Inside Lines: Summit up inside the Beeb's closed shop?

The BBC and the government-funded UK Sport, who jointly hosted what was billed as Britain's first-ever sports summit, have asked delegates for feedback. Here's an unsolicited view from one Olympic athlete who attended. Looking at the posh nosh assembled for a buffet lunch, he murmured: "What they've spent on this would pay for my training for the next few years." So, with much of sport in dire need of a few bob, was it all an untimely waste of taxpayers' money, an exercise designed to massage the already inflated ego of the BBC sports department? Some of the 400 invitees seemed to think so. "It was just another talking shop which led nowhere," said one senior administrator. Many were clearly surprised that the crucial issue of a London Olympic bid wasn't even mentioned, despite a pre-published "Sportsummit 2003" survey which showed 83 per cent of the nation in favour. Here we must declare an interest. Or rather, non-interest. This columnist, along with certain other correspondents, was excluded. It seems the joint organisers wanted to work on the military lines of embedded scribes only. Those Beeb-friendly hacks who did make it were warned not to attempt to interview other guests. An "in camera" event that was out of camera, too, with no TV coverage because of the War. UK Sport won't tell us what their financial contribution was (even though public money is involved) or how the guest list was compiled. While there was no ringside seat for Frank Warren, Britain's most influential fight figure, or the nation's most prominent community sports expert, Geoff Thompson, the presence of a representative from Big Bugs Sport was apparently imperative.

Moses seeks sport's promised land

Unlike their Hollywood counterpart, sport's own "Oscars", otherwise known as the Laureus Awards, do not anticipate either demos or dumbing down because of the Gulf War when they are presented in Monaco on 20 May. The former Olympic hurdling champion Edwin Moses, now the Awards chairman, obviously hopes Saddam will have been sorted by then but he tells us: "The history of film Oscars is a lot different to what we do. Obviously we are keeping eye on things but we do not expect any problems." Neither is Laureus's own Middle East peace offering, a unique coalition between Israeli and Palestinian coaches, a casualty of the present attrition. "We're hoping to keep it below the radar and waiting for an opportunity to develop it into something bigger," says the sanguine Moses, 47. British interest in the awards wil1 focus on Paula Radcliffe, arguably favourite for world sportswoman of the year, and Wayne Rooney, surprisingly nominated as a contender for international newcomer of the year, no doubt because of his regular exposure on global TV.

Chirac set to steal Olympic march

Concern is growing that the London Olympic bid, already on the back burner, is in danger of fizzling out the longer the Gulf War continues and the more the Treasury contribution escalates. Obviously, it is the last thing on Tony Blair's mind at the moment but the French president Jacques Chirac may be preparing to steal a march by shortly endorsing a Paris bid, believing France's anti-war stance will attract influential Islamic and Arabic support on the IOC. And we know who to blame if it all goes sour. George Dubya. Apparently, Blair was about to rubber-stamp the deal at the original Cabinet meeting in January but left to take a call from the US president, returning to say: "Sorry, this will have to wait."

Mark Butcher may not be particularly vocal on the cricket pitch, but he is known to be in remarkably good voice off it. Useful with the guitar, too, so there is no one better to pay a tuneful tribute to his late England and Surrey colleague Ben Hollioake, tragically killed in a car crash in Australia.

Butcher has also written the song, poignantly titled "You're Never Gone", which he will record next Saturday with several prominent musicians, including Jon Altman on keyboard. The CD will then be packaged and sold to raise money for the Ben Hollioake Fund, proceeds going to Chase, a charity for terminally ill children. The recording will be heavily promoted during England's summer Test series against South Africa, played over the Tannoy at county grounds and made available in their souvenir shops and via the internet at under a fiver. Butcher is an accomplished singer and strummer, having appeared on the Ian Wright Show and fronted the Mark Butcher Band in many a gig alongside the likes of Bill Wyman.

York Hall, London's oldest boxing venue, celebrates its reprieve from the council demolition squad on Friday by staging the ABA Championships, the first time they have been held in the capital for eight years.

However, the move has upset the burghers of Barnsley, whose Dome has housed the ABAs for the past four years and is currently hosting the schoolboy championships. "York Hall is a kennel," rages Yorkshire ABA official Eric Holyland. "It's a nightmare getting there, and the first thing you notice is the smell of the drains." Nevertheless, Lennox Lewis, Audley Harrison and the BBC cameras will brave the throng and the pong, no doubt scenting a new heavyweight hope in 6ft 7in Liverpudlian David Price.

insidelines@independent.co.uk

Exit Lines

I always think every programme I do would be better if I weren't in it. A self-deprecating view of his screen persona from Alan Hansen ... It's nice to hear the president of Fifa talking about football. Sven Goran Eriksson is unfazed by the Blatter blather about friendlies... Blazer on the right as we look, Bugs Buggy on the left. Barry Davies summons up the gravitas on BBC2's Techno Games... Had I pulled him out he would have killed me. Cornerman Kenny Croom, who allowed the battered Wayne McCullough to continue boxing against Scott Harrison.