020, a strategic roadmap focused on bringing the Games back to what they should be about: sport - while ensuring sustainability and cost-efficiency of all Olympic projects.

A long-term strong and clear business plan and a genuine passion for sport are two non-negotiable requirements in order for any major sports project or event, let alone an event on such a grand scale as the Olympic Games, to be successful and to continue to address challenges and bring positive sustainable changes to our societies. 

A determination to bring the best conditions and first-class services for both athletes to shine and fans to enjoy the thrill of sport has been a core driver of Beijing 2022’s planning since the bid’s inception, additionally boosted by the rich experience that Beijing acquired through hosting the Games in 2008. It will also continue to guide our planning and delivery of the Games. To plan this experience for the athletes, we have carefully considered and laid out the “end-to-end” athlete journey, including pre-Games, Games-time and post-Games.

In line with our athlete-centred core value, Beijing 2022 has been actively engaging with athletes by bringing a number of Chinese winter sports stars - including Yang, Li Nina, Zhang Hong and many more - on board, ensuring they are involved in the Games plans development all the way since the very beginning of the bid. We will continue to do so, if our bid is successful, by establishing early on an Athletes’ Commission involving athletes from every sport on the programme, which will help ensure that all athletes’ needs are fully met. We are also keen on granting National Olympic and Paralympic Committees access to all venues for their athletes to train and get familiarised with the fields of play prior to the Games - all in consistent coordination with the IOC, the International Paralympic Committee and the International Federations.

In order to create an overall 2022 Games experience with sport at its core combined with great fun, entertainment and cultural opportunities that the cosmopolitan city of Beijing offers, we have carefully designed and will keep adjusting the athlete experience throughout all aspects, from venues to cultural activities, and from medical services to transport.

Our venue plan successfully ensures that the distance and travel time between each venue and its corresponding Olympic Village is as short as possible. All 12 competition venues are within a 15-minute drive from the Olympic Village in the corresponding cluster. All venues and services of the Beijing 2022 Games will be accessible and inclusive. Paralympic athletes will be provided barrier-free facilities and services that meet the standards of the IPC, ensuring that they will be able to once again inspire the world with their outstanding achievements that remind us that nothing is impossible.

The Olympic Villages themselves will reflect athletes’ own visions about what an ideal Olympic Village should deliver in terms of living space, environment, fitness and sporting facilities, food and beverages, accommodation and services. We plan to carefully combine a relaxing environment perfect for competition preparation and a fun, cultural and high-tech environment. As the Olympic Winter Games coincides with the Chinese Spring Festival (also referred to as the Chinese New Year - arguably the liveliest time of the year in China), a large variety of festive and recreational activities, including music, dance and other art performances, will be offered in the Olympic Villages.

Beijing 2008 Games’ experience and legacy will be put to full use in order to provide the athletes with the best experience, all while ensuring sustainability and cost-efficiency of the 2022 Games. This includes eleven out of the twelve competition and non-competition venues in the Beijing Zone, but also broader city and regional infrastructure and a pool of high-level professionals across a number of areas regarding Games operations.

To ensure the delivery of a Games-time atmosphere charged with excitement and rife with cheering fans, Beijing will build on its already strong public support (over 90 per cent of Chinese citizens currently support the Games) to inspire more people to become involved in the Games.  As it already stands, the Chinese Government has successful programmes such as the “300 Million People Winter Sports Plan” aimed at enhancing public knowledge about and participation in winter sports, as well as the “One Million Youth on Ice and Snow Programme” which provides free or low-priced access to winter sports facilities and competitions. Furthermore, a tailored Beijing 2022 Educational Programme will be launched for the young people in China with a particular focus on citizens in Beijing and Zhangjiakou.

Educational activities revolving around Olympic and Paralympic values and winter sports knowledge will be launched across China, particularly among over 300 thousand primary and secondary schools as well as universities. This widespread campaign includes a nation-wide Olympic Winter Games education resources platform that integrates Olympic-themed education websites, social media platforms and micro-lectures.

