"Focus on the football" comes a desperate plea from FIFA as the most politicised World Cup in history prepares for the big kickoff in Qatar just over a week from now.

Talk about Olympic qualifying is currently dominated by the Russia question.

July 31 this year. The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. The Sandwell Aquatics Centre. Packed out. Sound booming. And it’s one of those nights…

My life has given me the privilege to know both Olympic sport at the highest level and corporate life in a multinational environment very well. 

Fifty years ago this week, the citizens of Colorado decided that they did not want the Winter Olympics.

"Really proud of what we've been able to accomplish" but aware "a lot more work can still be done" is the verdict of USA Gymnastics President and chief executive Li Li Leung on the organisation's efforts to drive cultural change in response to an abuse scandal that shamed the sport.

The return earlier this week of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, a former shoe-shine boy and factory worker, as Brazil's President after 12 years away is the stuff of legend.

"Expect the unexpected", gushes the latest TV commercial extolling the virtues of Qatar.

The perceived ambition of Vladimir Putin is to recreate the empire of Peter the Great (1672-1725). 

Might Beijing and its various subsidiary venues that were utilised earlier this year end up being the last entirely new Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games host?

Years ago I was asked by the makers of a television programme celebrating great sporting moments to pass comment on a few I had personally witnessed.

"I've been around the world with insidethegames, and the hottest place has been Birmingham."

Jersey, check. Water bottle, check. Headband, check. Shin guards, check. Orange slices, check. Matching soccer socks, check.

An old scoreboard on display at the club shop of Llanelli Rugby Football Club in Wales is frozen in time to forever record the day 50 years ago this weekend when a the home team beat the mighty New Zealand All Blacks in a match at Stradey Park.