IAAF president Primo Nebiolo was buzzing around Seville yesterday announcing the news that next year's Rome Millennium Marathon has been granted the unique permission of passing through the Vatican.

Nebiolo spared no expense in releasing the news at a press launch, highlighting the significance of the event starting in St Peter's Square in the heart of his native city with, of course, the full support of the Pope himself. And at the same time proving that there are few people left that won't bow to the power of sport.