TOP HONOUR FOR BBC’S DAVID COLEMAN

BBC Presenter and Commentator, David Coleman, has been presented with the highest honour of the Olympic movement, the Olympic Order, by IOC President Juan-Antonio Samaranch.
Coleman has covered 19 Olympic summer and winter Games since 1960, and joins Jesse Owens, Nelson Mandela and Steffi Graf among other names from sport and politics as a recipient of the Order.
Coleman’s credits range across BBC Sport’s output from ‘Sportsnight with Coleman’ to ‘Grandstand’ and ‘Match of the Day’. He has also commentated on the athletics in this year’s Sydney Games for which the BBC won an IOC gold award for the best coverage in the world.
Still a runner himself at the age of 74, Coleman made his first television broadcast in May 1954 on the day when Roger Bannister became the first man in history to break the four-minute mile barrier.
Since 1984 he has concentrated on athletics commentary, alongside ‘A Question of Sport’ for an 18-year period before handing over to Sue Barker.
The Olympic Order is awarded in recognition of an individual who has illustrated the Olympic ideal through their action, has achieved remarkable merits in the sporting world, or who has rendered outstanding services to the Olympic cause.
(CD)