Phillips Idowu steps back from triple-jump to 'pursue other interests' | Sport | The Guardian Phillips Idowu steps back from triple-jump to 'pursue other interests' • Londoner failed to make European Team event squad • Idowu had been expected at world championships trials Phillips Idowu set a then personal best of 17.73m to win the men's triple jump at the 2009 world championships in Berlin. Photograph: Michael Steele/Getty Images Wednesday 10 July 2013 14.58 EDT First published on Wednesday 10 July 2013 14.58 EDT Close This article is 3 years old Phillips Idowu , the former triple-jump world champion, will not compete at this summer's championships after taking a "step back" from athletics, raising concerns that he has hung up his spikes permanently and will never again represent Great Britain. The charismatic 34-year-old failed to make the Olympic final at last year's Games and has competed sporadically since then, dropping out of the world top 50 and being omitted from Britain's squad for last month's European Team Championships in Gateshead.

Idowu's struggle for form has been compounded by a series of injuries and, while he has not retired from the sport, walking away for the "foreseeable future" to pursue other interests could spell the end of his competitive career. "After some careful consideration I have decided that I will be taking a step back from athletics," said Idowu. "I feel this is the right time for me to make this decision and it's not a choice I've made lightly. I greatly appreciate all of the support I have received over the past years, particularly from the British public and my team and sponsors; it has been an extremely happy and successful time. I'm excited about pursuing other interests and taking other opportunities that present themselves to me during this break." In 2011 Idowu fell out with the former UK Athletics head coach Charles van Commenee in dramatic fashion. Van Commenee claimed the athlete announced his decision to pull out of that year's European Team Championships on Twitter without contacting UKA beforehand, an accusation Idowu rejected.

However, the row escalated and continued into the build-up to last year's Olympics when Van Commenee criticised Idowu's preparation for the Games, calling him the "invisible man" and claiming the athlete had not seen or spoken to his coach for a fortnight. Idowu's relationship with UKA has greatly improved since Van Commenee's departure after the Games, and the current performance director, Neil Black, praised the triple-jumper's "fantastic career". "It's a big brave decision for Phil and, whilst we're sad to see him hang up his spikes for now, he's had a fantastic career," said Black. "Winning medals across all major championships, including gold at world, European and Commonwealth, is a brilliant record, and myself and many of my colleagues feel privileged to have worked alongside him through the ups and downs of a long career. We wish him all the best and we are sure we will continue to see him inspiring youngsters into athletics in whatever he decides to do." Idowu had been expected to compete at this weekend's world championships trials but will now consider his options, having already taken the significant step of moving from his training base in Birmingham to Enfield this year.

"Now family takes priority," he said in March. "My family and friends are here. I wanted to move back home to make life easier for my wife and my kids." The London-born athlete may currently be ranked behind his compatriots Nathan Douglas and Julian Reid but Idowu has been Britain's best performer in the triple-jump since Jonathan Edwards retired in 2003. Idowu underwent surgery last autumn after suffering from a leg injury, although a heel problem this year has left him unable to find the impressive form of his early career, despite parting ways from his coach Aston Moore and linking up with Femi Akinsanya. He jumped 16.44m at the Diamond League event in Rome last month but that distance is some way short of the qualification target for the world championships, with 17.20m required to earn selection for Moscow. The reigning world champion is invited back to the event in every cycle but, despite taking the world crown in 2009, Idowu was narrowly beaten at the 2011 championships in Daegu, South Korea, by the American Christian Taylor. Phillips Idowu, famous people from Hackney.

Born in Hackney , London Born on 30th of November 1978 As a young man, Hackney born Phillips Idowu was a talented basketball and American football player. But his big build also made him a potentially powerful triple jumper. At Raines Foundation School in Bethnal Green, his PE teacher encouraged him to try triple jump and he quickly demonstrated his prowess in the discipline. Phillips Idowu claimed fourth in the 1997 European Junior Championships and won the English Schools' and AAA under-20 titles that year too. Two years later he won gold at the AAA U23 and was soon building on those results with the elevation into the ranks of world's top 10 triple jumpers in 2000. 2000 was his breakthrough year when he won the trials and qualified for the Olympic final in Sydney with 17.12 which at the time was a personal best. He ended up in sixth place in the event which was won by Jonathan Edwards. He won the 2001 European Cup with 17.23 but he failed to find his best form World Championships in Edmonton.

At the 2002 Commonwealth Games he came away with a silver medal in a final once again won by world record holder Jonathan Edwards. A knee operation early in 2003 ruled him out for the season. At Athens 2004 he reached the final again but sadly produced three no jumps. Idowu is a flambouyant character and a fan of various and unusual hair colours. One of the most colourful characters on the circuit, Idowu he has enjoyed long standing rivalry with Jonathan Edwards and also more recently Nathan Douglas. Phillips Idowu was selected to compete in the triple jump discipline for the Great Britain team at the 2008 Olympics held at Beijing, China. Idowu is a member of the Belgrave Harriers and he is presently coached by Aston Moore. Nathan Douglas – Nuff Respect Get In TouchContact us Where Are We? Nathan Douglas Nathan Douglas has continued to prove his potential as a world class athlete ever since his first stand-out achievement in 2003 when he became British U23 Triple Jump Champion.

He is continually admired for the elegant style and spring with which he carries out the triple jump, and it is this which allowed him to develop on his early success. Nathan made his senior debut the following year in 2004 at the age of 21, where he improved his lifetime best from 16.49m to 16.95m at the Olympic Trials with his final jump in the 6th round. This resulted in qualification for the Athens Olympic Games, which was testimony to his outstanding talent at such a young age. In the qualifying rounds he jumped beyond expectations and narrowly missed the final by a mere 2cm. Making a big impact the following season, Nathan competed at only his second senior outing in 2005; the European Indoor Championships, where he placed 4th; only a few centimeters away from a medal. He continued to put in the hard work throughout 2005 and was rewarded when he produced a PB jump of 17.64m. This ranked him 3rd in the world and also 3rd in the all-time British triple jumping list.

He set his existing lifetime best of 17.64m at the AAA Championships with his final jump where he won the UK title for the 2nd consecutive year. This distance did not only show he was competing amongst the world’s best, it also provided evidence that he was capable of performing exceptionally well under immense pressure, making him a potential medal contender for the 2005 World Championships in Helsinki. In 2006 Nathan competed at the World Indoor Championships where he was placed 7th. Taking confidence from this, Nathan’s hard work was rewarded when he picked up his first senior medal at the European Championships, taking Silver. He missed out on Gold to Olympic Champion Christian Olsson, however, he defeated Olympic Medalist Marian Oprea and his compatriot Phillips Idowu in the process. Nathan started 2007 with an indoor best of 17.14m to come 2nd in Stuttgart and improved that to 17.19m to win the UK title in Sheffield. He then had a superb competition to take the silver medal at the European Indoors, in what was an epic battle with Phillips Idowu.

