Our first winter
Hopes will not be high for a big haul of British medals in Sochi, but we have not always been Cinderellas at winter sports. In the first Winter Olympics in Chamonix in 1924 Britain sent 44 competitors, more than any other country, and ended up sixth in the medals, above the host nation, France.
— There were bronze medals for the men’s ice hockey team and the less-than-elegantly named Ethel Muckelt. The men’s four/five-man bobsleigh won a silver. The men’s curling team won gold — although the medals were not presented until 2006 after a campaign by Scottish newspapers.
— One of the curling team, Major D.G. Astley, achieved a unique honour. Besides being awarded gold for Great Britain, he was somehow allowed to play for Sweden against France in the play-off for silver. Sweden won, so Major Astley won a gold and silver in the same event.
Tropics of cancer
The World Health Organisation predicted that the number of new cases of cancer worldwide could increase by 70% to 25 million a year over the next 20 years.
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