The Thomas Bach era has not been kind to the Olympic brand; but things could get a whole lot worse if the International Olympic Committee (IOC) President persists with a course that could see Russian athletes lining up at Paris 2024, yet not Ukrainian ones.

It happened on this day, January 30, in 1924. Then again, it didn’t happen until 2006. Or rather, what happened on "this day" was clarified. Which was that Britain won curling gold at the first Winter Olympics.

Novak Djokovic called it "one of the most challenging tournaments of my life" in his post-match interview, as he cradled the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup, soon after defeating Greek third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets in the men's singles Australian Open final.

Racism, corruption, domestic abuse, sexism and a possible vote of no confidence - Northern Hemisphere rugby union is in dire straits.

Sometimes in sport, there comes a moment so sublime that it becomes a part of collective culture.

The statement yesterday by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that they are continuing to "explore a pathway" for Russian and Belarusian athletes' participation at Paris 2024 under a neutral banner was not new.

Artur Asilbekovich Beterbiev is as Russian as a bowl of borscht.

More than nine years ago in the Buenos Aires Hilton, my eye was drawn to an interested observer on the balcony as Thomas Bach’s election as International Olympic Committee (IOC) President was announced.

For those in sport who believe in such things, yesterday’s fourth-round defeat for sixth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime at the Australian Open was not a random result but down to a jinx.

"It’s never been like this" reads the front page of the Adirondack Daily Enterprise - a newspaper that has been published in Lake Placid since 1895.

It was another week of headlines which should cause concern in Premier League circles. Alisher Usmanov's former ties with Everton again came under scrutiny, and FIFA World Cup hosts Qatar appear to have a growing interest in adding an elite English football club to their portfolio.

The waving of Russian flags in the stands at the Australian Open in Melbourne this week prompted complaints from Ukrainian spectators and sparked indignation from Russian officials after the flags were removed.

Publication of the track and field timetable for the Olympics is always a moment when the Games seem to start to become more real as athletes and fans alike begin scrutinising it for the key events to put a circle around.

Not since TE Lawrence trod the burning sands a century ago has anyone captivated Arabia as much as Cristiano Ronaldo.