He smashed his PB to 17.47m, which ranked him 2nd in the world. Nathan reproduced this form in the outdoor season, but a serious hamstring injury cut short his season and he missed the World Championships in Osaka. Having worked hard to rehabilitate himself from this setback, he managed a return to form in the Olympic trials in 2008, jumping 17.18m to qualify for the Beijing Olympics. However, Nathan had not recovered sufficiently to progress the qualifying round, but was pleased to have made it to the Games after such a bad injury. In 2009, Nathan picked up an injury 2 weeks before the World Championships in Berlin, however he still managed to qualify for the final. After nursing his way back to fitness, he finished in a respectable 10th place. After thinking his season was over due to injury in 2010, Nathan somehow managed to pull off a 17m+ jump at the European Trials in what was only his second competition of the year. After only a few weeks’ training for the European Championships in Barcelona, Nathan still managed to qualify for the final finishing 10th.

He then went on to produce fine form at the Commonwealth’s in Delhi, narrowly missing out on a medal finishing 4th. Nathan went in to the 2011 season back to his best and had his mind set on producing a solid performance at the World Championships in Daegu. Warm weather training was going great until the final day where Nathan suffered an unfortunate accident due to a piece of faulty training equipment collapsing underneath him. It resulted in him tearing ligaments in his ankle and he was out for the remainder of the season. UK Athletics Head Coach Charles van Commenee believed Nathan would come back strong, and return to his best in time for the London 2012 Olympics. He said: “After four years of having to deal with various injury problems it was looking like this season Nathan was going to be better than ever before. It’s a real blow that in literally his last session on his last day of warm-weather training he has once again suffered misfortune, and there was nothing he or his coach could have done to prevent it.

I have been impressed by what I saw of Nathan prior to his setback and I am confident he can still achieve something special.” Nathan decided to concentrate on his Outdoor season for 2012 and had a full winter’s training rather than competing indoors. Feeling in good shape, he went out to his first competition in Hengelo confident of a strong performance. However, weather conditions were extremely bad and this led Nathan to slipping on the jump board, rupturing his hamstring in the process. He found himself fighting to get back from injury in time for the Olympic Trials; however this was not meant to be, and he missed out on a chance to be considered for the Olympic Team. Shortly after the Olympics, Nathan was swiftly back to full training knowing that the 2012/2013 season would be crucial for him. Any doubts that had crept in due to his injuries were quickly diffused by three outstanding results in 2013. One First place, and two Second places at Folksam Challenge and the Bedford International Games resulted in Nathan getting the call-up to represent Great Britain in the European Team Championships in Sweden, where he took home the Bronze for Great Britain.

Taking confidence from here he went on to compete at the Diamond League in Birmingham where Nathan jumped an impressive 17.20m. He finished his season at the British Championships where he placed 2nd. In 2014 after overcoming some more injury problems, Nathan performed well and was selected for the England team to compete in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where he qualified for the final and finished in 11th place. Fully fit going in to 2015, Nathan had an extremely successful winter training regime and was confident he could get back to form and jump the World Class distances which gave him the title of one of Great Britain’s most talented Athlete’s. This proved the case as Nathan has claimed victory in the Bedfordshire International Games and was selected for Great Britain to compete in the European Championships in Russia. Nathan started off 2016 by competing in the Sainsbury’s Glasgow Grand Prix, finishing fifth with 16.23m. A week later he then competed in the British Indoor Championships and was tipped to win the triple jump competition. However, he finished third with 15.93m in Sheffield after picking up a minor injury in his first jump.

After a gruelling winter training regime, Nathan narrowly missed out on the opportunity to compete for Great Britain in the 2016 Olympics in Rio. Nathan has taken part in the TV series The Biggest Loser. This showed Nathan providing his expert knowledge to help train members of the public lose weight and live a healthier lifestyle. He was also recently a pundit for Al Jazeera giving his expert Athletic knowledge on their London Calling show and has been a guest on a number of popular television programmes including Match of the Day Kick About and Game Changers. Not only that, Nathan is regularly asked on as a guest on a number of Talk Sport radio shows. Off the back of his media experiences and because of his calm laid back approach, he was selected to be one of the main reporters for Channel 5 News over the Olympic period. Here Nathan used his expert athletic knowledge to analyse performances that had gone on throughout the day. Not only is he in demand for media appearances, he is also constantly requested for modelling jobs. Most recently this has seen him model for Hello Magazine and he has also walked the catwalk to model at the Style Birmingham Model show alongside fellow athlete Ashia Hansen.

Nathan has a Bsc in Sport and Exercise Science majoring in Psychology from Loughborough University, is an ICF ACSTH certified professional coach, and is a Licensed Practitioner of Neuro Linguistic Programming. He has used these qualifications to become a Performance Coach for athletes and businesses wanting to achieve world class performance whilst creating a permanent change to their lives. Nathan works with his clients over video calls as well as face to face, allowing his clients to be anywhere in the world, and still able to improve on their performance with Nathan’s guidance. His website can be accessed here: . British Athletics Official Website | Best of Britain for Berlin Best of Britain for Berlin Share this Mason - High Jumper will represent GB & NI in Berlin Â 28 July 2009 UKA today announced defending World 400m Champion Christine Ohuruogu (Newham & Essex Beagles) among the 60-strong squad of athletes selected to represent the Aviva Great Britain & Northern Ireland Team at the IAAF World Championships in Berlin, Germany on 15-23 August.

Also heading to the German capital are European Indoor 3,000m gold medallist Mo Farah (Newham & Essex Beagles) and Olympic high jump and triple jump silver medallists Germaine Mason (Birchfield) and Phillips Idowu (Belgrave). A large contingent of the team will draw on experiences from last yearâs Olympics including; Martyn Rooney (Croydon) who narrowly missed out on a medal in the 400m, 1500m fourth placer Lisa Dobriskey (Ashford AC), Goldie Sayers (Belgrave) who finished just outside the medals in the javelin, triple jumper Larry Achike (Shaftesbury) who made top eight and Greg Rutherford (Marshall Milton Keynes) who finished 10th in the long jump. The team is reinforced by 23 national champions, including British pole vault record holder Kate Dennison (Sale), 200m winner Emily Freeman (Wakefield), 100m champion Simeon Williamson (Highgate) and 110m hurdles specialist Andy Turner (Sale) all looking to maintain their current form on an international stage.

