FARAH BACK ON TRACK …
There will be no Usain Bolt at the IAAF Diamond League in Lausanne on Thursday (7pm, British Eurosport) – the Olympic hero and wifi salesman is sidelined with a pelvic injury – but there is plenty of interest in Switzerland in the lean shape of Mo Farah, who will compete for the first time since the doping scandal surrounding his coach, Alberto Salazar, and his inability to hear his own doorbell blew up last month. Farah has bullishly maintained his cleanness and is sticking by Salazar for now, and no doubt Britain’s double Olympic champion will be happy to focus firmly on the track as he prepares for next month’s world championships. The men’s 100m will still be fascinating without Bolt, with Justin Gatlin, Asafa Powell and Tyson Gay lining up.
ROSE’S DEFENCE …
Gullane is the venue for this year’s Scottish Open, beginning on Thursday (Sky Sports 4). Rory McIlroy, Phil Mickleson, Ian Poulter and Luke Donald will all compete, along with last year’s champion, Justin Rose. The Englishman Rose has had an up and down year, with his runners-up place at the Masters being counterbalanced by a disappointing showing at the US Open, and he will hope to ensure he is in form for the Open at St Andrews by picking up his second title of the year, following his Zurich Classic triumph in April. Also competing will be the 1999 champion, Colin Montgomerie, who will hope the familiarity of his home tournament will wash away the memory of his failed attempt to qualify for the Open.
YET MORE FOOTBALL …
The close season no longer means a footballing famine for supporters desperately staring at their calendars, trying to will the new season into existence. Instead, those who will follow the Women’s World Cup to its conclusion tonight (midnight, BBC Two) will be pleased to hear there is more footballing action from North America with the first game of the Gold Cup on Wednesday (midnight, BT Sport 2) with the glamour tie of... Panama v Haiti. Yes, really: those in the know when it comes to Concacaf have Panama (pop. 3.6m) down as the region’s rising force. Finalists in 2013, Los Canaleros (you guessed it, the Canalmen) are hotly tipped to go one better this time.
CRICKETING MINNOWS …
English (and Welsh) focus will be squarely on Cardiff this week, but it is an important time for Scottish cricket too, as they begin their qualification campaign for the ICC World T20 on Thursday against the United Arab Emirates (10am, Sky Sports 3 HD). The tournament is co-hosted by Scotland and Ireland, meaning they will start as favourites to reach the finals tournament in India next year. Of the 14 nations taking part, six will make it. Among those nations in with a sniff of glory are some more recognisable minor cricketing nations, such as Afghanistan and the Netherlands, but also Oman, Papua New Guinea and Jersey.
BROLLY SELLERS …
Few fans had a more chastening season last year than Newcastle’s. But after Alan Pardew (hounded out) and John Carver (hapless) comes Steve McClaren (brolly at the ready) and perhaps a new era for football on the Tyne. A friendly against Gateshead at the International Stadium on Friday (8pm) should feature a raft of new young blood in the old black and white stripes, including Karl Darlow and Jamaal Lascelles. The appointment of the ex-England manager has divided opinion on Tyneside, so here is a chance to make a favourable first impression. Just pray it doesn’t rain.