Igniting a winter sports passion amongst the multitudes of Chinese youth represents an unprecedented opportunity for the sustainability of the Olympic Movement. By bringing the Olympic Winter Games directly to Chinese residents, Beijing 2022 will also bring these people into the Olympic Movement. The Chinese Government has declared the development of the country’s sports industry a top priority, setting a goal for the sector to grow to $800 billion (£535 million/€740 million) by 2025 through promoting sports businesses, developing sport facilities and further expanding an already robust sports market for consumer products and services.

Beijing 2022 will also provide an unprecedented opportunity for Olympic sponsors, as the broadcast potential of the Games in China is immense. Take the following example as evidence of China’s growing interest in winter sports: This season, 1 million Chinese people followed the matches of the National Hockey League thanks to an agreement between the NHL and CCTV - almost as many as in Canada. And recent NBA matches have been watched by no less than 10 million television viewers in China. Imagine what these numbers could become if we brought the world’s best hockey players to compete head-to-head with China’s own rising ice hockey stars at the Chinese fans’ doorsteps…

Finally, Beijing 2022 will have no problem to ensure full stadia through the comprehensive sport promotion programmes in the lead-up to the Games. Beijing 2022 and the Ministry of Education will launch the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Experience Camp, as well as various educational projects, instilling millions of kids and young adults in China with a passion for winter sports and giving them the opportunity to engage with athletes. Also worthy of note, the dates proposed for the Games coincide with schools’ winter vacations, which will enable more kids to enjoy the competitions and to become engaged as volunteers for the Olympic Winter Games.

From cultural traditions cultivated for over five thousand years, to cosmopolitan and world-renowned contributions to hospitality, entertainment and cuisine, right down to a beautiful natural setting, Beijing 2022 offers an all-inclusive proposition.

Many of you already experienced Beijing through the unforgettable Beijing 2008 Summer Olympic Games. Having witnessed it myself, I can say with confidence that the Olympics significantly helped transform Beijing into the international, vibrant metropolis it is today. Beijing has continued to rank among the fastest-developing cities on the planet and in 2022, I would like to invite you to come and re-discover our dynamic capital. Take it from me: This will be a Beijing that you would not recognise, a city that takes delight in constantly exceeding expectations.

With winter sports at its core, spiced with virtually unlimited, world-class entertainment, shopping and hospitality options, as well as cultural and sport activities, Beijing 2022 would be a truly joyful Games experience for all those involved. What’s more, a sporting event staged at the foot of the iconic Great will set a stunning backdrop to showcase Olympic and Paralympic Winter sports to the world, both to spectators in the stadia and at the outdoor venues - not to mention all fans around the world. 

To conclude, a sporting event should not simply strive to put together a successful competition for the world to see; it is also about making the world want more after the event has finished. Overall, our vision can be summarised as: to create a win-win environment both for the development of sport in China, as well as for the development of the Olympic Movement and the International Sport Federations. Through this, Beijing and China can make a historical contribution, one that ensures sport remains a powerful and inspirational endeavour, and that the legacy of the Games endures in the hearts and minds of people around the world for years and years to come.

My history teacher way back in my high school days taught me not just about Henry VIII’s six wives and what happened in 1066 - he also taught me some of my early life lessons.

What does Keeneland horseracing track in the bluegrass country of Kentucky have in common with Boston?

So it’s official. Swimmers make the best lovers. (That is, according to the latest research published by the British Heart Foundation.)

Some of us of a certain age, not just living in the UK or United States but worldwide, grew up inspired by the witty, crazy and often insightful comedy of Monty Python. For many, being at that “certain age” means we are now around the peak of our careers with the power to influence decisions which will last beyond our lifetimes.

Back in boxing’s 80s heyday - though the battered old game is enjoying a something of a comeback now - one of the most in-demand characters in the business was a Runyonesque New Yorker they called "The Gravedigger".