James Toney

As long ago as January 2000 James Toney, a jounrnalist who will cover his seventh Olympics in London, was campaigning for east London to put forward a bid to host the 2012 Games. Since then, along with his colleagues, he has worked hard to raise the profile of Olympic sports that don`t normally get media attention, fighting the case of handball, water polo and others against a media landscape dominated by football. He has recently completed his first half marathon to raise money for charity and is now training for his first triathlon just a few eeeks before the Games. He fundraises on behalf of the British Legion, has provided free media consultancy to the Heroes Rugby Challenge, which benefits for Help for Heroes, and assists wit hthe parents` committee of his children`s pre-school in Surrey. His passion for the Olympics means he frequently gives his time to visit schools - both primary and secondary - and universities to talk about his job at the Games this summer.