Sport on television

EVER thought the life of a top sportswriter must be a doddle? Being paid a fortune to indulge your hobby, travelling the world to watch all the top events? And the writing side of the job doesn't involve any great effort, does it? Just reacting to things which happen in front of your nose . . .

Whether or not you subscribe to this view, an Arena special next Saturday evening on BBC2 entitled Sportswriter (8.10-9.10) may dispel some of the myths and prejudices surrounding this supposedly sybaritic profession.

Sub-titled 'The Fight, The Match and The Race' and presented by Hugh McIlvanney, of the Observer, the programme is designed to coincide with the forthcoming Barcelona Olympics, on which an incalculable torrent of words has already been unleashed.

The insights come from three major events which McIlvanney recently covered - the Evander Holyfield-Larry Holmes world heavyweight title fight in Las Vegas, the England-Brazil football international at Wembley and the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup.