The Far East plays host to two major events this week while the outdoor athletics season begins ramp up as we preview the Olympic sporting action of the next six days.
Yokohama welcomes the globe’s finest triathletes for the third leg of the World Series while across in Shanghai the second event of track and field’s Diamond League is scheduled.
Britain’s women are currently in red-hot form in the triathlon World Series with Jodie Stimpson and Helen Jenkins first and second overall respectively heading into the Yokohama race.
Olympic bronze medallist Jonathan Brownlee is second in the men’s standings after Spaniard Javier Gomez’s early dominance while Phillips Idowu is on the entry list for the Shanghai Diamond League.
The Olympic triple jump silver medallist has been keeping a low profile competing in Australia but is on the entry list in China along with sprinter Dwain Chambers.
Closer to home and a host of Brits, including Olympic and world champion Christine Ohuruogu, are set for the Great City Games in Manchester while the Loughborough International is also scheduled.
The European Artistic Gymnastics Championships also begin in Sofia, there’s sprint canoeing in Racice and cycling’s Giro d’Italia is back on Italian soil after its opening stages were held in Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Athletics
Great City Games, Manchester, May 17
Diamond League, Shanghai, May 18
Canoeing
Sprint World Cup, Racice, May 16-18
Cycling
Giro d’Italia, May 13-ongoing
Gymnastics
Artistic European Championships, Sofia, May 14-ongoing
Triathlon
World Series, Yokohama, May 17-18
© Sportsbeat 2014