When Geoff Capes - who, surprisingly, has been the official British shot put record holder for the last 40 years - turned down my eager request for an autograph after a meeting at Crystal Palace in the 1970s it was an early lesson that access to sporting figures cannot be taken for granted.

Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) President Giovanni Malagò has warned the risk of the country's flag and anthem being banned at this year's Olympic Games in Tokyo is "very high" due to potential Government interference. 

India’s hockey teams are looking to ramp up their preparations ahead of Tokyo 2020, with the men poised to return to training tomorrow and the women set for their first tour in almost a year.

Australian cabinet papers have revealed security concerns heading into the Sydney 2000 Olympics largely centred on the possibility of a team being taken hostage at the Games.

Irish star Sam Bennett has admitted he faces a dilemma over whether to include the Tokyo 2020 Olympic road race as part of his plans for the upcoming season.

India is to select its shooting team for this year's Olympic Games in Tokyo during trials this month.

New Zealand rugby sevens coach Clark Laidlaw remains hopeful of young talent Caleb Clarke playing at this year's Olympic Games in Tokyo.

The Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) is set to hold its Presidential election in March after a motion from incumbent Ben Nunoo Mensah to delay the vote until after the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games was rejected.

Polo made its second appearance in the Olympic Games at London 1908 when it took place at the Hurlingham Club, who presented a Challenge Cup to the winner of the tournament. The event consisted of three teams, who all represented the British Olympic Association. There were two teams from England and one from Ireland. The two English teams played each first, with the winner playing against the Irish team. Roehampton won both matches, taking the gold, while the other two teams did not face each other to break the tie for second place and were each awarded silver medals. Polo last appeared on the Olympic programme at Berlin 1936.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has again promised the rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games this year will be "safe and secure" as he considers initiating a state of emergency in the country to combat rising COVID-19 infection rates.

Aileen Riggin was the first-ever female Olympic diving champion at Antwerp 1920, winning shortly after having first taken up the sport following her recovery from the Spanish flu. The American was only 14 years and 120 days old when she won a gold medal in the women's 3 metre springboard diving event in the Belgian city, also making her at the time the youngest female Olympic champion. Not only was Riggin the youngest gold medallist at the 1920 Olympics, but she was also the shortest, at only 4ft 8in tall and weighing just 65 pounds. She remains the United States' smallest Olympic champion.

Next Saturday (January 9) marks one year since the opening of the Winter Youth Olympic Games in Lausanne.

The Australian women’s softball team’s hopes of winning gold at Tokyo 2020 have received a boost thanks to a "generous" donation from members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) Softball Association.

Garbiñe Muguruza has spoken of her determination to win an Olympic medal and team up with Spanish great Rafael Nadal in the mixed doubles at Tokyo 2020.

The Japanese Government has reportedly suspended entry conditions for athletes and team officials travelling from countries to have reported cases of the new variant of coronavirus.