Young guns Gianni Frankis (Newham & Essex Beagles), Stephanie Twell (Aldershot, Farnham & District), Perri Shakes-Drayton (Victoria Park & Tower Hamlets), Nigel Levine (Bedford & County) Luke Cutts (Dearnside) and Chris Clarke (Marshall Milton Keynes) represent the encouraging crop of up and coming athletes breaking into Aviva GB&NI senior teams for major championships. Head Coach Charles van Commenee said: âThis team has been selected to give us the best possible results at the 2009 IAAF World Championships in Berlin. I expect to see athletes demonstrating their ability to perform at the highest level under pressure. âOf course we are on a long term journey to 2012, but we canât wait three years for the medals and performances, I want to see both in Berlin and then more next year and the year after until we get to London.

This is our first staging post on our toughest ever journey.â Already pre-selected to the Aviva GB & NI team are Paula Radcliffe (Bedford & County) in the marathon and UK champion Johanna Jackson (Redcar) in the 20k walk. The majority of the team will prepare for the major championships at a holding camp in Monte Gordo, Portugal in the week leading up to the competition.

AVIVA GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND TEAM MEN 100m: Dwain Chambers (Belgrave); Tyrone Edgar (Newham & Essex Beagles); Simeon Williamson (Highgate) 200m: Chambers; Marlon Devonish (Coventry Godiva) Toby Sandeman (Thames Valley); 400m: Michael Bingham (Unattached) Martyn Rooney (Croydon), Robert Tobin (Basingstoke & Mid Hants); 800m: Michael Rimmer (Liverpool Pembroke & Sefton); 1500m: Andy Baddeley (Harrow), Tom Lancashire (Bolton); 5000m: Mo Farah (Newham & Essex Beagles) 110mH: Gianni Frankis (Newham & Essex Beagles), Andy Turner (Sale) 400mH: David Greene (Swansea), Rhys Williams (Cardiff) Â 4x100m: Harry AkinesâAryeetey (Sutton & District), Devonish, Edgar, Rikki Fifton (Victoria Park & Tower

 Hamlets), Craig Pickering (Marshall Milton Keynes), Williamson 4x400m: Bingham, Chris Clarke (Marshall Milton Keynes), Nigel Levine (Bedford & County), Rooney, Tobin, Conrad Williams (Kent) High Jump: Germaine Mason (Birchfield) Pole Vault: Luke Cutts (Dearnside), Steve Lewis (Newham & Essex Beagles) Long Jump: Greg Rutherford (Marshall Milton Keynes), Chris Tomlinson (Newham & Essex Beagles); Triple Jump: Larry Achike (Shaftesbury) Nathan Douglas (Oxford), Phillips Idowu (Belgrave); Shot:Â Carl Myerscough (Blackpool, Wyre &Fylde) Javelin: Mervyn Luckwell (Marshall Milton Keynes); WOMEN 400m: Christine Ohuruogu (Newham & Essex Beagles), Nicola Sanders (Windsor, Slough, Eton & Hounslow) 800m: Jenny Meadows (Wigan), Marilyn Okoro (Shaftesbury), Jemma Simpson (Newquay & Par); 1500m: Lisa Dobriskey (Ashford), Charlene

 Thomas (Wakefield), Stephanie Twell (Aldershot, Farnham & District); 3000mSC: Helen Clitheroe (Preston); Marathon: Paula Radcliffe (Bedford & County) 20k Race Walk: Joanna Jackson (Redcar) 100mH: Sarah Claxton (Woodford Green & Essex Ladies), Jessica Ennis (City of Sheffield), 400mH: Eilidh Child (Pitreavie), Perri Shakes- Drayton (Victoria Park & Tower Hamlets); Pole Vault: Kate Dennison (Sale); Javelin: Goldie Sayers (Belgrave); Hammer: Zoe Derham (Birchfield) Heptathlon: Ennis; Louise Hazel (Birchfield) 4x100m: Emma Ania (Shaftesbruy Barnet), Montell Douglas (Blackheath & Bromley), Jeanette Kwakye (Woodford Green & Essex Ladies), Joice Maduaka (Woodford Green & Essex Ladies), Anyika Onuora (Liverpool),Â Laura Turner (Harrow AC) Â 4x400m: Vicky Barr (

Rugby & Northampton), Lee McConnell (Shaftesbury Barnet), Ohuruogu, Okoro, Sanders, Shakes- Drayton, Â BBC SPORT | Olympics | Team GB | Team GB for Beijing Team GB for Beijing Which British athletes have made it to Beijing?

On this page you can find the names of every athlete competing on behalf of Team GB at the 2008 Olympic Games. All athletes had to be nominated to the British Olympic Association by their sport's governing body, then officially selected by the BOA in order to take up their places. Watch our fruit shoot with GB archers Charlotte Burgess and Alan Wills Men Larry Godfrey, Simon Terry, Alan Wills Women Charlotte Burgess, Naomi Folkard, Alison Williamson Team GB has the maximum of six archers in its squad for Beijing. Alison Williamson is heading to her fifth Olympics, having won bronze in Athens, while both Wills and Terry are ranked in the world's top 10. Expect the British archers to challenge for both team and individual medals.

UK Athletics performance direct Dave Collins on GB's Beijing medals target Men 100m: Simeon Williamson, Craig Pickering, Tyrone Edgar 200m: Marlon Devonish, Christian Malcolm, Alex Nelson 400m: Martyn Rooney, Andrew Steele 800m: Michael Rimmer 1500m: Andy Baddeley, Tom Lancashire 5000m: Mo Farah 110m hurdles: Allan Scott, Andy Turner High jump: Martyn Bernard, Germaine Mason, Tom Parsons Pole vault: Steve Lewis Long jump: Greg Rutherford, Chris Tomlinson Triple jump: Phillips Idowu, Larry Achike, Nathan Douglas Decathlon: Daniel Awde 4x100m: Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Tyrone Edgar, Rikki Fifton, Craig Pickering, Simeon Williamson 4x400m: Michael Bingham, Richard Buck, Dale Garland, Martyn Rooney, Andrew Steele, Rob Tobin Women 100m: Montell Douglas, Jeanette Kwakye 200m: Emily Freeman 400m: Lee McConnell, Christine Ohuruogu

