Duncan Mackay Editor

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Duncan Mackay is the founding editor of insidethegames.biz, the world’s leading and most influential independent Olympic news website. He was voted the British Sports Writer of the Year in 2004, British News Story of the Year in 2004 and British Sports Internet Reporter of the Year in 2009. Mackay is one of Britain's best-connected journalists and during the 16 years he worked at The Guardian and The Observer he regularly broke several major exclusive stories. He was also the only newspaper journalist in Britain to correctly predict that London would win its bid for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Isinbayeva claims anti-gay remarks were "misunderstood"

By Mike Rowbottom at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow

August 16 - Russian athlete Yelena Isinbayeva claimed today she may have been "misunderstood" over comments condemning gay lifestyles and insists she is against discrimination.

RTÉ secures Rio 2016 broadcast rights for Ireland

By David Owen

August 16 - RTÉ Sport has secured "extensive" broadcast rights to screen the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Ireland.

Exclusive: New doubts over transparency of UCI election after correspondence shows staff intervened in drafting rule change

By Duncan Mackay

August 16 - A proposed change to the constitution of the International Cycling Union (UCI), which could allow Pat McQuaid to stand for a third term as President even though his own federation are refusing to back him, was partly instigated by professional staff at the world governing body, insidethegames can exclusively reveal.

Bondarenko does an Isinbayeva as he wins top class world high jump final

By Mike Rowbottom at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow

August 15 - Two days after Yelena Isinbayeva had a captive audience here as she made three world record attempts after winning gold, the Ukraine's Bohdan Bondarenko found himself in the same position after seeing off all his rivals in an International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Championship high jump final of the highest quality.

Isinbayeva: "Women live with boys, boys live with women"

By Mike Rowbottom at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow

August 15 - Yelena Isinbayeva has called fellow athlete Emma Green-Tregaro "disrespectful" for painting her nails rainbow-coloured in support of the homosexual community in Russia following the law recently passed here prohibiting open expression of gay values.

Head of key Rio 2016 Olympic body quits

By Duncan Mackay

August 15 - Fresh doubts have been raised over Rio de Janeiro's ability to be ready to host the 2016 Olympics and Paralympics following the resignation of Marcio Fortes, head of the Olympic Public Authority (APO).

Uemura leads resignations at All Japan Judo Federation as finally accepts responsibility for scandals

By Duncan Mackay

August 14 - A new era is set to finally be ushered in at the All Japan Judo Federation (AJJF) after the official resignation today of President Haruki Uemura and 22 other leading officials following the abuse and financial crisis' which have scandalised the country which is the cradle of the sport.

"I've been recommending Istanbul to people for years" says former Olympic 100m champion

By Duncan Mackay

August 14 - Canada's former world 100 metres record holder Donovan Bailey has thrown his support behind Istanbul's bid to host the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics and praised Turkey for trying to eradicate its doping problem.

Queen Yelena has the crown firmly back on head after stunning performance

By Mike Rowbottom at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow

August 13 - Yelena Isinbayeva confirmed after regaining the world pole vault title here that, in the wake of an emotion-laden return to her previous heights - in all senses - she had re-thought her previous intention to retire and now proposes to return and seek a third Olympic title at the 2016 Rio Games.

Uganda wheelchair basketball programme receiving help from Germany

By Duncan Mackay

August 13 - Uganda's fledging wheelchair basketball programme has been receiving help from Germany with the aim of helping the sport establish itself in the East African country.

Australian Paralympic Committee want to close the funding gap on Britain for Rio 2016

By Duncan Mackay

August 13 - Funding for Australian Paralympic sports needs to be dramatically increased if they are compete with Britain, it has been claimed.

Dame Sarah training up to few moments before birth of daughter, she reveals to Hello!

By Duncan Mackay

August 12 - Dame Sarah Storey, Britain's most successful female Paralympian, has revealed she was still training only moments before she went into labour with her daughter earlier this year.

Happy 21st for Tokyo 2020 as announce latest sponsor

By David Owen

August 12 - Tokyo 2020 has unveiled a new corporate partner with less than a month to go before the International Olympic Committee (IOC) determines which city will follow in Rio de Janeiro's footsteps by hosting the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Clegg and Asimakopoulos added to Baku 2015 team

By David Owen

August 12 - The European Olympic Committees (EOC) today announced the appointment of two experienced consultants to augment the team preparing for the inaugural European Games in Baku in 2015.

Ohuruogu regains world 400m title as Lavillenie sees grand slam disappear

By Mike Rowbottom at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow

August 12 - Christine Ohuruogu of Britain earned an extraordinary victory here, dipping on the line to beat Botswana's defending champion Amantle Montsho and reclaim the 400 metres title at the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Championships she first won in 2007 by the margin of just four thousandths of a second.

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Fact of the day

When British skaters Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean won the Olympic gold medal in ice dance at Sarajevo 1984 with 12 perfect 6.0s from every judge, for their interpretation of Maurice Ravel's Boléro, an important member of their team was singer-actor Michael Crawford. Crawford, who had played Frank Spencer in British sitcom Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em and the title role in the musical The Phantom of the Opera, had become a mentor to the pair in 1981 and went on to help them create their Olympic routine. Crawford said he “taught them how to act". He was present with their trainer Betty Callaway at the ringside at Sarajevo as they created one of the most iconic moments in Olympic history.

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