Last week we told of the remarkable involvement of boxing in the current warfare in Ukraine, with four illustrious world champions donning battledress and fighting their corner against the Russian invaders.

FIFA’s Finance Committee chair Alejandro Domínguez assures us that the world football body is "well on track" to exceed its revenue target of $6.44 billion (£4.9 billion/€5.87 billion) for the 2018-2022 World Cup cycle.

You started this Iwan. You started it with that Tweet this morning: "I dreamt last night as an athlete & myself Roger Black & David Grindley were lining up to race! I then woke & realised I’m old, was a lovely feeling though thinking still young and fast".

The past week has marked a significant one in the football world, off the field as much as on it.

When growing up in India, Ashok Das had the dream of spreading the sport of kabaddi around the world.

The Para sport championships held in Khanty-Mansiisk last month under the banner "We are together sports" to compensate for Russia's non-participation in the Paralympic Games, begged a question.

Chief executive of an Olympic Games Organising Committee (OCOG) sounds like a glamorous job: the opportunity to be involved in the world’s biggest sporting event, VIP tickets to watch some of the most sought-after events on the planet and a healthy six-figure salary.

The war in Ukraine and the heavyweight championship of the world are unlikely bedfellows. Yet such is the situation where Russia is wreaking havoc in that proud nation which has two former holders of the title, and a current incumbent literally fighting in its blue and yellow corner. Plus another pugilistic protagonist who has been an outstanding world lightweight kingpin.

Now that Vladimir Putin has rammed the honeyed words of his former friends the international sports leaders about building bridges and the benefits of peaceful competition back down their throats, what are we left with?

The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) is the latest party to honour Ash Barty - the women’s world number one tennis player who announced her shock retirement from the game last week aged 25.

Jeopardy is at the heart of football’s current international break, which sees the finale of the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification process.

I have known Lord Coe since he was an impecunious teenage prodigy. Even then, he held two passions outside his beloved athletics - boxing and Chelsea FC.

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan could be forgiven for taking a short break from the affairs of state this week to remember the 30th anniversary of one of the greatest moments in his cricketing career.

The last weekend in March, when the World Cross Country Championships traditionally took place, used to be my favourite time of the year.