FRENCH CONNECTIONS: Paula Radcliffe named Olympic marathon ambassador, Olympic boss makes a Scouse-sized mix-up, Team GB’s snack surplus goes to charity, and Marseille’s muggers can’t taint sailing festivities

Paula Radcliffe has been named as one of the Paris 2024 ambassadors for this weekend’s marathon, despite being forced to apologise ahead of the Games when she posted comments in support of Dutch paedophile Steven van de Velde.

Beach volleyball player Van de Velde raped a 12-year-old in 2014 when he was 19, plying her with Bailey’s Irish Cream and then advising her to buy a morning-after pill.

Even so, Radcliffe wished the disgraced athlete luck ahead of the competition, before rowing back on her comments in the midst of subsequent criticism. 

Paula Radcliffe will be an ambassador for the 2024 Paris Olympic marathon, held on Saturday

Beach volleyball player Van de Velde raped a 12-year-old in 2014 when he was 19

Olympic boss Thomas Bach mixes up spacemen and Scousers in  final press conference 

Over an at-times sickly-sweet hour, the German dodged questions on whether he would attempt to extend his term beyond the permitted 12 years and instead boasted of how those from warring nations had lived together in peace in the village – despite the fact that the Israelis were situated far from others with significant security.

‘To quote John Glenn,’ Bach said, presumably meaning John Lennon, rather than the late US astronaut and politician. ‘You may think we are dreamers – but we are not the only ones.’

Thomas Bach confuses late US starman John Glenn with John Lennon in final press conference

Team GB’s competitors will donate their surplus snacks

Great Britain’s athletes and staff haven’t gone hungry due to the volumes of Aldi snacks shipped over to the Games. 

All of the leftover food, including bourbons and custard creams, is being donated to local foodbanks. 

Muggers in Marseille can’t take shine off glorious Olympic sailing events

MARSEILLE provided a fine backdrop for the sailing, but some had a different story to tell of the city. Warnings were given to those staying at a Holiday Inn by the station after a series of incidents involving thieves outside. 

One female reporter had her sunglasses swiped from her face and a hole sliced in the bottom of her rucksack by muggers. 

Muggers haven’t dampened the feel-good atmosphere in Olympic sailing city, Marseille