, Nicola Sanders 800m: Jenny Meadows, Marilyn Okoro, Jemma Simpson 1500m: Lisa Dobriskey, Susan Scott, Stephanie Twell 5000m: Jo Pavey 10000m: Jo Pavey, Kate Reed 3000m steeplechase: Helen Clitheroe, Barbara Parker Marathon: Paula Radcliffe, Mara Yamauchi, Liz Yelling 100m hurdles: Sarah Claxton 4x100m: Emma Ania, Montell Douglas, Jeanette Kwayke, Ashlee Nelson, Anyika Onuora, Laura Turner 4x400m: Vicki Barr, Donna Fraser, Lee McConnell, Christine Ohuruogu, Nicola Sanders GB ATHLETES ON 606 I haven't yet thrown as far as I think I can - the momentum's been building all year and I'm trying to keep a lid on it until August Goldie Sayers, javelin UK Athletics only named one male 100m runner prior to the High Court ruling on Dwain Chambers' attempt to overturn his Olympic ban.

Once Chambers lost his appeal, Craig Pickering and Tyrone Edgar were named in the final team. Marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe's participation is threatened by a stress fracture in her left thigh - she has been named but is allowed to pull out and be replaced at any time before the event. Robertson and Emms took silver at the Athens 2004 mixed doubles Singles Nathan Robertson and Gail Emms Anthony Clark and Donna Kellogg Athens mixed doubles silver medallist Nathan Robertson has been included in Britain's six-strong Olympic squad after overcoming an ankle injury. Robertson will again partner Gail Emms in Beijing, Donna Kellogg and Anthony Clark compete in the mixed doubles, and Tracey Hallam and Andrew Smith play in the singles. OLYMPICS BLOG When Nathan and I play our best, we are awesome and we are the best in the world Gail Emms Robertson and Emms, ranked sixth in the world, won the mixed doubles world title in 2006 beating Kellogg and Clark in the final. Inside Sport meets GB's boxing medal contenders Super-heavyweight: David Price Flyweight: Khalid Yafai After their best ever Olympic qualification campaign, Britain will have seven boxers in Beijing.

Lightweight world champion Frankie Gavin was ruled out at the last minute after failing to make it down to the 60kg limit. But light-welterweight Bradley Saunders, bantamweight Joe Murray and light-heavyweight Tony Jeffries also qualified places for Beijing at the World Amateur Championships in Chicago last year. Three more fighters - welterweight Billy Joe Saunders, flyweight Khalid Yafai and middleweight James Degale - earned their places during February's qualifying tournament in Italy. Super-heavyweight David Price made it through the final qualifying tournament, in Athens, to complete the team. Campbell Walsh's guide to kayaking Flatwater Anna Hemmings and Jessica Walker (K2 500) Slalom Fiona Pennie (K1) David Florence (C1) Medal hopes are high for Tim Brabants, the bronze medallist at the Sydney Games in 2000 and 2008 European champion, who competes in the K1 500m and 1000m. Lucy Wainwright (K1 500m) will take part in her second Olympic Games.

Jess Walker and Anna Hemmings (K2 500m) were added to the British flatwater team in July. OLYMPICS BLOG We're a pretty new crew, we only started racing together at the end of April, so I feel like every time we race we're improving Anna Hemmings A Scottish trio will paddle for GB in the slalom - Athens silver medallist Campbell Walsh will go for Beijing gold having won the first major international title of his career, the 2008 European title.. Fiona Pennie was a silver medallist at the 2006 Worlds, and David Florence fought off Stuart McIntosh to claim the C1 place. Rebecca Romero (Individual Pursuit and Points Race) Jamie Staff (Team Sprint) Bradley Wiggins (Individual Pursuit, Team Pursuit and Madison) Wendy Houvenaghel (Women's Individual Pursuit) OLYMPICS BLOG I can't wait to see Cav team up with Bradley Wiggins in the madison out in Beijing Chris Hoy Britain is the only nation to secure places in all track events for Beijing, and expectations will be sky high after a dominant performance at the World Championships.

Bradley Wiggins, Chris Hoy, Victoria Pendleton and Rebecca Romero will spearhead the Olympic challenge. They helped GB to gold in eight of the 10 Olympic events at the Worlds, in Manchester. Shanaze Reade is women's BMX world champion and expected to star in the sport's Olympic debut. Jane Gregory (Lucky Star) Emma Hindle (Lancet) Equestrian Team GBR will have a full complement of eventing, show jumping and dressage riders in Beijing. World eventing champion Zara Phillips pulled out after her horse, Toytown, was injured. A similar fate befell Lucy Wiegersma after her horse, Shaabrak, suffered a minor setback during training. Daisy Dick, riding Spring Along, and Tina Cook on Miners Frolic have been named as replacements. The other eventers are William Fox-Pitt, Sharon Hunt and Mary King. Ellen Whitaker missed the show jumping selection process following injury to her horse, Locarno 62. Her uncles, Olympic veterans John and Michael Whitaker, have been selected alongside Ben Maher and Tim Stockdale, who both make their Olympic debuts.

Laura Bechtolsheimer, Jane Gregory and Emma Hindle make up the GB dressage team. Becky Downie (above) and Beth Tweddle are stars of the GB team Women Beth Tweddle, Becky Downie, Marissa King, Hannah Whelan, Imogen Cairns, Rebecca Wing, Claire Wright Men Louis Smith, Daniel Keatings GB's women have secured a team place and six individual places. Beth Tweddle will compete in her second Olympics and she'll be joined by new British champion Becky Downie, Marissa King, Hannah Whelan, Imogen Cairns and Rebecca Wing. Laura Jones was originally selected to compete, but made way for Cairns when she suffered a slipped disc, forcing her to withdraw from the team. Seven-time British champion Claire Wright will be Britain's sole representative in the trampoline. There will also be interest in the men's competition, with Louis Smith heading to Beijing after winning world bronze on the pommel horse. His training partner Daniel Keatings gained the nod for GB's other men's place. Sam Weale, Nick Woodbridge Britain will send the maximum quota of two women and two men to Beijing.

Katy Livingston and Heather Fell both sealed their places at May's World Championships in Hungary, while Sam Weale and Nick Woodbridge make up the men's team. Britain has a strong tradition in women's modern pentathlon, with the likes of Georgina Harland, Steph Cook and Kate Allenby winning half the medals on offer since the sport was introduced to the Games in 2000. Livingston and Fell are both genuine medal contenders in 2008. It is 12 years since GB sent male modern pentathletes to a Games - Weale and Woodbridge exceeded expectations by qualifying and are less likely to reach the podium.

