Inside Lines: Mandy digs in to give Russian pal's Olympic project a hand

Lord Mandelson has never been tagged as the sporty type, so we note with interest that he is doing his bit for the Olympics. Russia's, that is, not London's. The new Business Secretary has been in Moscow flogging a fleet of British-made JCB diggers which will be used to help build the infrastructure for the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi. This is the Black Sea resort in which his billionaire friend Oleg Deripaska is among the oligarchs whoare investing heavily. The£23 million deal is certainly heart-warming news for the British company in this cold financial climate. Maybe Mandy could tap his Russian mate for a few bob to go towards London's increasinglycash-strapped Games.

Harry's Brand new image

Related articles

• Cameron will not sack Tory chairman over nanny inquiry

When Harry Redknapp turns on his answerphone this morning he may well find a message from Russell Brand. And how flattered will the new Spurs manager be to know that barmy Brand has declared his "undying love" for him? With characteristic smart-arse rhetoric in yesterday's 'Guardian' (how come the paper has not dropped him, as it did a previous sports columnist, Ron Atkinson, when he attracted rather less public opprobrium?) Brand waxes of Harry Boy: "My affection for him is such that he could turn up drunk at my house, kick my car, seduce my mother and fart 'Auld Lang Syne' into my gaping gob." Who says romance is dead?

Amateurs facing exodus

The European AmateurBoxing championships which begin in Liverpool next weekend will mark a watershed for the sport in Britain post-Beijing. Only one of the Olympic squad, the featherweight Joe Murray, will be in the GB team. The rest are either not fit enough or are considering pro offers. Frankie Gavin, who failed to make the lightweight limit for the Olympics, will seal a deal with promoter Frank Warren this week believed to be initially worth around £200,000, and will box at light-welter in the same stable as his ex-amateur rival Amir Khan. Gold-medal middle-weight James DeGale and teenage welter Billy Joe Saunders are expected to follow Gavin shortly. There is renewed speculation that the unsettled head coach, Terry Edwards, will also quit, but he would only say yesterday: "My immediate focus is entirely on these championships and helping some exciting young prospects take their first steps on the road to 2012."

Will Piper call the tune?

Ex-pro champion Nicky Piper, a member of Mensa, is a leading contender to become performance director for the newly-formed British Amateur Boxing Association, whose chairman, Derek Mapp, has delivered a timely message to the Olympic boxers that might well be heeded by those in other sports missing stars in post-Games events. "The party's over. Too many people are walking around with hangovers when they should be getting back to work." Cycling and taekwondo, with big events in Manchester this weekend, have both suffered from the sicknote syndrome.

Women play it by numbers

Victoria Pendleton, one gold medallist who has kept her form and fitness after Beijing, deserves to find favour in her campaign for parity with men's races in the Games. But because of the IOC's strict numbers quota, this may have to be at the expense of some men's events – as is likely to happen when women's boxing is introduced in London. Four of the 10 men's weight divisions may have to go.

insidelines@independent.co.uk