21 January 2010:  The 2010 Paralympic Winter Games take place in Vancouver, Canada from 12-21 March.  Five sports will be on show: alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, ice sledge hockey and wheelchair curling. 

Ice sledge hockey is a true spectator sport combining high-speed and high-energy with players seated on ice-bladed sledges.  Highly competitive, it's a no-holds barred sport.  Compare that then with the graceful, non-contact sports in the Paralympic Winter Games - alpine skiiers racing against the clock, the biathletes shooting as well as racing around the course and the skillful curlers aiming to slide the stone to stop in the centre of the circle. 

Grace and skill in sport are to be applauded but give me high-energy everytime.  That's why I'm looking forward to the ice sledge hockey.  What's your favourite sport in the Paralympic Winter Games?

19 January 2010:  The Stade Francais prop David Attoub has been banned for 70 weeks after being found guilty of gouging.  Photographic evidence showed the 28-year-old making contact with the eyes of Ulster forward David Ferris in a Heineken Cup match on 12th December.  The suspension is one of the longest in European rugby.  Attoub will appeal against the punishment but if unsuccessful he will not be eligible to play again until 22 April 2011. 

In his judgement the judicial officer Jeff Blackett said: "This is the worst act of contact with the eyes that I have had to deal with - it is a case of deliberate eye gouging which caused significant distress and some injury to the victim. The sanction must be such to make other players stop and think before someone suffers a really serious eye injury."

Attoub's team-mate Julien Dupuy is currently serving a 23-week ban for another gouging incident in the same match.

We can understand the extreme pressure on teams to win, but for players to try to injure their opponents in the process?  Is a 70-week ban enough or should a lifetime ban be the ultimate sanction?

21 January 2010:  The Africa Cup of Nations in Angola highlights the skill and entertainment produced by African teams.  But the question on many people's lips is: Can an African side win the 2010 World Cup?  Reigning African champions, Egypt, have been impressive in this year's Cup of Nations but they failed to reach the World Cup finals.  Neither Cameroon's Indomitable Lions or the Super Eagles of Nigeria look the sides they have been in the past, while Algeria are very much the outsiders.  South Africa hosts Bafana Bafana have been out of sorts for the past year, so much so that many of their own supporters have transferred allegience to one of the two other African sides, Ghana and Ivory Coast.  Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien is a key player for the Black Stars while his club-mate Didier Drogba carries the hopes of the Elephants, he is scoring goals for fun for the Premier League outfit.  If any African team is to win I say it will be the Elephants of the Ivory Coast.  What do you think?