Katherine Grainger talks to Olympic Dreams Men's crews Four: Tom James, Steve Williams, Peter Reed, Andy Triggs Hodge Eight: Alex Partridge, Tom Stallard, Tom Lucy, Richard Egington, Josh West, Alastair Heathcote, Matt Langridge, Colin Smith, Acer Nethercott (cox) Pair: Tom Solesbury, Robin Bourne-Taylor Single scull: Alan Campbell Double scull: Matt Wells, Stephen Rowbotham Lightweight double scull: Zac Purchase, Mark Hunter Lightweight four: Richard Chambers, James Lindsay-Fynn, Paul Mattick, James Clarke Women's crews Eight Carla Ashford, Jess Eddie, Katie Greves, Natasha Howard, Alison Knowles, Natasha Page, Beth Rodford, Sarah Winckless, Caroline O'Connor (cox) Pair: Louisa Reeve, Olivia Whitlam Quad scull: Annie Vernon, Debbie Flood, Frances Houghton, Katherine Grainger Double scull: Elise Laverick, Anna Bebington Lightweight double scull: Helen Casey, Hester Goodsell GB ATHLETES ON 606 Frances Houghton Britain has qualified boats in 12 of the 14 classes.

The flagship men's coxless four will be out to retain the gold medal they won in dramatic fashion when Matthew Pinsent was part of the crew in 2004. Katherine Grainger has vowed to lead Great Britain to their first women's Olympic rowing gold medal - her quadruple scull crew has won the last three World Championships. GB sailor Sarah Ayton's 'pillow talk' Finn: Ben Ainslie Yngling - women's keelboat: Sarah Ayton, Sarah Webb and Pippa Wilson 49er - skiff: Stevie Morrison and Ben Rhodes Laser - men's one person dinghy: Paul Goodison Star: Iain Percy and Andrew Simpson RS:X - men's windsurfer: Nick Dempsey RS:X - women's windsurfer: Bryony Shaw 470 - men's two person dinghy: Nick Rogers and Joe Glanfield 470 - women's two person dinghy: Christina Bassadone and Saskia Clark Tornado - multihull: Leigh McMillan and Will Howden Laser Radial: Penny Clark Hopes will be high for another strong Olympic showing, with GB qualifying in all relevant categories.

GB ATHLETES ON 606 We've learnt a lot of lessons and are much better sailors than 12 months ago Stevie Morrison, 49er In January, the Royal Yachting Association announced Ben Ainslie had beaten rival Ed Wright for the Finn place. Ainslie is hoping to claim a third Olympic gold medal, having won the Finn class at the 2004 Games, and the Laser class in Sydney four years earlier. Penny Clark was the final team member to be selected, seeing off Charlotte Dobson, Andrea Brewster and Lizzie Vickers in the battle for the Laser Radial spot. Faulds, the lone Olympic veteran in the GB team, won gold at Sydney Men's double trap: Richard Faulds, Steve Scott Men's 50m prone rifle/50m rifle three positions/air rifle: Jon Hammond Women's trap: Charlotte Kerwood Women's skeet: Elena Little Of the five GB shooters competing in Beijing, four will make their Olympic debuts. Lone Olympic veteran and Sydney 2000 gold medallist Richard Faulds competes in the men's double trap with Steve Scott.

Charlotte Kerwood, who won Commonwealth Games gold medals in 2002 and 2006, takes part in the women's trap. GB ATHLETES ON 606 I feel like it's all going well - I just don't want to peak too soon Charlotte Kerwood Elena Little competes in the women's skeet, and Jon Hammond will enter the men's 50m prone rifle, 50m rifle three positions and air rifle.

BOA video diary: Synchronised swimming Men 50m freestyle: Mark Foster (University of Bath) 200m freestyle: Ross Davenport (Loughborough University); Robert Renwick (City of Aberdeen) 400m freestyle: David Carry (City of Aberdeen); Dean Milwain (Loughborough) 1500m freestyle: David Davies (Loughborough, pictured); Richard Charlesworth (Hatfield) 100m backstroke: Liam Tancock (Loughborough); Gregor Tait (City of Edinburgh) 200m backstroke: Gregor Tait (City of Edinburgh), James Goddard (Loughborough) 100m breaststroke: Chris Cook (City of Newcastle); Kristopher Gilchrist (City of Edinburgh) 200m breaststroke: Kristopher Gilchrist (City of Edinburgh); James Kirton (City of Sheffield) 100m butterfly: Michael Rock (Stockport Metro); Todd Cooper (Stirling) 200m butterfly: Michael Rock (Stockport Metro) 200m individual medley: James Goddard, Liam Tancock (both Loughborough) 

400m individual medley: Thomas Haffield (City of Cardiff); Euan Dale (Loughborough) 4x200m freestyle relay: Ross Davenport (Loughborugh), Robert Renwick (City of Aberdeen), David Carry (City of Aberdeen), Andrew Hunter (Stirling); Ben Hockin (Swansea Performance) 4x100m freestyle relay: Simon Burnett, Adam Brown Women 50m freestyle: Fran Halsall (City of Liverpool) 100m freestyle: Caitlin McClatchey (Loughborough); Fran Halsall (City of Liverpool) 200m freestyle: Caitlin McClatchey (Loughborough); Rebecca Adlington (Nova Centurion) 400m freestyle: Rebecca Adlington (Nova Centurion); Jo Jackson (Derwentside) 800m freestyle: Rebecca Adlington (Nova Centurion), Cassie Patten (Stockport Metro) 100m backstroke: Gemma Spofforth (Portsmouth Northsea); Elizabeth Simmonds (Lincoln Vulcans) 200m backstroke: Gemma Spofforth

 (Portsmouth Northsea); Elizabeth Simmonds (Lincoln Vulcans) 100m breaststroke: Kate Haywood (Loughborough); Kirsty Balfour (City of Edinburgh) 200m breaststroke: Kirsty Balfour (City of Edinburgh) 100m butterfly: Fran Halsall (City of Liverpool); Jemma Lowe (Borough of Stockton) 200m butterfly: Jemma Lowe (Borough of Stockton); Ellen Gandy (Beckenham) 200m individual medley: Hannah Miley (Garioch); Keri-Anne Payne (Stockport Metro) 400m individual medley: Hannah Miley (Garioch); Keri-Anne Payne (Stockport Metro) 4x100m freestyle relay: Caitlin McClatchey (Loughborough); Fran Halsall (City of Liverpool); Julia Beckett (Loughborough); Jessica Sylvester (Nova Centurion) 4x200m freestyle relay: Caitlin McClatchey (Loughborough), Rebecca Adlington (Nova Centurion); Jo Jackson (Derwentside); Mel Marshall (Loughborough

