Security at the Olympics is to be stepped up after bullets were believed to have been fired at a media bus.

A journalist on board a Rio 2016 media transport bus that had two windows smashed while it was travelling from a venue to the Olympic park has said the damage was caused by gunfire.

The good vibes from Rio 2016's vibrant opening ceremony did not take long to fade this morning as reports emerged of athletes getting lost, fans stuck in queues and a fatal shooting witnessed by international film crews.

Police in Rio de Janeiro say a Russian diplomat trying to repel an attempted robbery on Thursday near the Olympic Park was involved in a shooting that left the assailant dead. The Russian embassy denied any of its employees were involved in the incident.

Team Ireland’s chief medical officer Dr Rod McLoughlin will be on high alert over the coming weeks in Rio, writes Brendan O’Brien.

At the flame-lighting in the ruins of ancient Olympia, Brazil’s sport minister Ricardo Leyser tried to assure the world about the troubled Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

A strange occasion. The very sight of a rugby ball being thrown and kicked around a stadium which has rocked to Usain Bolt and Mo Farah in days past, and one which will etch out a new identity as the home of West Ham United, took time to sink in.

 

Ronan O’Gara analyses all the big issues at the Rugby World Cup.

Irish fans hardly need a map for the English and Welsh capitals but taste buds will be tickled by the prospect of first visits to Wembley and the Olympic Stadium

A small ante room in the Westbury Hotel yesterday morning is the setting.

There was just over an hour to go to kick-off at The Stoop last Sunday, but Daniel Hudson was leaning on a piece of pricey-looking equipment like it was a trusty ledge in his favourite pub and exuding the calm of a man without a care in the world.

Dan Martin won stage four of the Tour of Beijing today as Philippe Gilbert retained the overall lead entering tomorrow's final stage.

Lewis Hamilton continued his domination of the inaugural Russian Grand Prix to claim the 38th pole position of his Formula One career, but only after a major error from Williams’ Valtteri Bottas.

A late spin failed to stop Lewis Hamilton from setting the fastest time in final practice ahead of Sunday’s inaugural Russian Grand Prix.

The FIA is set to impose new safety measures following what president Jean Todt described as the "tragedy" of Jules Bianchi’s horrific accident in Japan on Sunday, which has left the Frenchman fighting for his life.

Lewis Hamilton quickly found himself at home around Sochi’s Olympic Park on a day when Formula One attempted to get back to business in the wake of Jules Bianchi’s accident five days ago.

Alejandro Agag, the man leading the world’s first all-electric car racing series, laughingly describes himself as an ‘old petrolhead’ who likes a bit of noise.

Ireland coach Craig Fulton will be taking on some familiar faces this afternoon as his men’s senior team play South Africa on day one of the London Cup.

The Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics were officially brought to a conclusion on Sunday with a closing ceremony that celebrated Russia’s culture and heritage - as well as giving an indication of the country’s sense of humour.

The Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics were at 81% capacity on day one, according to Games organisers.

Yards from its improbable palm-fringed seafront and attended by a president whose seven-year, £31bn dream was starting to unfold before his steely eyes, Sochi welcomed the Winter Olympics with an opening ceremony of fittingly exorbitant scale in the Fisht Stadium last night.

Rocket man Usain Bolt recovered from an awful start to light up the Olympic Stadium once again last night as won the 100 metres in 9.85 seconds.

Justin Timberlake was joined on stage by Jay-Z at the Wireless festival last night.

It was not just the Wallabies downed in Australia at the weekend by men who had travelled halfway across the globe.

Usain Bolt will return to the Olympic Stadium for the Anniversary Games in July, organisers have confirmed.

Tom Meighan has slammed the Spice Girls saying their London 2012 performance was "horrifying".

Bruce Springsteen is to return as a headliner to London’s Hard Rock Calling festival – 12 months after his bill-topping show ended abruptly when he fell foul of a curfew.

London buyers may be calling for Irish homes. Tommy Barker hears life stories from those attending an Irish property fair in London

MUSIC NEWS: David Bowie (inset) caused quite a stir with his recent release of a single on his 66th birthday, and over the next few weeks we’ll get a proper chance to see if the Brixton boy still has some talent, or whether he should just make the most of his free travel pass.

'Splash!' has officially been picked up for a second series.

The man who threw a plastic beer bottle at competitors at the start of the men’s Olympic 100m final was sentenced to an eight-week community order in England today.

Bon Jovi are to headline a newly announced festival which will be staged in London’s Hyde Park this summer.

A man who got into the Olympic Stadium without a ticket then threw a beer bottle at competitors lining up for the men’s 100m final has been found guilty of public disorder.

London is still on a post-Olympics high, and no district of the city is more fashionable than the former stomping ground of gangsters the Krays, writes Dave Kenny

McDonald’s today hit back at criticism by Jamie Oliver, saying its UK restaurants are serving more people than ever as the recession makes cheap meal deals more attractive.