Olympics - Paris 2024 Games

EXCLUSIVE BY DAVID COVERDALE: Not for the first time, Amber Rutter finds herself in the spotlight in the build-up to an Olympics . 'It seems that each time there is some sort of dramatic story to be told,' says the British skeet shooter with a smile. Three years ago, that story was one of heartbreak as Rutter - then known by her maiden name of Hill - tested positive for Covid the night before she was due fly to Tokyo, ruling her out of the Games. This time, though, her tale has a happy ending.

EXCLUSIVE BY DAVID COVERDALE: There will be something a little different about the Olympics this summer. For the first time in 40 years, Sir Steve Redgrave will not be there. The British rowing legend has been an ever-present at the Games from Los Angeles 1984 to Tokyo 2020. He won a famous five consecutive gold medals, before working as a pundit for the BBC, an ambassador for Team GB and, most recently, a coach for China. As things stand, though, Redgrave's only visit to Paris this summer will be for a cruise down the Seine two weeks before the Olympics start. 'The people who go on cruises tend to be my sort of my age and older, so at least they can still remember what I did,' jokes the 62-year-old, who will be making a special guest appearance on the ship alongside fellow Olympic icon Daley Thompson.

DAVID COVERDALE: Olympics organisers have been urged to scrap their 'reckless' plans to hold the opening ceremony on the River Seine, with some teams said to be considering advising their athletes not to attend because of security fears. This summer's Games is due to be the first to stage the ceremony outside of a stadium, with 10,000 athletes set to sail down the Seine on boats in front of 300,000 ticketed spectators watching on from the banks. However, despite 45,000 police officers being deployed on the night of July 26, security concerns have been heightened in recent weeks.