), Fran Halsall (City of Liverpool) 10km open water: Cassie Patten, Keri-Anne Payne, David Davies Diving - individual Men's Springboard (3m): Ben Swain Men's Platform (10m): Tom Daley, Pete Waterfield Women's Springboard (3m): Rebecca Gallantree Women's Platform (10m): Tonia Couch, Stacie Powell Diving - synchro pairs Men's Springboard (3m): Ben Swain and Nick Robinson-Baker Men's Platform (10m): Tom Daley and Blake Aldridge Women's Springboard (3m): Hayley Sage and Tandi Gerrard Women's Platform (10m): Stacie Powell and Tonia Couch Synchronised swimming: Olivia Allison and Jenna Randall The GB swimming squad for Beijing was announced after the British Championships in Sheffield.

Hannah Miley, Liam Tancock, and Rebecca Adlington put in record-breaking performances at April's World Short Course Championships, held in Manchester, to spark hopes of an impressive Olympic medal haul. Veteran swimmer Mark Foster, who did not meet GB's selection criteria for the 2004 Games, will be keen to earn his first Olympic medal in Beijing. GB ATHLETES ON 606 It's important to stay relaxed and not get too wound up, it can only go wrong from here on in David Davies In the 10km open water swimming, GB women Cassie Patten and Keri-Anne Payne qualified for Beijing at May's world championships in Seville, as did David Davies for the men. Britain's divers secured places in all four of the synchro teams (3m and 10m in men's and women's), as well as six spots in the individual events. There will be British synchronised swimmers at the Olympics for the first time since 1992 after Olivia Allison and Jenna Randall made it through the qualification process in the duet event.

But there is no GB water polo team for Beijing, though it is hoped the team will be good enough to compete in 2012. Back to top NO GB REPRESENTATION Baseball - The GB men's second place at the European Championships won them entry into the Olympic qualifying tournament in Taiwan in March. However, a lack of funding forced the team to withdraw and ended their hopes of playing in Beijing. Basketball - There will be no British representation in Beijing, but plans to enter men's and women's teams for the London Games in 2012 are progressing well. GB ATHLETES ON 606 There is still so much more that needs to be done if we are to be successful at London 2012 Huw Goodwin, handball Football - England's women had hoped to be able to compete as part of Team GB in Beijing, but football's world governing body Fifa blocked the plan. There has also been opposition to proposals from the British Olympic Association to enter men's and women's teams at the London Olympics in 2012.

Handball - There will be no British handball team in Beijing, but plans are already under way to put together a team good enough to compete at London 2012. GB ATHLETES ON 606 I've just got to focus on 2012, train really hard, improve my world ranking and go for the medal Paul Drinkhall, table tennis Softball - Britain will not have a softball team in Beijing. The sport will be making its final appearance at the Olympics before being dropped from the schedule. Table tennis - Young star Paul Drinkhall failed to reach the Olympics at the final world qualifying tournament in May, so GB will not be presented at the Beijing table tennis event - although Kelly Sibley has earned a berth on the list of reserves. Volleyball - Beach volleyball pair Denise Johns and Lucy Boulton are looking to London 2012 having missed out on Beijing, and there will be no British representation in the indoor volleyball tournaments. Wrestling - No British freestyle or Greco-Roman wrestlers have qualified for Beijing.

British Athletics Official Website | Golden League win for Idowu at Bislett Games Golden League win for Idowu at Bislett Games Share this Share to Twitter Share to Facebook Tell friends via WhatsApp Email us Phillips Idowu: Golden League win European Indoor triple jump champion Phillips Idowu (Belgrave Harriers) scored a thrilling victory over the Olympic, World and European champion Christian Olsson (Sweden) at the first of this summerâs IAAF Golden League meetings, the Exxon Mobil Bislett Games in Oslo, Norway, on Friday 15 June. Â Just 2cm separated the duo in their first duel of the year. Olsson took a first round lead with 17.33m to Idowuâs 17.21m. But Idowu instantly silenced those inclined to question his appetite for a high quality battle by responding with 17.35m in the second round. It proved enough for victory â though Olsson reached 17.30m with his fourth attempt.

European Indoor silver medallist Nathan Douglas (Oxford City) held third place with his opening leap of 17.18m until Aarik Wilson (USA) found 17.26m in the last round to push him back to fourth in the final reckoning. Jadel Gregorio (Brazil), who is training at Gateshead and currently leads the world rankings for this year with 17.90m back home last month, finished fifth with 17.12m. Â Idowuâs performance was one of six seasonâs bests by athletes selected to represent Norwich Union Great Britain and Northern Ireland at next weekendâs European Cup matches. Â Despite a head wind measured at 1.1 metres per second, Marlon Devonish (Coventry Godiva Harriers) prepared for the 200m at next weekendâs European Cup Super League in Munich by lowering his 100m seasonâs best to 10.20 seconds.

It earned him victory in the B race, eight-hundredths of a second ahead of runner-up Nesta Carter (Jamaica) with the 2005 European Junior silver medallist Simeon Williamson (Highgate Harriers) third in 10.49, his fastest so far this season. Â Then Devonish found himself at odds with the IAAF for doing the meeting organisers a favour â after running the fastest 100m of his life. He was asked to run in the 100m A race after Michael Frater (USA) suffered an injury while warming-up. He did so â and clocked 10.08 seconds â but was then disqualified under an IAAF rule that stipulates an athlete cannot contest both an A and B race at the same Golden League meeting. World record holder Asafa Powell (Jamaica) won in a seasonâs best of 9.94 seconds with European champion Francis Obikwelu (Portugal) second in 10.06.

Devonishâs 10.08 eclipsed his lifetime best of 10.13 seconds way back in 1998. But once he had been DQâd, Mark Lewis-Francis (Birchfield Harriers) was elevated to fourth in 10.25. Â Michael Rimmer (Liverpool Pembroke and Sefton AC) reinforced his position at the top of the Power of 10 national 800m rankings by lowering his seasonâs best to 1:45.54 â a vast improvement on his 1:46.47 at last weekendâs BMC Nike Grand Prix, incorporating the UK Challenge, at Manchester. It earned him fourth place in a race won in 1:44.56 by Mohammad Al-Azemi (Kuwait). Â Andy Baddeley (Harrow AC), who will run the 1500m in the Cup Super League, knocked almost 5 seconds off his mile best.

