Grassmarket

Programme for Shanghai. Lots of the same people as last week, but we are back to the classic events and distances. Programme & Results – Shanghai

There was a bit of confusion about this a couple of months back, but skeleton slider Laura Deas confirms retirement after losing her team spot during her baby break. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/cn8vdqqnq54o

World Record

El Bakkali another big name on an.off day as Firewu beats him.

Kambundji also on a bad day.

WR attempt in the 5000m! ......and they don't fancy it. So just a race.

Starting off the dec/hept summer season in

It is a lot faster for sure. Once you have done the second fencing round - about 45-50 minutes, the other three events are done in just one hour.

And there can be disasters - think two falls = . But even without, there are lots of place changes.

Well, Russian athlete Gnedtchik just broke her arm on the obstacle course....... There is screaming. . "They're just wiping some moisture off the course...."

They've completely revamped the onscreen graphics - bit hard to tell how it will all work because for the semis they were concentrating on the middle of the race where the Line of Doom was. And they broke down on the fourth shoot so nothing new there. But when they DO work, Eurovision style, you do get a real-time idea of changing overall position, which was always hard before.

And even better news - it's a Five Year deal, so that takes us through to.....counts on fingers.... 2028 2029 2030!

And your long-awaited Where to Watch page for the DL Season. https://worldathletics.org/competitions/diamond-league/where-to-watch?countryCode=GB&eventId=7203816

Don't know if World Canoeing are going to continue with their "Let's make sure no-one watches the Sport" strategy this year, but there's a European Cup meet from Slovenia this weekend. Featuring all the snow from the biathlon course a few weeks back melted and pouring over rocks & dams. https://m.youtube.com/@CanoeEurope

Excellent news guys! In a rare explosion of Common Sense, we are getting the whole of the Budapest World Cup live & FTA on the Olympic Channel this weekend! Both Women's Semi Finals from yesterday on the site, the Men's Semis today, and the Finals tomorrow! https://www.olympics.com/en/sport-events/

Handy geography lesson.

Bump and preview for Xiamen on Saturday - big names in action early! https://worldathletics.org/competitions/diamond-league/news/diamond-league-season-opener-xiamen-2025

Hope they do something about uniforms. Ross Whyte's rink looked like they were about to fly over the Grand Canyon on rocket bikes last week.

British cycling great Barry Hoban, winner of 8 Tour de France stages, all at a time when road racing had a very very low profile in Britain. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/articles/c9dj98203nqo

And the Laureus Awards, not wanting to be rushed into things. Sportsman of the Year Award: Mondo Duplantis Sportswoman of the Year Award: Simone Biles Team of the Year Award: Real Madrid Breakthrough of the Year Award: Lamine Yamal Comeback of the Year Award: Rebeca Andrade Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability Award: Jiang Yuyan Action Sportsperson of the Year Award: Tom Pidcock Sport for Good Award: Kick4Life Sporting Icon Award: Rafael Nadal Lifetime Achievement Award: Kelly Slater

Boston Marathon today! There's some international coverage. Now, if we get a race like the epic greatest-ever 2018 edition we will be lucky...... TV Coverage | Boston Athletic Association

shelly-Anne Fraser Price refuses to dumb down just because it is Parents' Race at her son's School Sports Day Olympic legend leaves parents in her dust at school sports day - BBC News

BBC has it. Early announcement for schedule & participants in Xiamen. https://xiamen.diamondleague.com/programme-results/

Just to confirm the BBC have renewed rights for the Diamond League this year - starts in next weekend.

Isn't there a time lag on this, like for oh, shall we say, long jumpers who want to compete for ?