There were fun and games in the Olympic village when athletes managed to find a way to sneak out and buy booze from a nearby convenience store without being detected by security. However, the antics of one group impacted Team GB.
The Brits brought in a number of Union Flag deck chairs and found four had gone missing late one evening. The culprits apparently realised their error and the following morning the chairs were sheepishly returned. However, the same could not be said about a Brompton bicycle which also vanished.
Days later, a quick-thinking Team GB security officer spotted the stolen bike being ridden by an unidentified rider and managed to chase them down and return it to base. Insiders have said that despite draconian quarantine measures, the traditional partying as the Games closed was in full flow.
As the Games closed (above) traditional partying was in full flow among athletes in Tokyo
One prominent Team GB track coach triggered suspicious minds when he turned up in Tokyo with jet-black hair. The staff member, who shall remain nameless, was accused of hitting the colour bottle and was promptly nicknamed Elvis.
Ben Whittaker, who picked up silver in boxing, will find a familiar face when he appears as a guest of honour at Wolves’ home opener against Spurs on August 22. The 24-year-old’s father works in the tunnel at Molineux.
Ben Whittaker, who picked up silver in boxing, will find a familiar face when he appears as a guest of honour at Wolves’ home opener against Spurs on August 22
Early indications are that Wimbledon, the first event to allow full houses this summer during its second week, has been far from the Covid super-spreader event feared by some. According to several sources, the number of infections believed to result from the nearly 300,000 spectators who attended the Championships, has been ‘remarkably low’.
The final figures are still being crunched by those in charge of the pilot scheme, but it already appears a minuscule proportion of them picked anything up in SW19. The final tally from various sporting events is due later this month.
Centre Court saw a packed out crowd watch Novak Djokovic win the Wimbledon final
Early indications are that Wimbledon, the first event to allow full houses this summer during its second week, has been far from the Covid super-spreader event feared by some
The number of infections believed to result from the nearly 300,000 spectators who attended the Championships, has been ‘remarkably low’
Manchester City presented the FA with a full-sized replica of the 1896-1910 FA Cup at Saturday’s Community Shield. There had been fears that the original would be privately purchased and taken overseas when it was listed for auction last year.
However, City owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed purchased the historic trophy, which was subsequently loaned to the National Football Museum in Manchester. Mike Summerbee handed the replica trophy over to FA chief executive officer Mark Bullingham in a private presentation ahead of kick-off.
EuroSport officials have been delighted by an unexpected success story, with the equestrian events providing big viewing numbers in both the UK and Holland despite the channel being seen as cycling-orientated.
EuroSport officials have been delighted by an unexpected success story, with the equestrian events providing big viewing numbers in both the UK and the Netherlands
Column readers may recall the story of the BBC’s ludicrous decision to make Olympics correspondent Nick Hope redundant after the Games. In a new twist, the head press officers from a wide variety of Team GB sports have written to BBC Sport director Barbara Slater.
They pointed out Hope’s extensive coverage of their disciplines — including at these Games — and have asked for clarity on what will happen following his departure. The strong inference is that the broadcaster should rethink what was yet another head-scratching move.
Face mask have been the talk of the Games with some weird and wonderful designs on display. The USA went full Hannibal Lecter with their violent-looking coverings, which were accompanied with all-white podium suits that made their athletes look like they should be at a crime scene on their hands and knees.
The winners, however, were the Ugandans, who looked like they should be tending goal in an ice hockey match, rather than taking part in the Olympics, with their ginormous masks.
BMX bronze medallist Declan Brooks was sent into a panic when he arrived in the athletes’ village without his lucky underpants. The 25-year-old begged staff to find the underwear, which he had left at the preparation camp in Yokohama. An initial search was fruitless, but the pants were subsequently spotted in a laundry room and ferried 30 miles to their grateful owner.
BMX bronze medallist Declan Brooks was sent into a panic when he arrived in the athletes’ village without his lucky underpants
Media in Tokyo have been amused by the status the city’s convenience stores were given by members of the foreign press, who found the well-stocked outlets, which appear to be on every street, a godsend. NHK, the national public broadcaster, even ran a story about it.
The searing temperatures in Tokyo wreaked havoc on Friday when a pair of caddies at the golf tournament collapsed from heat exhaustion. Both recovered fully, but it is a surprise the baking temperatures have not caused more distress.
Two French appeals fell on deaf ears in the space of a week. First, they delayed confirmation that Hannah Mills had become the most successful female sailor in GB history by launching a complaint about her victory with Eilidh McIntyre in the 470 class.
Bizarrely, they had earlier gone to sport’s top court CAS to appeal boxer Mourad Aliev’s disqualification for head-butting GB’s Frazer Clarke. Perhaps more focus should be placed on their own performance, ahead of Paris 2024, after they finished eighth in the medal table with 10 golds.
Hannah Mills had become the most successful female sailor in GB history by launching a complaint about her victory with Eilidh McIntyre in the 470 class
Cheerleading from the press box hit new lows during the Games. The sight of cheering ‘journalists’ — some of whom brought flags and badgered athletes for selfies — will not be missed.
The Italians have been among the worst culprits, bringing back memories of their over the top celebrations and goading of England fans at the Euro 2020 final at Wembley, when one journalist even grabbed an Italy shirt out of his backpack and put it on over his top.