Oslo call it the Dream Mile â and it was for Baddeley as he stormed home in 3:51.95 behind two more PBs, 3:51.14 by winner Adil Kaouch (Morocco) and 3:51.62 by Augustine Choge (Kenya). Â Nick McCormick (Morpeth Harriers) warmed-up for the Cup 3000m by going to second in the Power of 10 national 1500m rankings for this year in clocking 3:38.46. It earned him sixth place in a race won by Brimin Kiprop Kipruto (Kenya) in 3:36.27 from Spanish duo Alvaro FernÃ¡ndez (3:36.70) and Alvaro RodrÃ­guez (3:37.04). Â Andy Turner (Sale Harriers Manchester) was fifth in the 110m hurdles A race in 13.56 into a slight head wind of 0.3 metres per second.

Anwar Moore (USA) won in 13.26 and, of more significance in European Cup terms, Thomas Blaschek (Germany) was third in 13.46. In the B race, William Sharman (Belgrave Harriers) placed third in 13.68 seconds, a seasonâs best by a third of a second, with the aid of a following wind of 1.1 metres per second. Masato Naito (Japan) won in 13.58. Â Joice Maduaka (Woodford Green with Essex Ladies), selected for both sprints at the European Cup First League, equalled her 100m seasonâs best of 11.41 seconds (wind: +0.7) in finishing fourth in a race won by LaVerne Jones (Virgin Islands) in 11.32. Stephanie Durst (USA) won the A race (wind: +0.4) in 11.22.

Â Marilyn Okoro (Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers) got in some speed work for the Cup 800m by clocking 52.80 seconds in the 400m A race. It earned her sixth place in an immensely high quality race won by the Female Athlete of 2006, Sanya Richards (USA) in 50.26. Â Commonwealth 1500m champion Lisa Dobriskey (Ashford AC) got to within a hundredth of a second of her lifetime best in clocking 4:06.22 for seventh place in a race in which the major places went to: 1 Maryam Jamal (Bahrain) 4:01.44; 2 Yuliya Chizhenko (Russia) 4:01.58; 3 Iryna Lishchynska (Ukraine) 4:01.82. As she has also run 3000m bests indoors and out already this year, Dobriskey will head for the Cup 3000 in good heart.

Â Sara McGreavy (Sale Harriers Manchester) was fifth in the 100m hurdles B race (wind: +0.6) in 13.54 seconds. Adrianna Lamalle (France) won in 13.02. Â For detailed results please click here Â BBC SPORT | Athletics | Live - European Indoor Athletics Text us your thoughts on the action, especially if you are in Birmingham, to 81111 or e-mail us on athletics@bbc.co.uk By Phil Harlow (all times GMT) 1855: The answer to 'can anyone beat Carolina Kluft?' is...... no. Kluft retains her European Indoor title with a points total of 4944 in Birmingham. Sotherton takes silver - 17 points behind the Swede but with a new UK record of 4927 points - and Britain's first medal of the championships. There are more medals for the Dutch camp as Karin Ruckstuhl picks up bronze. British number two Jessica Ennis, who had led the competition after two events, finishes down in sixth with a personal best of 4716.

"Kelly pushed me very, very hard and I just enjoyed it," Kluft says afterwards. Sotherton says: "I wanted to be the first person to beat her but it was a fantastic competition." "Huge cheers for Sotherton from the Birmingham crowd as she came battling down the home straight - and then an eerie near-silence as the times were announced. "Kluft was supposed to be out of form and beatable coming into these championships - but, as always, she somehow managed to find something extra just when she needed it most." BBC Sport's Tom Fordyce at the National Indoor Arena "We've had our disappontments with Andy Turner and Karen Harewood but on the whole it's been a pretty good day." BBC pundit Steve Cram, rounds off the day one's action from Birmingham. 1850: Sotherton wins the 800m in two minutes 12.54 seconds - but is it enough? 1847: All set for the last event in the pentathlon - the 800m. Can Kelly Sotherton edge out Carolina Kluft and end the Swede's five-year unbeaten run?

Sotherton predictably goes to the front - but is tracked by Kluft. 1834: Hmmm a very tight men's 60m hurdles final, who's won that then? Well it is a Dutch one-two with Gregory Sedoc sneaking gold in a personal best time of 7.63 from compatriot Marcel van der Westen. The bronze goes to Spain's Jackson Quinonez, which means one of Britain's best medal hopes - Andy Turner - finished outside the medals. In fact he finishes fourth in 7.67 and says afterwards: "I messed up royally and I'm an idiot. I'm devastated and wasted an opportunity." The second Briton, Allan Scott, finishes sixth. "It was just one of those days for Andy where things didn't click." BBC pundit and former world 110m hurdle record holder, Colin Jackson 1831: "Kelly Sotherton is warming up in the bowels of the NIA ahead of her 800m showdown with Carolina Kluft.

Sotherton needs to beat Kluft by 1.65 seconds to pip her to the European title - and become the first woman to beat Kluft in a multi-discipline event for five years." BBC Sport's Tom Fordyce at the National Indoor Arena 1822: Here we go then. Sweden's Susanna Kallur wins the first medal of the championships on the track. The Swede gets off to a sluggish start but defends her 60m hurdle title in 7.87 seconds. "It's really great," said Kallur. "It's been a really fun day and it's nice to run some fast times. It takes a lot of hard work and I'm really pleased." Britain's Sara McGreavy finishes fifth and said: "I got a fantastic start but it was such a shame and I need to work harder on my strength. I'll be in the medals next season." Silver goes to Russian Aleksandra with Germany's Kirsten Bolm picking up the bronze. In the field, Slovakia's Mikulas Konopka claims the men's shot put title with his second attempt of 21.57m.

1807: Steven Green may be sharing a room with 60m favourite Craig Pickering but Pickering's pace has not quite rubbed off on the 400m runner as he finishes fourth in the first semi-final and will not make Saturday's final. Britain's Rob Tobin and Ireland's David Gillick bumped and barged each other in the second semi-final with Gillick, the defending champion, just coming through to win in 46.19 seconds. "Gillick just pipped Tobin which may give him a bit of a psychological advantage. This race is set up beautifully and I dare you to pick a winner." BBC commentator Steve Cram 1800: "Those extra eight centimetres Kluft squeezed out of Sotherton in the long jump could prove crucial. "With only the 800m to go, Kluft's lead of 24 points is small but significant.

If you want clues as to who'll come off better in the final four laps, Sotherton's 800m PB is almost a second faster than Kluft's - except indoors, where Kluft's is fractionally faster..." BBC Sport's Tom Fordyce at the National Indoor Arena 1756: "There were a few question marks after Nicola Sanders's first heat, but now now - that was just what the doctor ordered." BBC commentator Stuart Storey 1754: A classy performance from Nicola Sanders marks her out as the woman to beat in the 400m. She sets off quickly from the outside lane, and none of her rivals can even get close as she finished in a time of 51.06 seconds. 1750: Romania's Adelina Gavrila is setting the standard in qualification for the women's triple jump, with an opening leap of 14.24 guaranteeing her a place in the final. 1747: Bulgaria's Ilona Usovich destroys the field with a superb performance in the first women's 400m semi-final, leaving Britain's Emma Duck trailing in fifth.

1740: A UK Athletics spokeswoman says the desperately unlucky Karen Harewood is being treated for a suspected broken leg after the horrific pile-up in her 800m heat. 1732: Britain's Helen Clitheroe goes through in the women's 1500m, finishing second behind Slovakia's Sonja Roman. 1720: A senior Great Britain debut to remember for the baby of the team. The 18-year-old James Brewer wins his 800m heat in one minute 50.40 seconds. 1710: The men's shot put final is also in full swing as the big men of the field events do battle. Slovakia's Mikulas Konopka is in pole position. His second attempt is a massive 21.57m - a new national record and the longest in Europe this year. 1655: Qualification for the women's high jump is under way, but the competition is yet to really get going. None of the athletes have cleared the 1.96m automatic qualification mark yet.

1651: Poor old Karen Harewood is still being treated on the side of the track with what is clearly a serious leg injury. A stretcher is waiting to take her out of the arena. 1647: Kelly Sotherton jumps 6.51m with her final long jump effort but she is disappointed with it. It leaves her behind Carolina Kluft, and the Briton knows she will have to produce something special in the final 800m to take gold. But the long jump has proved the undoing of one-time leader Jessica Ennis. She cannot find any rhythm, and her final jump sees her take off more than two feet behind the board. Unsurprisingly she falls to sixth in the standings. 1634: There are squeals of pain from the track in the women's 800m heats as a big pile-up sees four of the six athletes crash to the floor. Britain's Karen Harewood is the injured athlete, with a bad twist to her knee leaving her in agony.

Harewood was leading the race, but was accidentally clipped from behind and the domino effect behind her gives Tetyana Petlyuk and Brigita Langerholc a stroll to the line. The medics are still attending to a distressed Harewood. Earlier, her team-mate Marilyn Okoro went through with an impressive second place behind Russia's Oksana Zbrozhek, while Jenny Meadows is also through. 1625: "Allan Scott was phenomenal and I think that is one of the things about having home advantage - it can really lift you. "Andy Turner is struggling with his trail leg and that is slowing him down. There's nothing he cannot fix though between now and the final - he still produce something special and we know he is much better than that" BBC Sport commentator Colin Jackson 1621: Andy Turner joins his team-mate Allan Scott in the 60m hurdles final. He does not look at his best though, as he battles to third place in his heat. 1618: "Huge applause for home-town favourite Kelly Sotherton as she stands on the long jump runway.

"Sotherton's been working the crowd with the skill of Jon Bon Jovi at his peak, appealing to them for inspiration and letting them know at regular intervals that she couldn't do any of this without them." BBC Sport's Tom Fordyce at the National Indoor Arena 1617: A brilliant jump from Kelly Sotherton in the long jump section of the pentathlon looks like another PB - but the red flag goes up much to her annoyance. Replays show that her big toe is fractionally, fractionally over the line. 1613: A tremendous run from Britain's Allan Scott makes sure of his place in the men's 60m hurdles final. He is credited with third place, just one-hundredth of a second behind Gregory Sedoc and Jackson Quinonez who cannot be split on the stopwatch. Surprisingly, Latvia's Stanislav Olijar finishes fifth and is out of the final. 1605: Britain's Sara McGreavy qualifies for the women's 60m hurdles final with a time of 8.10 seconds in her semi. She finishes third, but make sit as one of the fastest losers.

1600: Sweden's Susanna Kallur gets the afternoon session off to a flying start in Birmingham as she sets a world-leading time of 7.84 seconds to qualify for the 60m hurdles final. She is the defending European Indoor champion - and looks favourite to retain her crown after that performance. 1529: There was plenty for British fans to cheer in this morning's action. Kelly Sotherton and Jessica Ennis have taken the fight to Swedish superstar Carolina Kluft in the pentathlon. After three events, Sotherton leads Kluft - by just two points - while Ennis is still in it despite slipping from first to fifth after a disappointing shot put. Mo Farah recovered from a fall halfway through his 3,000m heat to qualify for the final, while Andy Turner posted the joint quickest qualifying time in the 60m hurdles. Nathan Douglas and Phillips Idowu both qualified for the triple jump final with something to spare and Robert Tobin looked in top form as he won his 400m heat. And gold medal prospect Nicola Sanders won her 400m heat, although she had to work harder than she would have liked.

1525: After the breathless excitement of the opening ceremony, there is something of a lull in Birmingham as the entertainers take the leave. The first action of the afternoon on day one is set to start at 1545 with the semi-finals of the women's 60m hurdles. 1500: The obligatory opening ceremony is well under way at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, although organisers have taken the slightly unusual approach of scheduling it halfway through the day after five hours of athletics. Decked out in navy blue, the dancers go through some highly gymnastic routines on the running track to the minimalist soundtrack of a live percussion-led band. They depart to be replaced by some people - on skates, mind - carrying a gigantic flag with the event's logo on it. For some reason, they are wearing rounded cycle helmets and have their faces painted either red, white or blue. I think it might have something to do with the union jack. After a gospel version of "God Save The Queen", a local dignitary gives a speech praising Birmingham's ability to host the Championships. There are also flag bearers, waving away happily in the middle of the arena, representing the 45 different countries competing in the Championships.

Mercifully, the whole thing is over within about 20 minutes. Funny things, opening ceremonies, but my rule of thumb tends to be the shorter, the better.

Question: Phillips Idowu and Nathan Douglas represent Great Britain in which athletics discipline?
Answer: THE TRIPLE JUMP